Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-02-21

the same. This was the first intf-
nation that had Of its being bought
by the city. | took the matter up
with Mr.. Russ and found that he had
purchased it on his own response
bility, without comforting With the
city government. | refused to sign
the voucher, pointing out to him the
fact that ha had no right to enter
into any contract or purchase any
thing in excess of $500 without first
passing an order and publishing the
same in the paper | had previously
called his attention to the fact that it
would require very strict manage
ment on his part to go through the
balance of the year without q very
large ovcrdraft III his department. |
suggested to him that the only way |
saw out Of his difficulty was for him
to introduce an order TO the city
council authorizing him to but the
same and have it published in due
form, so that he could legally pay for
/ it. This he did not see fit to do and
the matter has never been brought to
the attention of the city council.
AT the close of the year | asked
I the heads of the departments to get
! in as nearly as possible all outstand-
| ing bills and also to turn over all
! money and all bins receivable, cred
! itcd TO their proper departments.
/ The auditor also ] think, asked the
/ heads of all departments, personally,
Tor all credit slips.
! when the bill of the Gardiner and
4 xl ,,l, y
dolph, very justly as it now appears,
came before the council and objected
to-the bill, claiming that lie did not
consider the street CrcW under their
/ foreman with no bridge CXperinece,
capable of doing the work on the
trusscs of the pier, md also claiming
/ that there should have been some
credits on the bill. This claim find
/ to bc true. as the oak which had
been bought TO plank the bridge had
been contracted Tor w Gardiner ana
Randolph. Very little of it has been
used on the Gardinc" and Randolph
( bridge for repairs, some had been sold
and the remainder IS now on Gray's
WharM Tho part soll and paid for
1 find credited to the street department
which had no more claim to this cred
it than the Board Of Health or any
other department. That which has
been sold is neither credited to the
Gardiner and Randolph bridge nor TO
bills receivable. The street depart
mcnt during the year has used quite
I q quantity of il; this is not credited
! to>thc Gardiner and Randolph bridge
nor charged to the street department.
! Consequent the accounts as shown
on the books today arc ncithCr one
correct, the G.. and Il. bridge showing
an increase oVcruratt and the street
DEPARTMENT showing less than actual
! expenditures. The street crew re-
paired the wooden span on the Gar
diner end, which was part of the work
contracted by the State to Mr.. Carle-
ton. they receiving thciI pay from the
city Of Gardiner IN the usual city
payroll There is rot record OF any
payment to the city by Nr. Carleton
inor had the matter lecn mentioned.
! Last Saturday ! took the matter UP
with Mr.. Russ. asked him if there
! shouldn't he some credit to the street
department from Mr.. Carleton. lie
said that he had used the money 10
pay for the scaritcr which he had
bought earlier in the season: did not
deposit it with the city treasurer ana
pay the bill in the usual manner win
iu voucher. Tic charter says that no
bill can be paid until signed by the
head of the department; and counter
signcd by the mayor.
Il can nnd no authority for the cm-
ployment of a foreman in the street
department. The council can elect
superintcndcnt of streets. | see no
excuse for that department to employ
a foreman and ignore the council.
Il would suggest to the heads Of the
departments that they should all try
TO buy through the purchasing agent.
Some OF the bills coming in during
tho past year being q. K.ed by some
of the members of the different de-
i rartmcnts appointed by the council.
/ think it would be better for them
TO make rcquisition 10 the member OF
lie council who is tile head Of the
department and let him 90 the buying
through the purchasing agent and ..
X. the bill.
+. f. LAMB. Mayor.