The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-11-07
Charges Against the Water Commits
Toner by H. R. Cumiskey Prove to
be an Empty BabbIe.
NO CAUSE FOR COMPLAINT.
Council Committee After Thorough Inves-
Former Employe Are Groundless.

| After making a painstaking inves-
tigation lasting over many weeks,
the committee of the City Council ap-
pointed to investigate into the charges
brought by H. r. Cumiskey, against
the water commissioners, filed their
report last evening. The report comes
as complete exoneration of the m en-
| bers of the committee and shows that
the charges brought by Cuniskey
were without any foundation in fact.
The report of the committee was
signed by Alderman Smith and An
derson, the third mem Der. Alderm an
OBrien being out of the city but hav-
ing assented to the contents of the re-
port We reproduce the report of the
committee in full.
To the Honora BILE Mayor and Comm on
Council:
Gentlemen:-You committee, to
whom was referred the communication
from Mr.. H. r. Cumiskey requesting
an investigation of the Water Depart
ment so far as the pumping station is
concerned, and charging that it is mis-
missioners and not conducted in the
interests of the taxpayers, respectfully
report that after a meeting at which
all interested parties were present, and
also, after a meeting at which Engi-
neers Fitch and Forsythe we're pres
ent. we find in relation to charge
First, viz:
They, the Water Department, "re-
fused to supply necessary repairs to
keep the pumps in good running order,
because the Water company could not
afford it, but few months later they
made a present of large sum of
the peoples money to an individual
who is in the employ of the Water De-
partment,' we find that Mr.. Cumiskey
claims that there should have been a
full set of valves on hand, viz, ESQ
valves; also that not any of the old
valves could be used again, we have
ascertained that it is not necessary to
have full set of valves on hand; also
that any of the old valves that were
not cracked could be ground down and
used again. With regard to the other
repairs we find that while they were
not always supplied to the entire sat
isfaction of Mr.. Cumiskey, that neces-
sary supplies for repairs we're fur
nished by the Board of Water Com
missioners.
''The present of a large sum of the
peoples money to an individual who
is in the employ of the Water Depart
ment,'' we find to have been the sum of
500 90, allowed to the superintendent
! of Water Works for extra and efficient
services, and which fact has been made
public. In this same connection we
| find that the Board of Water Commits
sioners allow one weeks salary each
year to each Of the employees at the
pumping station, without services.
In relation Ito charge Second, viz:
"Contracts for large quantities of coal
were given to bidders who were away
high, thus not looking after the econ
omy of the plant" we find that the
Board of Water Commissioners award
ed the contract for the coal supply to
other than the lowest bidder, but not
until after a thorough test had been
made of the cheaper priced coal, and it
was found from the result of the test
| that the same would not be the cheap
est in the end.
Respectfully submitted,
A. B. SMITH,
w. r. ANDERSON,