The San Francisco call., 1898-12-03
PAY ROLLS OF
 THE HARB0R INSPECTED Senators in Another Field of Inquiry. RENTAL OF THE NEW DEPOT COLLECTORS WHO DRAW PAY BUT DO NOT COLLECT. The Harbor Commission Is Not Well Advised as to Interest Ac-
 count and Bona Re-
 demption.
RENTAL OF THE NEW DEPOT
COLLECTORS WHO DRAW PAY
 BUT DO NOT COLLECT.

Two sessions of the Senate Investigat- ing Committee were held at the office of the Harbor Commissioners yesterday. Expert James w. Reid was on the witness stand throughout the forenoon session. He, responded to inquiries relating to cost and measurement of material used under the revised specifications for the construction of the ferry building. The questions were propounded by Contractor Bateman. The information elicited were jotted down by the contract or, who will endeavor to show that the experts report does not give proper credit for work performed and material SUD- piled.
 When the committee met after recess General Dickinson, chairman, called J. J. Keegan, secretary of the Board Of liar bor Commissioners. The chairman had before him a typewriter list of all the names on the payroll of the commission. The list also gives the salary per month or the wages per day of each person on the roll. The name of the Commissioner at whose instance the employe was en- gagged is also shown on the list. Many men are yet on the payroll whose ap pointments are accredited to ex-Commis- sioners Chadbourne and Cole. According to the list the Bassett men are out of season, but the Herold crop is beginning to come in.
 In the testimony of Mr. Keegan the fact was disclosed that there were collectors on the payroll who did not collect, but performed other duties and received pay for collecting. MT. keegan testified that there were no restrictions on the board in the endowment of clerical force. Gen. eral Dickinson asked:
 When was the custom established of appointing man collector and assigning him to duty in the officer"
 The secretary could not answer the question, but Commissioner Harney said 1t began in 1SSo, when w. D. English was chairman of the board.
 Responding to questions put by General Dickinson the secretary said that names of men who worked less than one month did not appear on the pay roll, and there fore the roll did not give the full amount disbursed each month for labor. It was explained that men working a few days or two weeks from the beginning of the month were not obliged to wait until the 18th to get their money.
 Secretary Keegan was asked to explain the item in the last report of the Board $60OO was indicated for wharf cleaning.
 MT. Keegan replied: 'The increase was for cleaning the wharf"
 Commissioner Harney, who obviously fancied that the secretary's response was deficient in lucidity, explained to Senators Dickinson and Boyce that when the ferry building was in course of construction watchmen and gatekeepers were required, and that the expense of their employment was entered under the heading Of ex- pense for cleaning wharves." The increase was rendered necessary by the construc- tion of the depot
 Another increase of s9400 was accounted for on the ground of disbursement for electric light.
 MT Keegan explained an increase of s70O0 in the cost of maintaining the belt railroad He said the work now demand ed the employment of day and night crews, and repairs were constantly made.
 The report for the year ending June 30. 1898, showed an increase of general re- ceipts amounting to SIT 1000, as compared with the receipts of the year 1897. The belt railroad receipts in 1897 amounted to $l1 .619, and in IosS to S13,313 In 1897 the cost of maintenance was $11 900 and in 1888 $18,000
 General Dickinson asked several ques- tions with a view of ascertaining to what extent the revenues of the State had been increased by reason of the construc- ton of the new depot. He first asked the secretary to state what rental was for merly received for the space on the water front now occupied by the depot.
 In a roundabout way the information was elicited that the monthly rental was S7S0 before the depot was erected. It is now $1556 and will be increased to S1S06 when the Mining Bureau and State Board of Trade are established in the building.
 Figures were produced showing the to- tai cost of the depot as follows:
 Foundation .................... $344, ,S44 5S Superstructure .................... osl'o 'ooo 5z