The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-10

Ing efficiency OF the commission, ac-
Icording to Commissioners Hethering-
ton.
II see no difference between the
school board, the park commission,
the department OF public works and
the lighting commission as far as the
bookkeeping Is concerned" said
Heineman. IF the other departments
can itemize their accounts without
gripping themselves, why not the
lighting commissionf
And l also want to state for the
benefit OF all present that am not
actuated In this matter by any feel
ing OF personal animosity or unjust
criticism of the commission. The
statement made that did not like
the boost IN salary given the general
and / defy any person to produce evi-
dence that l have any animosity to-
wards the commission"
In behalf of the committee, Aid.
Thompson. chairman. declared that
there was not the slightest ill-feeling
towards the board as far as the alder
men were concerned. and Aid. Bell
repeated the declaration.
IF you gentlemen have any fault
to fnd, go down to the plant and look
over the books" said Commissioner
Hetherington. insisting that personal
motives were behind what he called
an attack" on the commission.
I'VE have no objection to the COM
mittee acting on this matter In good
faith, but we do not want to be asked.
in bad faith, to come before your COM
mittee.
Il cannot think Of any good reason
why the maintenance items should be
itemized. II there were any question
as to how the money was spent, the
boards method of doing business.
mismanagement OF anything like that.
such request would be perfectly
proper coming from the controller or
any other citizen.
"But our books are more open than
those of any other commission. We
are constantly engaged In controversy
with private corporations and our
methods OF doing business for the
city, are being constantly investigat-
ed by these corporations who are
anxious to find out how the commits
sion Is able to make the showing IL
does.
"As far as detailing the items, every
item goes to the controller. We do
not handle any money. except small
collections. The controller has the
vouchers to show for every expend-
iture; 1t Is purely matter or book
keeping detail.
''Mr. Heineman is patriotic citi-
gen, but l think Mr.. Mistersky, Mr..
Lynn and Mr.. Bowler are far more
practical than the controller when IL
comes down to board matters.
Commissioner Hethering, after care
fully explaining the commissions po-
sition, left the committee room. Cen
eral superintendent Frank X. Mister
sky remained at the committee table
gathering up his reports. and Heine-
man asked him II he ever noticed any
animosfty on the controllers part IN
dealing with the board. Mistersky TO-
piled that he had not.
"And ON the contrary our relations
have always been pleasant, nave they
not?" insisted the controller
That's a question would not care
to answer" replied Mistersky. iou
seem to have been irritated witnout
cause on former occasions once
when you were an alderman you lolu
me that you couldn't get a darn thing
from the commission. investigated
and found you got everything you
asked for. As far as Directing TO my
increase in salary il you or anybody
else thinks it unreasonable. then ten
me so / can And another job.
The committee took the matter OF
requesting the board to itemize itB
budget in the future under advise
mont