The Detroit times., 1909-05-12
.EsT|MATORs' FEED
BILLS ARE HELD UP
Council Committee Will Look Into
Expenses for Fancy Lunches-Auto
Hire Excessive, Too, It's Claimed.

More than usual care Is being
taken by the council committee on
claims and accounts in going over the
vouchers for expenses OF the board of
estimates In the committee trips dur
ing the session just past. This is due
to the fact that committees spent much
more than ever before In the history
of the board.
A bill for $40 for luncheon In the
Belle Isle Casino is held up by the
claims and accounts committee. Auto
mobile bills amounting to 1928 nave
been passed as the amounts seemed
to be right In each case. This makes
an average of more than $40 for each
estimator.
| The $50 luncheon is not the only
feed that was charged up. Another
meal costing $31.45 was ordered paid
last week and there Is still another
bill OF SIT To be taken care OF. it is
said.
The heaviest bill for automobile hire
was that OF the paving committee.
which had eight members In addi-
ton, the committee was accompanied
| by other estimators and by various
city officials.
VIC WChe ONCl NhC oNlCCNo III wv
days and had four automobiles"
states James Cranshaw, Jr., chairman
OF the committee THE trip was made
as rapidly as possible and l do not
know how we could have gone over
all the streets that were considered
except in a machine.
I'VE had one meal, out near the
lighthouse. The committee had start
ed early in the morning and stopped
only for luncheon before going on.
do not know how much that meal
cost"
The smallest bill for auto hire was
that OF the public building committee,
which had two machines for two hours
in visiting the city hall, municipal
court and health building and Erskine-
ST. bath house, for ga total charge
of S24.
The $50 luncheon which Is being in
vestigated was served to the men,
bers OF the park and boulevard COM
mittee, of which Frank ID. Andrus was
chairman, and the police committee.
headed by Edward HNSmith. In ad-
dition to these estimators there were
Park Commissioner Hinbhman. Police
Commissioners Smith. their secretaries;
Supt. Dilger, who has charge OF Belle
Isle, and two or three other city Of
ficials. The aldermen want to know
Just who else made up the total OF 30
appetites which were served at 81 per
meal.
This park committee Is getting some
blame because OF it's automobile bill
OF $117. An offer had been made by
the company which runs passenger
autos around Belle Isle to allow the
committee free use OF one OF It's ma
chimes and this machine was on hand
at the city hall when the committee
was to start.
The committee would not get into
this vehicle but had to have Its own
autos" declares one city official who
was present when the start was made.
After making it's tour OF the parks,
the committee did not dismiss It's ma
chimes at the Belle Isle brkxe ap-
proach and go to the island by the
usual phaetons but used the automo-
biles to go right over to the Casino.
| first going clear around the Island.
The auto hire was running on all the
! time.
The fire department fund committee
expended $199.50 for autos. the board
of education fund committee had $ll1
worth OF rides, and other committees
smaller amounts.
A year ago, Philip Breitmeyer. then
park commissioner. gave all the esti-
majors and most OF the aldermen 4
dinner in the Belle Isle Casino but the
cost was paid by Breitmeyer and Will
liam Konen. the Casino lessee.
The suggestion has been made that
next year two or more "rubber-neck"
automobiles be secured TO take the
estimators around the city. all the
committees going together TO see
schools, fire engine houses, streets aud
other matters included in the budget
or asked for. IL Is contended that
this would decrease expenses and. at
the same time. give all the members
OF the board better chance To get
personal idea OF the city's require.
meutg