The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-11
THEY CAME TO BLOWS
MAYOR BASKIN THUMBS SELECT
MAN MORRIS WITH HIS CANE.
Then the SeIectman Retnliated-The
Row Occurred at the Joint Build
ing Grounds Yesterday Afternoon
and Was Lively While it Lasted.

cert is an utter falsehood," yelled
Selectman Joseph r. Morris yesterday
afternoon, addressing Mayor Robert N.
Baskin. The old mans ire was more
thoroughly aroused than ever before,
and in response to the selectman
challenge he brought his heavy cane
down on the side of JoSeph'S head with
a. force that ratified all of the county
members teeth. Again was the cane
unified and again did it descend about
the ears of the selectman, but the lat
ter had by this time recovered h1mSelf
somewhat and made a pass at the
mayor with his fist, striking glancing
blow on his honor'S forehead and
knocking off the latters silk tile. Then
Daily, of the water
works department, separated the COM
batantS, who subsidized with some warm
words. Morris was somewhat bruised
about the face, but the damages were
slight. 1t is very difficult to- wound the
gentleman.
All of the trouble was the result of
an investigation into the methods in
vogue in the employment of workmen
on the grading of the joint building
square, instituted by Morris in re-
Spouse to a petition filed by certain
people with the joint building commit
tee. This petition or protest set out
that ChriStofferson has in his employ
a. man who is not citizen and VINO
has announced his intention of return
ing to his native heath. Morris was
assigned to the duty of investigating
the matter, and yesterday started on
the rounds On Tuesday the mayor
resumed the beautifying of the grounds,
and having before been greatly
troubled with men who would not
work properly or fast enough, he had
issued an order to- Christofferson to
employ only the best men at hand,
regardless of their outside recommended
tions. There was to be no more loafing,
he said, and all loiterers were to be
discharged. In company with Major
Daily, the mayor yesterday afternoon
visited the building, and while they
were in conversation near one of the
fountains, Selectman Morris put in an
appearance, armed with the petition,
which he presented to the mayor. Then
ensued q debate as to the methods of
employment which had been adopted,
and his honor read Joseph the riot act
in great shape. During the course of
the argument, Mayor Baskin arraigned
the selectmen and councilmen for Sc
| curing berthS for their friends on the
building, regardless of their qualifica-
tions or ability to do a good days
| work. Much of the delay in the COM
pletion of the building and much of
the extra expense were due to this
practice, he said, and finally wound up
| about as follows: 1--WE are tired of
this loafing business and will employ
men who will give the city the worth
| of it's money. You fellows have al
ready sent down a great many worth
less, loafing men,
1t is an utter falSehood" reared the
selectman, and then the fight was on.
Had it not been for the Interference of
Major DAILY, some damage might have
been done, for the mayor was welding
his heavy cane as a sledge hammer.
Later in the day the mayor and Morris
met at the old city hall, but the fire
was not famed to new life: in fact,
| both gentlemen were willing to let the
matter drop.