The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-08
FINANCE BOARD CONDUCTS PROBE Has City Engineer Kelly on the Carpet Over Extra Days
 Bill of Paving In
 spector. EIGHT DAYS TO THE WEEK Mayor Fears City Might Get Worst of Overtime Arrangcmcnt--Onlcc Landy Rcncws Claim for
 Indemnity.
EIGHT DAYS TO THE WEEK

The board of finance last night un- dertook a little probe in the financial transaction of the State street paving on account of the bills received for the payment of the city inspector who Is overseeing the work. It appears that the bills have been coming in for more than six days of work week, one be- Ing presented on behalf of the inspector for the total of and 2-3 days for a sin gle week. City Engineer Kelly was called before the board to explain the situation. He stated that the con tractors, Warren Brothers. in pushing their work along worked on Sundays and after the regular hours that consti- tuted the inspectors full city dG% and In consequence, as 1t was necessary for the inspector to be present and watch the work even at overtime, the extra work was put In as part of another day and the additional time so mounted up to the time put in
 Mayor Martin objected to the over. time on the ground that he wanted the inspectors time regulated by the city entirely as business propositions Hc pointed out that there was danger of a contractor making overtime work foi an inspector. And by thus increasIng the wages which the city must pay hin hold him under an obligation to the firm. to the detrlment of the city whose interests he was watching We don't want the inspector under any obllga. tlon whatsoever to the contractor, tho mayor declared.
 Mr. Kelly said hc did not think ther, had been anything of that kind occur ring. He said he was in good toucl with the work and did not believe an, overtime was being created in thl case. The mayor said he did not intend to convey any idea that such was tn, actual working In this case but dvclt upon It's danger as a business propos ton and put up to the city engineer {, attempt to avoid any such dangers il the future when making contracts with firms for work to be done here.
 Attorey Stoddard of Stoddard art Goodhart appeared before the board tc resuscltate claim that has been be fore the city since 1906. It is a claim of patrolman Landy that the city pa, him S25 and costs assessed against hin in court in connection with a cas, brought against him for trouble arising at Are in 1908. The case was appar. ently revived by the trouble betweer ' l9 tI i., Saturday as It is a case of similar ma ture. Lapdy wants indemnncatior from the city on the grounds that Inc was acting under instructions from { superior officer. Corporation Counse Daggett gave an opinion In favor o' the claim but it has never been paid. | The mayor asked that all consldera. | tion of the case be postponed until af ter the settlement of the cases of tho students tomorrow. He felt that any action now would be construed as indl eating the stand of the board and him self regarding the present cases Tn, board put the matter over for futur action.
 The issuance of si5000O of new sewe bonds was authorized at the session
 The discussion of the request fol more money for the new Welch distrlc school house was again put over Ther, were large number of bills before tht board and as a long session is expecte when the matter finally comes up be cause of the fight it will probably oeca sion the matter was not tried out las | night