The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-22
FAILED BY FOUR VOTES
COUNCIL ENGAGES IN A WARM
1 DEBATE.
outspoken Criticism of the City En-
gineer By Callister, Who Declared
the Official Should Have Been
Discharged Last Summer On the
Ground of Impertinence.


ing of the council, Salt Lake City would
be today without an engineer. Mr.
Weiler's resolution provided for the
summary dismissal of Mr.. Kelsey. and
the argument thereon was about as
interesting as any debate the council
has had in long time
The resolution was introduced as a
result of a communication sent in by
Mr. Kelsey. In ii ne stated that he
was unable to present a report on his
water Investigations at last nights
meeting, as ordered. He specifically
promised, however, that the Mill Greek
end of his report would be ready next
Tuesday night and the Big Cottonwood
end by Dec. u. The engineer added
that ali other work in his Office had
beer suspended and that every energy
was being put into getting out the re-
ports.
Mr.. Weiler's Resolution.
The letter was laid over TO come up
under the head of miscellaneous bust
sless. When it was reached under that
head, Robertson moved that the COM
munication be filed. Before a vote
could be taken Weller introduced his
resolution. which was as follows:
Whereas. The city council on divers
+. G. Kelsey, city engineer. to make
his report to them on the work of max
ing surveys maps. drawings and other
data to increase the water supply OF
this city; and
Whereas, Said city engineer has
willfully and Intentionally failed and
neglected to comply with the said re-
quests and orders of this council; now,
therefore, be il
Tpp- Of Co
Lake City. that F.. C. Kelsey, city en-
gineer of Salt Lake City, be and he is
hereby discharged from the service of
said city and from his said position as
city engineer of Salt Lake City
The Debate Begins.
Debate on the resolution was begin
ming, when Robertson made the point
of order that his motion to file the en-
gineers communication had the right
of way. The point was declared to be
well taken and the motion was adopt
ed. Then the resolution was taken up.
Weller was the first speaker. In sup
port of the resolution he said that the
tactics Of the city engineer had been
dilatory. He did not believe Mr.. Kelsey
intended to make any report and
stituents to discharge him.
Buckle. speaking against the resolu-
ton, declared that the reason the Dem
ocrdtic candidates had run behind their
ticket was the fight that had been
made on the engineer. He said that
Democrats in his precinct had declared
the council ought to be mobbed be-
cause of the attacks on Kelsey. I'VE
ought to old the resolution in h'abey-
anee until next week, anyway" Buckle
concluded. Il will be willing to vote on
it then"
Callister Was Energetic.
Callister's remarks were energetic
and to the point There is no question
in my mind" he said but that the
engineer has tried to evado reporting
to this body. That is my opinion and
my belief. I don't believe the engineer
is perfect by any manner of means.
He has been arrogant and arbitrary
and has not showed to certain mem
bers OF the council a proper amount of
respect. Still. am in favor of grant
ing him a little further time. but IL he
doesn't make a complete report by
Dec. u. let us take his head"
Siddoway expressed willingness to
wait vet a little while. He said he had
never had any desire to fight the en-
gineer, and expressed the belief that
the reason the Democrats had run be-
hind their ticket was that they had no
money from Hanna TO help them out.
Fernstrom also was willing to give
Kelsey another week. He explained
that he did not like the way the en-
sineer had treated the council and
thought he had never intended to make
any report TO the present administra-
ton
Morris Loses Confidence.
when We have been promised a
thing so many times and have failed to
receive it," said Morris. I'VE lose con-
fidence in the individual who makes
the promises. 1 feel that the council
has been trified with by the city en-
gineer. l feel that he has delied us.
believe he has never intended to report
TO us. but il may be that he intends
TO keep his word this time and / am
willing TO give him another chance
Patrick wished TO deny that the Dem
ocrats of the council had been fighting
Mr.. Kelsey. Incidentally, in his talk,
he referred to the abusive communica-
ton sent to the council by the engineer
some months ago and expressed very
uncomplimentary opinion of il. In con-
clusion Patrick asked Weller as an act
of charity to withdraw his resolution
for the present. Then came Robertsons
turn.
Remarks BY Robertson.
MIR. Kelsey is not in need of charity
from you or from anybody else he
said Kelsey is a man who has al
ways proved himself a man. / say that
any man who says that Kelsey has not
told the truth or is dishonorable is not
worthy of the name of a man. The
trouble with the engineer is that he's
too honest. He does his duty as he sees
il and does it well. He has the man.
t,ood 70 COW what ha thinks lef it b1,r+
who it may
When Robertson had finished Calls
ter had another say. "As far as the
past history of the engineer is con-
cerned," he began, 1 want to say that 1
don't favor il. l say that the city en-
gineer's letter to this council last sum-
mer was a disgrace to the city engi-
neer and ii was greater disgrace to
this council that we didn't discharge
him that very night That's where the
council showed weakness.
Good Opinion of Himself.
II know that Mr. Kelsey thinks it's
impossible for him TO make mistake.
/ know that he considers himself infal-
lible and that when you differ from
him he takes ii as a personal insult.
His head should have been taken when
he sent US that communication. He was
asked for an apology but it hasn't been
given. He shouldn't have had a chance
TO apologize"
Howe frankly expressed his willing
ness to go on record as in favor of dis
charging Mr.. Kelsey. He certainly in
tended to vote for the resolution and
hoped it would be adopted.
Weller closed the debate with lit
tie talk in which he said that he
thought the council was deserving of
folr ~ .,ff