The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-10

One of the interesting features of last
evenings city council session was side
tracked At next Tuesday nights
meeting the programme will be enliv-
ened by the fight over the proposition
to ratify the new lease of the Warm
Springs The city attorney reported
the draft of lease for execution with
Barnes & Byrne, according to the
terms of the extension and reduced
rental granted by the council a month
ago, but on Callister's insistence, con-
sideration of the lease was postponed
until the head of miscellaneous bust
ness in the order of business was
reached. The opposition finally yielded,
and when the order was reached, Cal
listers colleagues came to his rescue
by voting for adjournment. Adjourn
ment was ordered by q vote of to 5,
the negative votes being those Of New
ell lie Prohon, O'Meara, Wiscomb and
Mulvey. Romney and Dale were alb
sent.
The contentious between Contractor
Frank Harigan and City Engineer
Kelsey received just share of the
councils attention, with honors in ia
latter and the spectacle of some of the
councilmen being thwarted in their at
tempt to vote themselves extra COM
pensation, served to infuse interest in
to the proceedings.
COMPLAINTS AGAINST A CON-
TRACTOR.
The city engineer called attention to
the defective and belated construction
Of CT NV
Frank Harigan and the alleged corrupt
methods pursued by the contractor in
suppressing competitive bids in order
to be awarded contracts at higher
figures. as evidenced. by the accom-
panying affidavit Of David r. Parry, a
rival bidder, who, it was alleged, Hari-
san had attempted to bride with the
| promise of profitable sub-contract on
the L street sewer, or in lieu thereof a
tender of $50 if affiant would refrain
from bidding. The matter was referred
to in detail in The Herald on Oct. 81
Engineer Kelsey recommended that the
city declare in favor of a policy of de-
Ginning to receive bids from derelict
contractors, whom, he claimed, pre-
vented responsible men from bidding
against combinations that get contracts
at low figures without any intention of
doing the work according to contract,
but rely upon the possible acceptance
of defective work and the allowance of
extras for profits.
HARIGAN KICKS BACK.
! Contractor Harigan requested the ap-
pointment of committee to examine
the work done by him in the construc-
| ton of the sewer, on Second South
street from Second to Fourth East, and
TO investigate some matters pertaining
to his execution of the contract. He
represented that the last half of tile
! sewer had been tested and some inSig-
/ niticant leaks had been discovered, but
no more than on the first half, which
had been approved by the city engineer.
! 1t was alleged that it was impossible
/ to construct an absolutely tight sewer
! of vitrified pipe where the size does not
permit a man going through to cement
! Joints inside The contractor repre-
I sented further that he had done the
work as We'll as could possibly be done,
with the best materials, according to
contract; and. moreover, he claimed
! that the trivial leaks would in no way
! interfere with the efficiency and du-
rability of the sewer. The communica-
ton concluded with the expression of
the hope that he would not be further
annoyed and harassed by these petty
''quibbles on the part of the city en-
/ gineer.' The matter was referred to
the sewer committee.
THE CONTRACTOR YIELDS.
Harigan again represented that the
delay on the part of the city to enter
/ into contract with him for the con-
! struction of a sewer from Brigham to
First street, along L, and eastward 140
feet on the second named street, and
/ the impossibility to complete it within
the time contemplated by the intended
! contract, made it desirable to have the
contract cancelled. For these and
other reasons" not stated, he asked
permission to withdraw his bid and
have all obligations with the city an
nulled.
/ Harigan was permitted TO withdraw
/ his bid. and all the papers in the con-
troversy were referred to the board
| of public works with Instructions to let
/ the contract to the next lowest bidder
ON the l. street extension. After a
protracted discussion a. special appro-
| priatien of over $1,000 was voted tc
Harigan to pay the engineers first
partial estimate on his Second South
! street contract.
RAID ON THE TREASURY.
The finance committee submitted the
pay roll of the water works committee
/ for service as a board of equalization
/ ana review on water rdIe aS5S6SSTl e1llS
without their approval. for the reason
that there was no authority for its al
lowance, and the committee recon-
mended whatever action the council
deemed proper. The roll was dated
Oct. Is and contained the following
items and names: Chris Diehl, ter
days, $780, e. M. LIE Prohon, nine days
| s45; j. j. Stewart, two days, $40; ]. E
Wiscomb, three days, SIS; w. A. Nc.
Kay, clerk, ten days, $50. Diehl, Cal
lister and Allen were opposed to pass
ing the pay roll, although there was
abundant Justification by way of pre-
cedent in former administrations fol
allowing it. Diehl declared that he
had no knowledge that such pay rol
was to be submitted and he gave notice
that he would refuse to accept any
extra salary for committee work i
voted to him. After striking off the
name of Archie Mckay, the regularly
employed clerk of the water works de
partment, the pay roll was recommit
ted to the finance committee, in whose
hands the majority wish it to perish
This latter action, however, was take1
over the protests of LIE Prohon, Wis
comb, Newell and OMeara.
PAVING TAX REBATES.
In the matter of the communication
from the city attorney relative TO tn,
proposition of claimants. in the case O
the Brigham Young Trust company VS.
the city, to compromise their demands
for the excess of the street pavini
tax over the actual cost, the city en-