The Detroit times., 1909-12-03
HAARER UNEARTHS
MUCH R0TTENNESs
IN D. P. ".
One Foreman Has Been Discharged
After Investigation and Charges
of Padding Pay Rolls Pend
ing Against Two Others.
Spoilers Reports Also Involve Team
Owner-Commissioner Determined
on Thorough housekeeping

Commissioner Haarer of the de-
partment of public works. is conduct
ing an investigation OF the conduct
OF his foremen which has already re-
suited in the discharge of one man.
end the possible removal of two
others.
If there is anything that is not
Just as it should be- | am going TO
clean IL out myself" says Haarer.
Political pull will not help anyone
IL find that he has been neglecting
duty. | am the man held responsible
for the conduct of this Office, and
am going 10 see that IL is run right"
The first charges were brought
against Theodore Michaels. a sidewalk
repair gang foreman. Haarer learned
that Michaels was not spending all
of his time on his work and there
were other charges. A quiet session
was held in the commissioner Office,
witnesses were examined and
Michaels was dropped from the pay
roll. He is a relative of Billy"
Bushaw, the boss of the first precinct
OF the First ward, but that did not
save him.
The most sensational charges are
those now pending against Moses
Eaton, road foreman of the upper end
of the First ward. These charges
practically amount to payroll padding.
Eaton declares that he is not guilty
Of this and a hearing has been held
at which the evidence was gone over
In the presence of Aid owen OF the
First ward. owen and other north
end Republicans are standing by
Eaton.
Commissioner Haarer's attention
was first called 10 this case by the
fact that Eaton has been spending more
money on street and alley cleaning
than the foreman of the correspond
ing district In the Second ward or the
Third ward foreman A little prelim-
mary investigation was had and then
Haarer put out spoilers who check
ed the number OF men and teams EN-
ployed by Eaton.
These spoilers reported that on GER
tain days fewer teams were working
than appeared on the payroll Charges
were based on these reports and
Eaton was called in to make his de-
Tense. The teaming reports also In
volve a man who owns a number OF
ltdIlS uSth III lut TllSL hdlu WI ~.
81 have always considered Eaton
an excellent foreman. but these
charges seem very strong" stated
Commissioner Haarer to Aid. Owen.
He also stated that he is investigat-
ing the connection Of the team owner
with the reported discrepancies be-
tween work and time charged
The charges against another road
foreman OF an east-side ward. are
somewhat similar to those against
Eaton although they have not been
placed in as definite form. Action
on these will be taken within week.
Haarer is investigating the work
in other wards and gangs and declares
that he will make removals wherever
any ground appears for doing SO The
cases against the foremen so far i'll
volved are hardly conclusive enough
for criminal prosecution In any event,
but discharges will result wherever
there appears to be sufficient warrant
for such action, Haarer will place
one of his paving foremen in charge
OF the Ninth ward work during the
winter and may take similar action In
the other wards II removals are made.