The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-21

Week.
After a debate lasting nearly two
hours the council last night failed to
take action on the report submitted
by majority of special committee on
Councilman Fernstrom's resolutions
censuring City Engineer Kelsey. Incl
dentally, a minority report, recon-
mending the rejection of the resolu-
tons. and making a lengthy typewrit-
ten argument about il, was rejected.
The report went over at the request OF
Callister, who led the fight for the Re
publicans, and who probably saw that
he was in the van of a forlorn nope.
The debate was as full of interest as
a burro is of balks. 1t was sensational
at times, and nearly always interesting.
a freak feature OF the evening was
Caiiister's vote against the subSitu-
ton of the minority for the majority
report After fighting as hard as he
knew now for the minority side, the
blonde sheepman voted in diarnetri-
caily opposite way TO the way in which
he had been SO earnestly talking.
Another Interesting Incident.
AT the tail end OF the meeting another
extremely interesting incident occurred.
President Barnes had appointed an
other special committee and both Rob-
ertson and Buckle violently objected TO
it ON the ground that no Republican
was named. This, too, in spite of the
fact that Callister had been placed on
the committee. 1t was rather a hard
rap for Callister, and seemed unde-
served, especially after the hard fight
he had put up for and with his Repub-
lican colleagues.
The majority report recommended
the passage of the Fernstrom resolu-
lions, with the exception of the first
clause. This stated that there were a
number of irregularities in the engi-
neers expenditures; that his accounts
were in a deplorable condition, and
that he had withheld from the special
committee and the council the actual
condition of affairs. As recommended
for adoption the resolutions read:
Whereas. The engineer in reporting ex-
penditures on Jan. 10 stated that he had
expended s., S4S-27 to Jan. ]. 1893, but af-
forwards. at the meeting Of the commit
tee on waterworkss admitted having eX-
pended $500 more than that amount TO
date, while the books of the auditor show
an expenditure Including January, of 3d.
$3.50, The work having been ordered
stopped on the 10th of January. the date
of the receipt of the engineers report,
and work was not resumed until Feb !.
Consequently he had expended s1.O47. 81
more than stated in said report, and
SAT- more than admitted by him to the
committed; and
Whereas. He has not reported to the au-
ditOr his expenditures since March 81, this
year. while work has been constantly go
ing on and has refused TO give the spec
ial committee any figures Of such expen-
ditures for the month of May, and
Whereas, Contrary TO his specific denial
to the committee, ii appears by the writ
ten statements signed by responsible par
ties living in Big Cottonwood, that the
city engineer has sent agents out to said
district with written contract, bargaining
with them for exchange of water from a 1
contemplated canal for water of Big Cot !
tonwood creek. which statement above re-
ferred to IS hereto attached and made a
part hereof: now, therefore, be ii
Resolved, That the city engineer be and /
he is hereby ordered to produce to this !
council at its next regular meeting all
papers. blank contracts and drawings ap-
pertaining to the special water investiga- !
ton and survey, and that no further eX- /
pense he incurred in said matter until !
further order of the council And be it /
further
Resolved That the engineer bring be-
fore the council at said date a complete /
statement showing in detail the expen- !
dftures mentioned in tue special commit /
tees report. filed June 6. 1899, showing 1
the names Of parties employed, the time |
put in by each. and the amount allowed I
them for each of said accounts.
Minority Report.
The minority report proposed the re-
admitting that the engineer was CEN
surable for not reporting his eXpendi-
lures to March 81 as requested. All the
other points made in the resolutions
were denied and copy of the alleged
contract with the Big Cottonwood
farmers was filed. It may be noted at
this point that the contract offered by
the minority contained a supplemental
clause moi embodied in the agreement
furnished by Air. Kelsey TO the major
ity.
The minority report was signed by
Wallace and Robertson.
Howe called the councils attention
to the discrepancy which Robertson at
tributed to 'forgeifulness' on the part
OF the city engineer. It follows:
We. the undersigned. agree TO ex-
change our right 10 the water of Big
Cottonwood creek in accordance with the
terms of the foregoing agreement. with
furnish Us sufficient water from Big
Cottonwood creek for culinary use
After both reports had been read
Robertson moved the substitution of
the minority FOR the majority. This
brought Fernstrcm to his feet The
councilman from the Third had evil
IDENTITY made careful preparation for his
argument. He had his facts and figures
az mis- fingers ends and presented them
logically and dispassionately. Fern
SfrOfn started out by saying he was
glad to hear the minority report. be-
cause ii embodied some things he had
intended TO talk about
Meeting Was Held.
Speaking of the meeting Of Big Cot
tenwood farmers at which Geddes Of
fered the agreement prepared for him
in the city engineers Office. Fernstrom
said: Neither Geddes nor Kelsey de-
mics that such meeting was held. /
Neither do they deny that William
BOyce was hired by Geddes for 81. that
the city paid, to go out and cali the
meeting.
When Geddes says he did not rem ,
resent Salt Lake City at that meeting
he tells falsehood. He and his horse
Grew $50 per day from the CITY.
ask what authority he had for going
out there and presenting such con- !
tracts. Coming down TO Mr. Kelsey. .
fernstrom said The city engineers
don't balance. The amount of
s54S is unaccounted for. His statement
when he brought in his report was false
and misleading and / challenge him TO
take the vouchers in the auditors Office {
and prove his assertions.
Mr.. Kelsey was asked why he didn't
report to the auditor and he said he
thought probably some more members
OF the council might want to investi-
gate him. that's the reason he held his
report back. A man OF that Kind
shouldn't be in office twenty-four 1