The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-06-23
HE HAS HEARD RUMORS.
Councilman Lawson Wants Insinua-
tons OF Booaiing Investigated.
he VIII Introduce Resolution, But Has
No knowledge of Any Irregularities
The Gas Franchise.

Positive declarations having been made
to the effect that municipal circles would
soon be agitated By charge of boodIing
in thecity council, and that Councilman
Lawson was the author OF the sensational
onslaught, a HERALD reporter started
out last evening to hunt up their autaen-
ITCHY. The council has been harshly
criticised in many quarters Tor passing
the gas and electric light franchise over
the mayors veto, and the manner in
which the measure was railroaded
through by ten members would be mys-
tifying in some communities. But The
Salt Lake public no longer attempts to
fathom the motives of its councilmanlc
uncertainties.
Mr.. Lawson was asked if it was true
that ne knew of any boodiing, but he
evinced IL decidedly non-commital ten
dency.
II have no grounds for charging any
guilt OF that character, he said at last.
1t has been stated, - said the reporter,
that at the last meeting of the council
you had intended to introduce these reso-
lutions,'' and the reporter showed him
the following:
Whereas, 1t is alleged that the contracts
heretofore given the Salt Lake Electric Light
company are irregular, aud,
Whereas, It is alleged that the franchise to
the salt Lake and Ogden Gas and Light COM
pany, was irregularly granted, and hence IL
legal, and,
tect the city and its citizens, therefore be it
Resolved, That the mayor and city attorney
be requested to investigate and advise the city
council as to the facts.
The story of this case is this: Some
weeks ago the council granted franchise
to the Salt Lake and Ogden Gas and Elec-
trio Light company. It was vetoed by
the mayor, and at meeting where Pres
ldent Loofbourow, one of the friends OF
the franchise, was absent, breaking their
majoriety, the mayors veto was sus-
tanned. When the full force was present
again it was taken up under recons1dera-
ton and passed over the mayor veto.
''That is true'' said he, 81 had them
ready, but on account of an early adj
iournment did not get them before the
meeting -
Mr.. Lawson was then asked if he pro-
posed to make airy startling disclosures
In case he did not get his resolution
through at the meeting this evening.
81 shall present the resolution and they
can pass it or not, as they choose. My
object in framing it was the current
insinuations that there was suspicious
play in the matter, and l want
it cleared up. Further than this /
know nothing, and in case the resolution
does not pass can do nothing else. My
sole object is to elucidate the matter and
see whether or not there are any grounds
for this talk that hear. A cloud of sus-
picion is raised that should be investi-
gated
s'Then there are no grounds for the as
sertion that you personally know OF bood-
| ling and will expose it?'
''None whatever
President Loofbourow had heard moth =
ing whatever OF the rumors. He had not
seen Lawson for some time and had no in
| formation as to what such suspicious
might be based upon. In fact, he did not
remember of hearing the franchise men
| toned Since it passed.