Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-16
WANTS A HELPER
City Treasurer Says Three Men
 Did the Work Formerly.

DAu tue VOIk COImerIy. It is possible that another political
 berth will be created within few months, for City Treasurer E. L. Tut tie finds 1t impossible to do the work Of his office alone. He made state- ment to this effect to the board of finance at its meeting held in the mayors office yesterday afternoon. He explained to the board that be is doing for 5000 a year what was formerly done by three men for $500 q year each. That is the work of town treas- prer, school treasurer and city treas- urer. He also said that his predeces- sor in office, Q. s. Northrop, found him. self unable to do the work alone and he had help for which he paid cut of his own pocket.s Mir Futile wanted the board to understand that it was help. not an increase in salary, that he asked for The members of the board did not know what to do. It was surely new thing for man to ask for help instead of an increase in salary. It would be an easy matter to raise sal ary, but another thing to create an office. They did not know that they had the power to do the latter and after looking at the situation from va- rious Ways decided to have MT Futile present the matter to the board of al- dermen if he desired and let that body take the initial step in giving the de- sired assistance.
 NIr flakes nf thu Arsrp, of Clarke, Oakes X Go, expert account ants, Wall street, New Aork, put in bill for some $3,S00 the balance due him for looking over the city's books. His total bin was S5,S03.6S, Incidental to the discussion that this matter evoked, Commissioner Lord asked Mir Oakes few questions. He asked him If he would be right in saying tAat Mir Oakes's report on the Burpee-assess- ment matter was to the effect that Colonel Burpee did not owe the city red cent.
 Now, Mr Lord" said Nr Oakes, quite seriously, you can read just as well as can write, now can't your
 Commissioner Lord said he was able to read and that he has read the report a number of times, but, darn it all, he can't make out what it means. Was he to understand that the report read that Colonel Burpee-
 Now, MT Lord" interrupted Mir Oakes, If we are to discuss that mat ter again I wish to say that would prefer to have Colonel Burpee here. You cannot fail to see the delicate posi- ton am placed in. You know that was employed by Colonel Burpee'
 "Oh, certainly, certainly" sad Con- missioner Lord: T don't want to em- barrass you at all, Mir Cakes, but don't you think the report ought to be ex- plicit?'
 'Of course, of course, Mir Lord; it is as explicit as think I can or could make it" said Mr Oakes.
 How much do the books show was collected? Do they tell how many claims are in the hands of the city at- torney for collectionT' asked Mir Lord.
 '.Oh, now, Mir Lord" exclaimed Mir Oakes with upraised hands, can't say. don't think the books will show."
 Mayor Thoms asked why there should be my difficulty In ascertaining what Commissioner Lord asked.
 Mir Oakes said the comptroller's books ought to show, and that 'there is nothing impossible. you know, noth- ing impossible, Mir Mayor. It would merely be matter of time to ascer- tain. merely matter of time. But must say 1t would be Herculean task. For instance, last year the city appropriated S10.000 for fixing up certain street, but nowhere on the city's books does 1t appear that the city owns that street."
 Commissioner Lord then stood up. opened the comptrollers book and asked why the collections for Novem- Der. 1894, for instance. should not all have been entered in December follow ing. There was no light thrown on the situation by the discussion that fol. lowed and the matter was dropped by taking up Mr Oakes's~ bill. Commis. sioner McElligott thought an itemized bill would be acceptable from Mt Oakes. and Mir Oakes said 1t would give him the greatest pleasure in the world to comply with the wishes of the board. He remarked that there was no agreement between him and the city for doing the work. but he would send in an itemized bill never. theless.
 Commissioner Wells then moved that Attorney Hunt. collector last year, send in list of uncollected taxes, and it was voted to draw up an order td Mr Oakes. provided his bill is accepta. ble.
 Ex-City Treasurer Northrop report ed that the police pension fund now to S7.190.63. and as to remov. ing the city funds from one bank te another 1t was decided to prepare ( statement of facts on the matter for the board of aldermen.