The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-10

Three subjects came up in the city
council last night which were the
features of the meeting. The first
was the question of placing the mat
ter Of looking up the city lands in the
hands Of the engineer, in accordance
with resolution introduced at the
last meeting; the second was the pur-
chasing of supplies for the Jail for the
next six months, by the jailor, con-
trary to the wishes of the committee
having that part of the business in
hand, while the third related TO the
purchase of flowers for the grounds
! of the joint building.
1t viii be remembered that at the
last meeting of the council the COM
mittee on prisons reported the adop-
! ton of the requisition of the city
! jailor for supplies for the coming six
months for the city jail. The firms
| who had furnished bids were included
in the report and furnished prices on
all goods which were to be purchased.
| There was a small sized row on
hand when the assistant jailor, Sol.
| Kimball, reported having made the
purchases at other places, he, as he
stated supposing his action would he
all right.
O'Meara arose TO his feet and de-
clared he would not approve the ac-
ton of the assistant jailor as he had
acted contrary to the advice and di
rection of the committee. He said
Kimball ought to be compelled to take
the goods back and pay for what he
had used out of his own pocket. A
rule has been made by the council TO
the effect that all purchases must be
passed upon by the committee and
afterwards approved by the mayor.
This rule is being enforced in all de-
partments except the prison depart
ment, where petty officials take ac-
ton which is unauthorized. If any
thing is to come before the council it
should be from the chief of police,
who is the jailor. and not from man
who is merely employed to do the
common work around the place.
1t is high time, said the council
man, that something is done to stop
this overriding of committees. The
done in proper manner and the COM
mittee has done all that laid in its
power to adhere to the rules which ne
wants carried out.
Councilman Young thought it would
be working hardship on the Tailor
TO compel him TO pay for the goods
used. He suggested the matter be
settled by the council paying for the
goods this time and serving notice
that in future no such conduct would
be tolerated.
Considerable debate ensued over
this question, during which O'Meara
said the situation was just this:
Either the committee would have to
go to the men with whom they have
made contracts and say eve have
been overruled by the assistant jailor
and you will have TO wait until the
first of the year, when we may be
able to give you contract as we
have agreed or the jailor would have
to go 10 the parties who sold him the
stuff and tell them he had acted with
out authority and ask them to take
back what he had not used. Con-
GLIDING the councilman said he would
favor paying for what had been used,
but he did not want the committee
overruled.
The question was finally referred
back 70 the committee for a report.
This morning the chairman will call
on the chief of police and tell him
that all goods which have not been
used must be returned IN the owners;
that the council proposes TO run its
business.
W III Not Fay the Bill.
The question Of the payment for the
flowers on the building grounds came
up on a report from the members of
the joint committee. Mr.. Corum made
the report. He stated the city men,
bers had opposed the buying of the
flowers, believing as they did that
flowers could be got along without I'M
til such time as the city was able to
pay for them. The mayor however,
had voted with the county selectmen |
on the committee and the contract for !
the flowers had been let, the plants |
set out and men were now engaged in /
taking care of them.
The question of authority having |
been raised as to whether a contract |
could be let unless two members from
each, the city and county, voted for
it, Mr.. Corum stated that while this
was true as regards the old COM
mittee, the city attorney gave it as
his opinion that in the case Of the
committee now existing, a majority
was all that was required.
Then we are under the control of
the county," said the chair.
ITO this extent, yes"
The council got even right then and
there by refusing to pay the bill.
City Property Matters.
O'AIeara's resolution, introduced at
the last meeting of the council author
ling the city engineer TO iIok up all
city property and ascertain whether
it was being used by any one con-
trary to law came up and was op-
posed by Mr.. Young who thought
such matters properly belonged to
he legal department. There was some
discussion of minor character after
which it was decided to refer the
saSe to the engineer with the attorney
associated. This action was recon-