Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-17
STREET AND SEWER RECORDS.

Attorney General Ward Takes Possession
of the Bucks and Atranges to Fave
Thcm Essmined. '
Attorney General Herbert II. Ward
Saturday took possession Of the books OF
the Street ard Sever Department and
commissioned Charles @. kurtz and
John d. kurtz to make an examination
OF them and report the result to him.
At noon Charles Kurtz informed ro-
porter OF The Gazette that he ex-
pected the examination would he begun
during the afternoon.
Attorney General Ward, when asked
whether the Citizens Committee of
Fifty had asked him to make the in
vestigation, replied The investigation
is to be made by virtue of my authority
as attorney general and as part of my
duty. "
Asked whether any charges had been
made against anybody, he replied:
No warrants have Been sworn out :"
He would not say whether be was look
ing for specific information or simply
intended to make q general exami-
nation.
All Of the hooks OF the department
having any bearing OH its work are
technically in Mr. Wards possession,
although still at the department office,
and the examination will most likely
include all OF them The FIRST material
move in the matter was made FRI
day, when State Detective James r.
Ratledge went to the department office
and served upon Secretary Harvey j.
Wiley summons from Attorney
General Ward directing him to deliver
| the books, papers. documents and
records Of the department. MIR. Wiley
| Immediately conferred with the attorney
general and EXPIRE ssed his willingness to
comply with the order. City Solicitor
David j. Reinhardt, as the legal adj
| wiser OF the department, was also
spoken to by Mr.. Wiley, and ut a con
| ference between Messrs. Ward and
4 Reinhardt it was decided to allow the
i books to remain at the department
Office, at Sixth and King streets, but
they are virtually in the custody of the
attorney general.
Messrs. Ward and Reinhardt called
at the department office Saturday
and the method OF procedure was then
agreed upon. Mr.. Ward gave in
structions that the books are to remain
in their places until called for by the
examiners working under commission
from him, and it was arranged that the
examination should be made in one oil
the department rooms on the third
floor of the Sixth and King streets
building. The work will he done in
such manner as not to interfere with
the work of the department. The
examiners will make their report to the
attorney general and if there ia any in
formation for the public it'must neoes
sarily come from MIR. Ward, who viii
keep in touch with the examiners.
The examiners are brothers and art
both Democrats, while Mr.. Ward is q
Republican. Neither is a member o.
the Citizens Association and neither
has had anything to do with the reform
movement. Both are expert accountants
and have Ind large experience in tina
kind OF work. Charles has been one o
the county auditors for several years.
Although she attorney general is non
committal On the subject, it is though
members of the Citizens Association
have Deen instrumental IN having th'
examination Of the Street and Sewe
Department records made at this time
As matter OF fact however. Mr.. Ware
is acting entirely upon his own re-
sponsibility.