The Park Governments of Chicago 121 



Service Records. 



No records of automobile service were kept by the Lincoln 

 Park Commissioners until September, 1910, although they had 

 owned and operated five machines for considerably over a year. 

 A form of monthly report was introduced at that time, which, 

 although it provides for showing much data of value, omits the 

 important matter of mileage, and also for whom and where the 

 automobiles were used. The total monthly costs shown on these 

 reports have not been balanced with the automobile expense 

 shown on the central office ledger. 



A SPECIFIC CASE OF WASTEFUL METHODS 



In September, 1909, William Holliday, a mechanic, was 

 employed by the West Park Board to repair automobiles. He 

 was paid 70 cents per hour for his services. Beginning with 

 July 1, 1910, with one exception, he was paid for 10 hours' work 

 (at the rate of 70 cents per hour) for every day, all Sundays and 

 holidays included, to March 1, 1911. The only exception to this 

 payment for 243 continuous days of 10 hours each was that his 

 September bill was rendered and paid on the basis of 29 days 

 whereas there were 30 days in that month. The omission to pay 

 him for that day was more than offset, however, by paying him 

 for 10 hours' services on each of four nights, two in September, 

 1910, and one each in January and February, 1911. It thus 

 appears that on four occasions Holliday was paid to repair the 

 West Park automobiles 30 hours out of 36 hours. 



The bills rendered by Holliday were written on letter heads 

 of the Park Board or on plain pieces of paper. They were paid 

 at once, although there was absolutely no proof as to their cor- 

 rectness. Moreover, at Holliday's request the following interim 

 payments for services were made to him on account: 



June, 1910 $180 



July, 1910 75 



August, 1910 100 



January, 1911 40 



$395 

 Due to careless bookkeeping, no deductions for these 

 amounts were made when Holliday's bills were paid each month 



