Let There Be Light

Chicago's city council recently passed a new record budget of $376 million, including pay raises for political jobholders, increased auto allowances for favored ward heelers, and a whopping $4,800,000 for the city's Electricity Bureau. Young (34) Democratic Alderman Robert Merriam, who with 13 Republican colleagues had vainly fought for economies, decided to investigate the bureau, followed a seven-man electrical crew on its rounds around erratically lit Chicago. His report, published last week:

8:34 A.M.: First maintenance truck leaves city garage with two men aboard.

9:40 A.M.: Truck stops at 2020 West Cullerton. One man apparently siphons gas from truck into gas can and puts it in another car.

9:57 A.M.: Truck proceeds to Maplewood & Flournoy, meets five men, who drive up in own cars.

10:02 A.M.: Two men put ladder against pole. Others do nothing.

10:05 A.M.: One man ascends pole to attach rope at top. Others do nothing.

10:23 A.M.: One man starts painting base of pole. Man on pole erects pulley arrangement to enable him to get can of paint to top of pole without carrying it.

10:29 A.M.: Three men go to other car and drive off. Only one man working.

10:47 A.M.: Three men come back in their car.

10:54 A.M.: Cars and truck leave.

11:25 A.M. New location, School & Ravenswood.

11:26 A.M.: Equipment unloaded. One man digging, others watching.

11:45 A.M.: Six off for lunch. Go to tavern nearby.

12:54 P.M.: Six men return from tavern and one resumes digging.

1:03 P.M.: One man ascends pole and detaches electric wire. One man digs.

1:08 P.M.: One descends pole.

1:37 P.M.: Two men working to remove pole.

1:49 P.M.: Two men remove pole, using pulley; put in new pole.

2:02 P.M.: Two men tamp dirt.

2:04 P.M.: Two men go to tavern.

2:15 P.M.: One man on top of pole, attaching wire.

2:21 P.M.: One man on top of pole, one painting base of pole.

2:25 P.M.: Man on pole working, others in truck.

2:40 P.M.: One man painting pole--three in tavern--three in truck.

2:48 P.M.: Man descends pole, puts ladder back in truck. Nobody working.

2:52 P.M.: Another man leaves for tavern; no one working.

2:54 P-.M.: Last three men leave for tavern. All seven men in tavern now. Truck unattended though motor is running, as it has been all day.

3:12 P.M.: Mass exodus from tavern.

3:19 P.M.: Truck drives off. Other men get in cars and leave.

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