( 180 )
an old one they take up the old concrete and have the material near at hand, but when it is new work they have to get the broken stone from a distance. When the bill comes in we don't know that, we must ask them why they charge 26 cents, and then they say: they charge one cent more for bringing the road metal from a distance. Sometimes therefore we are not quite certain whether an account is correct or not. We generally make a separation of those accounts that are in order and those that are not, and pass the former. With regard to the latter sometimes we make formal queries to the Sur veyor General, and sometimes we send a clerk down below to ascertain under what items of the schedule the prices are charged. It would facilitate matters a great deal if when they pass an account in the Public Works Department they would enumerate the schedule prices.
Q.-Then I understand you to say the delay in passing bills for measured work arises from the complexity of the items and the want of references to the prices of the schedule, which are omitted in the Public Works Department?
A. Yes, because to them it is so easy whenever they classify an account to put the number of the schedule; to us it is most difficult, because we don't know exactly
what kind of work was done.
Q.-Now let us confine ourselves entirely to a bill for contract work for the pre- sent. I see Mr. PRICE says sometimes, "so and so asks for an advance of $1,000." That is a lump sum, and of course there is no checking?
A. No checking, but of course I must see whether there is any amount available in the contract. The Audit Office is not responsible whether the work is done or not.
Q. Then what is the longest delay in a case of that kind?
A. Perhaps three minutes or five minutes.
Q-It is passed the same day?
A. Yes. Sometimes he comes up with the voucher, and I make the entry in the back of the contract. I enter the number of the pay list and the amount.
Q-Then with regard to bills for measured work, I think they are generally passed in monthly batches?
A. Yes, but not always. For instance, bills for the repair of roads and streets they send up in a batch.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-Current work is to be paid every month?
A. Yes.
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.--And exceptional work when they send up?
A. Yes, almost every week there is some bill sent up.
Q. Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-What we want to know is how long it is before mea- surement work is paid for by you, as a rule, after the bill has received Mr. BOWDLER'S signature.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.