Evening journal., 1908-04-21
MAYOR RESUMES
WATER INQUIRY
Statement Of Revenues.


made merely for temporary use"
'Did you ever ask for Information
as to the discounts or reductions or
abatementsY
''No sir. We could figure out at
the end Of January what the dis
counts for that month we're" Mr.
Lessen said he did not know what was
meant by attachments or reductions
"As q matter OF fact haven't the ex-
penditures Of the department exceeded
the receipts OF revenues each year since
you became chief engineer?"
Il would have to look at the records
for that"
MT Leisen said no question had ever
arisen. prior to the amendments to the
city charter. as to whether the receipts
would be sufficient to meet the eN-
penditures.
Mr.. Leisen said he had knowledge OF
such items as fuel. labor, lubricants
and repairs under the head Of pump
age. He said the figures appear on the
books.
"Are those figures not a guess?" MT.
Townsend asked.
Mr.. Leisen said he believed they were
as accurate as Il is possible under the
circumstances to get those figures.
''The facts are that the bills are all
under the head Of pumpage, and In
order to get the items we take the bills
out and get at them in that way" said
Mr.. Lessen, on his return to the room
after being out about five minutes.
where do they separately show they
are charged to distribution?" asked
rro..fs,HsauE
Il don't know as can tell you" ne
replied. "This is a question Of book
keeping"
"'rhen II there is an improper charge
on some particular bill it's your fault
isn't it2"
Il don't think So"
'sWhen YOU approved bills against the
department Off 1904, 1906 and nos,
why did YOU not separate accounts. to
show separately what was charged
against fuel, against fabrication, labor
and repairs 49,.
ment."
sDld YOU charge these items to sep
larate accounts or to pumpage?"
Il think TO pumpage."
"Did you ever keep private rec
ord?"
Il think they may be around. We
NAV have them on the records of the
office Off several years"
III that theory works as to pumpage'
V-hv doesn't It to distribution
II think that does apply and is IN
the new system. No, 1 didn't install
the new system"
N6sbouldn't YOU require such infor-
nation as essential TO an intelligent
loperation OF the Department."
qc;enerally, yes. Some Of this infor-
nation would be interesting 70 have
but is not necessary in detail"
Increased Payroll
Mr. Ieisen was asked what caused the
increase IN payroll from sis,s5o in 1908, to
s27 a67 in 1904, and he replied that there
might have been extraordinary work
about which he would have 70 consult the
records. In response to questions Mr..
relsen said he had attended annually the
conventions Of the American Water
Works Association. Mr.. Townsend asked
him why as chief engineer he didn't keep
the items classified as suggested by the
New England Association. Mr.. Leisen
said since he knew what was required he
has endeavored to follow It out and fur
nlsh the data as required.
would It not be valuable to know how
much fuel per million gallons pumped Is
used each year7"
1T would"
Have you any such record or caused
any such record TO be kept for 1904
1905. 1906 or 1907?"
"It Is IN the annual report We may
| have those separations somewhere in
the department"
Ibid the board ever have it?"
II think not"
Don't they take Just what you saye"
IF they have no reason to doubt,
yes"
"rhen they have gone no further
than taking your figures?"
mo"
"You couldn't determine without
such details Of cost as applied to
pumpage and distribution, could you?"
mo"
"If there was an increased cost in
the pumpage in one year over another
what might II indicator"
1T might indicate an increased cost
OF coal. or a poorer quality Of coal"
"And it might indicate graft,
mightnt it2 asked Mr.. Townsend.
Il don't think So"
Mavor Wilson asked II Il might not
also indicate leakage in the pipes or
a decreased efficiency of the pumps,
and Mr.. eisen said II might.
MT Townsend asked about the de-
linquency in 1907 accounts and whether
Il was not under the circumstances a
false entry. Mr.. Leisen said he didn't
know. He said the board generally di-
reefs him nwhat he does.
"As a matter of fact, haven't you
frequently gone to other cities on trips
without authority Of the board?"
mo. not without authority OF at least
some member OF the board"
Mr.. Townsend referred 10 salaries
applied TO distribution. replacing OF
live stock, stable expense etc, and
ked just what they were charged 70.
Mr.. Ileisen said he didn't know specif-
cally, but he knew they were charged
20 distribution The item Of distrlbu-
ton is very borad," said Mr.. Leisen.
I'VE find that the distribution ex-
penses ranged from s1s,202.32 in 1896
to $1e60292 in 1903, and in 1904 the
FIRST full year you were engineer for
the water department It jumped from
| SIS, ,602.92 70 S34.145.79, and the latter