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A. That depends on the Surveyor General's Office, because I sometimes see heaps of bills which have passed Mr. BOWDLER. He merely initials the ordinary Contractor's bill; afterwards it has to go to the Accountant's Office.
Q. -What has Mr. PRICE to do after Mr. BOWDLER initials it?
A. Mr. BOWDLER merely certifies to the correctness of the price.
Q.- -Not to the work being done?
A.-The Overseer generally certifies to that.
Q. What does Mr. BOWDLER certify to by his signature?
A.-The correctness of the price.
Q.-Not that the work is done?
A.-If it is under his supervision, but many of these works are not under his su- pervision.
Q.-Well, let us take one case in point. Suppose this work he has supervision of, and knows is done; he certifies as to the price. Where does the bill go then?
A-To Mr. PRICE.
Q. What for?
A.-To put his initials on.
Q.-Besides that has he anything else to do?
A. He and the Chinese clerk classify them. For instance, the report mentions
so and so.
it).
Q.-This is all technical. You understand this, I don't.
A.--I will show you one bill. (Produces a bill and explains the notes made upon
Q.-Then first we have a bill certified by the Overseer that the work has been done, next by the Assistant Surveyor General that the price is right. Then why can- not it be paid?
A.-It then goes to Mr. PRICE.
Q.-For what purpose?
A.—Mr. PRICE's signature is to classify to what kind of Public Works it belongs.
Q. How long does it take Mr. PRICE to do that?
A. That I don't know; it is out of my department. You must bear in mind these (bills and pay sheet produced) are the amounts for September.
Q.-They call it September, but the man himself calls it August.
A. He dates it the 31st August, but it comes in in September. It was paid on the 20th November.