Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-02
|OARD OF FINANCE
Itemized Bill of Experts Make Interesting Reading.

The board of finance met yesterday IafternOon, Mayor Thoms presiding, and all the members being present.
 An itemized bill was received from Clark X Oakes, the experts, who went over the city books. The items ln- cluded principals time, 113h days at S25 per day, $2,S37.5O; first assistant, 1141s days, SIP a day, $1,734; third as sistant, 1671s days, s n day, $502.20; twenty-four weeks board for the as- sistants, S24O each; bill of principal at hotel, $220; railroad fare and sundry disbursements, $29.66; total, $o,St3.o6.
 Commissioner McElligott wanted 70 know if hair cuts and slaves were ln- cluded iii "sundries,' but nobody ap- peared to be able to answer the ques- tion. MT Lord thought the former comptroller should be cited and asked If he knew how much time these men put i'll on the city's books, but the mayor was of the opinion that MT Goodrich couldn't tell. There was no contract entered into with the experts. They were hired at so much per day and expenses, and the communication stated that instead of going to a hign priced hotel the assistants got board for $1O week i'll private family and in this way kept the bill down consid- erably. MT Wells, who was on the board that employed the experts, dis claimed all responsibility for what had been done, adding that he didn't vote for it because he was opposed to spend- ing S5OOO or $6,O0O to find $5,OOO. After thinking the matter over and shaking their heads at the seriousness of the situation, all agreed that they were at the mercy of the experts ana it was decided to make the best they could of bad case by strengthening out the account
 The next number on the program was an exchange of opinion regarding the purchase of tickets for city em- ployes. Mir Wells said he didn't sec any reason why the city should buy tickets for its employees no more than factories or other concerns hiring sew eral people He believed they should be at their post on time and walk to and from where they are employed or pay their own fare, the same as others do. He wouldn't object to giving pass to a man who has good deal of running around to do. but it should be a pass that nobody else could use, not a ticket or tickets that are transferra- ble. The ticket business crept i'll dur ing the past two years and was grow ing to be quite an abuse. It was voted to instruct the comptroller to issue no more acquisitions for car tickets, buf he may keep tickets at his office and give them to city employees who ask for them and who are going to use them for the good of the city,
 The matter on an increase i'll the sal ary of the treasurer was referred to committee consisting of Commissioners Lord and Filling. The bond of Town Clerk Brett was approved. The com mittee on safes, consisting of Commls. sioners McElligott and Wells, reported recommending that the safe now in the city clerks office be removed to the office of the water department and that the one in the collectors be ex- changed for a smaller one, to be placed in the office of the superintendent or streets. and that safes be bought Tor the collectors and clerks offices. The recommendation was ordered on file
 and the matter of making the trans fer and purchases, recommended re ferred to the comptroller for considera- ton and report The matter of contlnu- ing to rent safe deposit box at the Col onial Trust Co was referred to com- mittee consisting of Commissioners Wells and Filling. \ cheek for S1O9 was received from the treasurer. to- yether with an explanation stating that it represented money to that amount received by the Brookside home for pigs sold. They wanted some arrange ment made whereby the board of char ities could use the money in purchas- ing other stock. The board considered it n reasonable request, but they saw no way of complying with it and the treasurer was ordered to turn it into the treasury.
 The report of the treasurer for the month of February was received. showing the balance on hand February 1. S121.444.92; receipts during the month, s12,346.25: expenditures. $56,- I34.49, and the balance on hand March 1, $93,056.6S.
 Commissioner Wells and ComptrOl- Ter Russell submitted q report regard ing the action of the board in select. ing the Manufacturers bank as the depositary for all city funds. 1t showed that the action was based upon the receipt of the highest rate of in- terest ever paid to the city for such n purpose and that the interest offered included all city funds. not a part of them as has been the cusrom in the past. The report will he submitted to the aldermen Monday night. The pay rolls and miscellaneous bills were read