The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-03-23
HAARER PREPARING
COMEBACK ON
MAYOR
SOMETHING WARM PROMISED
WHEN he ANSWERS INQUIRIES
As TO DUPLICATE VOUCHERS
AND MAoEE's CASH ACCOUNT.

The war between Mayor Thompson
and Commissioner Haarer, OF the de-
partment OF public works has begun
with the firing OF some OF the lighter
artillery.
The mayor has prepared commun'
ication TO the council In which he will
call attention to some duplicate vouch-
ers for material and freight that went
through the ID. p. w. Office.
Haarer Is preparing a warm come
back which may not be ready for some
days, however.
THE mayor has written letter ask
Ing me to give him some information
says Haarer. why did he not ask
r0r Information before he began be-
smirching my character? Now l shall
take my time and answer him fully"
All parties concerned agree that the
city lost no money on any OF the
vouchers, the ID. p. w. having secured
q refund OF the money paid on one
voucher which went through the con-
stroller's ONCE.
The Hawkins report OF the investi-
cation into the bookkeeping and
methods OF the ID. p. W. is still with
held. and the mayor refuses to say
anything about Il, although II has
been completed for some time, or TO
announce when he will send ii to the
council. This will be the big clash
as. whatever criticisms that report
may contain. Haarer will have oppor.
tunity to come back and defend his ad-
ministration.
The duplicate vouchers considered
In the mayors communication, as re-
oh M, h.y PRO lInr
nre for brick. sand and freight, the
charge being that In each case the
voucher was drawn for an amount
which had already been paid.
There was no chance for the city
TO lose as we check up each account
before closing II up for the season.
says Bookkeeper Thomas +. Ray, or
the ID. p. w. "All the companies with
which we deal have large amounts
owing until that time. IL they are
paid too much on any account, the dis
crepancy will be discovered on check
ing up and deducted from the final ac-
counting"
Some changes have been made In
the ID. p. w. bookkeeping methods
lately that are claimed to guard
against any duplication.
THE controller just happened TO
cover theea AeFFoFs---that Office is not
supposed to go into these details"
says Mayor Thompson.
isn't that what the controllers Of
fee Is for, to discover errors in the
bookkeeping OF other Departmental"
the mayor was asked.
mo. they do not get the original
entries" declared his honor. They
merely look over matters to see If
the vouchers are certified correctly.
The controllers ONCE went beyond its
duties It was compelled to perform In
looking up these bills"
The mayor will also In hiS-eom.-
munication to the council, deal with
the cash account shortages of Secre-
tary Magee. OF the ID. p. W.. incident
ally criticising City Accountant Grid
ley for not reporting this shortage to
the mayor and council.
Gridley presented report to the
mayor Monday morning stating that
Magee's apparent shortages. which &C.
CURED In 1906 and were not mention
ed until last fall. were due to the
separation OF the ID. p. w. Office, then
In the Campau building, from the city
treasurer's ONCE, which was In the
county building. Amounts were held
over in the safe during the night In
stead OF being turned over at once.
One shortage OF $112 was made up by
Magee's o u and paid day or two
after 1t was noticed Gridley reported
on the matter to Haarer, to whom
Magee had given bond.
No one lost any money on these pet
ty cash transactions and the system OF
handling the money was changed In
1905.