The Detroit times., 1915-06-18
WATER BOARD LOSES
THOUSANDS Of DOLLARS;
BIG SHAkE-UP COMING


put into effect shortly. the inspectors
will be shifted from time TO time 30
that no inspector will read meters In
the same district twice In succession.
This will prevent inspectors making
fake readings. Secretary Gilmartin
says he In satisfied that some OF the
inspectors have avoided actual work
for days ut q time by taking meter
readings. Others are suspected ot
splitting "50-50" with consumers Ia
their districts. iGlmartin has not
completed his investigation and he
makes no specific charges. although
he admits that there may be ground
for ugly graft rumors.
Formerly. meter inspectors were
allowed 10 take their books home at
night. No rigid tab was kept ON the
hooks In the ONCE. Consequently.
the inspectors could do about az they
] leased with their record books. One
inspector died, and MS books. which
he had taken home. mysteriously dis
appeared. The board was never able
TO locate these books.
In the permit department there is
an absolute lack of system and eth.
cheney. II nothing worse. according
to Secretary Gilmartin. A former
permit clerk was shifted TO another
position In the Office NJ the suggcs-
tion of the secretary. who makes the
statement .that a year ago the board
lost more than $4,000 on permits
Permits were issued and not dated;
connections were not properly re-
corded. and even licenses were not
paid for. Plumbers benefited by the
carelessness in he permit depart
ment.
GIancinE over the books. Secretary
Gilmartin found i09 requisilions for
Is-bound hammers and an unusually
large number OF acquisitions for Ian
terms such as the meter inspectors
carry. Investigation showed that
some OF the meter inspectors were
carrying around lanterns in the orig
inal packages, while i6.pound ham
mers were scattered on Jobs all over
the city.
Instead OF checking in tools. Ian.
terms. etc. said Secretary Gilmar-
tin. ''the men have been In The habit
OF writing out requisition for new
equipment every time they went oui
on = job. guess they thought the
stun became their personal property
once they got their hands on IT,
A system OF checking tools has
been installed. and each requisition
is now thoroughly investigated be-
fore II Is signed.
Recently. Secretary Gilmartin
learned that the water board was In
the habit OF doing work cheaply tor
certain private corporations. Tho
head Of company called up the sec
retary's ONCE one morning and ask
ed that gang OF men be sent oui
to repair a leak.
I'VE don't do that kind OF work"
said the secretary.
you dont?" asked the voice. eyi
IDENTIFY very much surprised. The
board has been doing that kind o
wJrk for us for years"
The water board, shortly be.o-y
that. had done Job for the com
pany. Secretary C,iimartin had tbs
work being done by the board af
saving to the company was Sl75. III,
work being doine BY the board a,
loss Of $3.50.
A stop has also been put TO tho
practice OF selling supplies &c plumb
ers. The board buys In quantity an
gets very low figure on all sup
plies. Plumbers have been In IL
habit Of getting supplies from III
board at the low figure. Now 20 %
cent Is added to the cost price. ant
only material for special work 4
sold.
In the Office. numerous char
are contemplated. Clerks preyIoa
ly drew overtime for transcribiu
their records. Now a card ind
system Is being installed. doins
away with the work Of transcribing.
Since ! have been back on the
cheney OF he force has been increas.
Job. ! think can safely say the efri.
ed about so per cent" remarked Sec
retary Gilmartin. 1T will have to be
boosted another so per cent to make