Evening journal., 1908-04-24

Chief Engineer Theodore A. Leisen,
of the Water Department. was on the
witness stand all this morning in the
investigation. by Mayor Wilson Of
charges that the department has been
conducted in an unbusinesslike and
extravagant manner. City Solicitor
Townsend's questioning of Mr.. Leisen
this morning brought to light a loose
condition of affairs there. especially in
keeping records, and showed that there
is much guesswork. or as Engineer
Leisen expressed it. Judgment In Re-
lation to some of the important details
in the conduct of the department
That the city also expended many
thousands in connection with the
Rockland water system project, which
afterward was abandoned, and that the
city has nothing whatever to show to-
day for these expenditures, was one Of
the frank admissions of Mr.. Leisen.
He also stated that the Rockford water
tower. which cost 100000, is practi-
cally Of no use to the city to-day be-
yond being an ornament, and the eX-
penditure of several thousand dollars
in laying pipes across the Brandywine
at West street also is not of much use
now since the new water system Is In
operation, and could have been done as
well to meet present demands at much
less expense.
Mayor Wilson and City Solicitor
Townsend made more real progress to-
day in getting at the charges Of ex-
trayagance and unbusinesslike meth
DDS than any day since the investiga-
ton began. There is a probability that
the inquiry may last several weeks
Another. session is to be held this af-
ternoon. Charles G. Guyer is taking
a stenographic report of the testimony
to-day.
Data From Mr.. Shaw
President Benjamin +. Shaw, Of the
Water Commission, was present at the
opening. and was asked by city So
licitor Townsend to have prepared
and be ready to furnish as soon as pos
sible an itemized statement Of all work
done by the B. +. Shaw Company IN
any way connected with the Water
Departmef [, including the bill Of $500
in connec lon with the Edgemoor con-
tract and the bill Of $4,000 in connection
with the Holly Manufacturing Com
pany. IN -,
rs tfh all you want from rSe?"
asked \ r. Shaw.
mot all by any means" replied Mr..
Towns end, 'but it is all We viii want
you 4 produce"
Sol eitor Townsend then resumed his
euarr ihation of Chief Engineer Leisen.
Engineer Leisen Again
Il want you to produce, or the offi-
GERS under your control, all data and
information of all junketing trips
taken by you or officers of the depart
ment I want this within an hour,"
said Mr.. Townsend.
Mr.. Lessen said Mr. Grohe, who had
most of that information, was not
present. but City Solicitor Townsend
told him to have other officers to get
out that data.
aNfr I.eisen," continued Mr.. Town
send "I think we have done something
that is unusual and remarkable, and
that is that we have given you unusual
time to give answers to questions when
we think you should have had the in
formation. Hereafter If you don't
know. we want you TO say so, and call
in every employe of this department
10 grind out the information. We find
that YOU have not answered one ques-
ton in ten. and we think in fairness
TO yourself and to us that you should
answer these questions or say you
don't know. The record is full Of your
explanations that you are not book
keeper or are not familiar with book
keeping. We know that"
Engineer Laisen said If he were
given an idea in advance of what ques-
tions were to be asked he would try
TO give answers as TO the facts, no
matter what they tended to show. He
thought it would be a difficult PROPOSE
ton for the employees to get out the
information Immediately.
Mr.. Townsend asked II the Water
Department, in that it handled public
moneys, was not like a bank, and thai
Il was as necessary to set forth the
financial items with that same partic-
ularity as in a bank. Mr.. Leisen said
he didn't think so.
Solicitor Townsend pointed out the
payroll records in 1903 were detailed
and sufficient and asked why the form
of the payroll record was changed IN
1904. Mr.. Leisen said he didn't exact
" recall why, but because Of the great
number of employees the accounting de-
partment suggested the change. Mr.