The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-28
OVER WATER SURVEYS
CHARGE OF FICTION AND DE-
CEIT IN PAYROLLS.
Question of Completing the Work
Is Not Decided-Majority Will
Recommend Removal By Council
The Engineer Makes Vigorous
Denial of Charges.

council concur with these three and
Mayor Clark also gives his assent to
the proposition. the engineer will be
removed. But it is doubtful whether
the engineers removal from Office will
be accomplished, Notwithstanding that
the majority of the special committee
on the water supply problem will rec
ommend 1t.
Members of the council who attended
the committee meetings last evening eX-
pressed surprise on learning that the
majority of the special committee had
determined to recommend to the coun-
ell the removal of Engineer Kelsey, but
Councilmen Howe, Weller and Fern
strom maintained that there was Suffi
cient cause for the action
Difference of Opinion.
The special committee met last even
ing to formulate Il report on the en-
gineer'S expenditures and, as on the
previous evening, there was a pro-
nounced difference of opinion on the is
sues involved from the outset between
the majority and the minority. the lat
ter consisting of COuncilmen Robertson
and Wallace.
Chairman Howe laid stress upon the
fact that Engineer Kelsey had ignored
his request for more detailed Informal
ton as to how he classified his expendi-
lures for regular and special work.
claiming he had reported all that the
council directed and moreover, that he
had not the time to submit additional
details, even if it were possible, before
the date of his three weeks leave of
absence in the mountains.
Councilman Wallace urged modera-
ton, but Councilman Weller believed
that he had been deceived by the en-
gineer long enough to warrant a resort
to strong medicine.
Removal of Engineer Proposed.
When it came to Councilman Fern
strom's inning he presented the follow
ing motion:
Il now move that the chairman pre-
pare a report stating the conditions in
which We found accounts of the en-
gineer in special work done for different
departments of the city government in
connection with the expenditures of the
general allowance made to the depart
ment. The said statement appears to
be fictitious. deceptive and calculated
to deceive the city council in the fol-
lowing regards:
'FHst-He states that his regular
monthly allowance, among other items,
is used to pay one draughtsman $50 per
month and one office boy at $50 per
month, whereas the pay rolls show that
no such persons are employed in his
office
"Second-That c.. ]. Spencer, the
plumbing inspector, and others who |
are paid salaries per month out of the
regular allowance, is credited up for |
various work done in sundry amounts. |
The same also is the case with the office |
man, who is paid for performing duties |
of issuing permits, which work is also
up to extra expenses.
For these reasons, and others, |
that the chairman may see fit to incor |
porate in the report, a recommendation |
should be made in the report for the |
of the city engineer from his |
Office
Minority Favors Kelsey.
After the motion had been read COun- |
Gilman Wallace said he thought it was |
a pretty hard slap at an official who |
had been in the city's employ ten years |
and whose character he always be- |
Iieved was above reproach.
Councilman Robertson gave vent to |
this: I'm glad you of the majority |
have the manhood to bring to d show |
down at last your fight on Kelsey
The Republican member then pro-
posed, with Wallace's concurrence. that |
the finance committee appoint an eX- |
pert accountant to be associated with |
the city auditor in examining the en-
gineer's records. IF it is then shown |
that Kelsey has falsified anything"
said Robertson. "Tll be the first 10 vote |
with you for his removal. but Frank c. /
Kelsey is and always will be the soul
Of honor and truthfulness."
The vote on the adoption of Fern
strom's motion was three to two, Wal
ace and Robertson voting in the mega
i've.
Authority Exceeded.
The next feature of the committees
report was taken up. and after a brief
discussion ii was agreed, three ayes TO
-wo noes, that the ma jority finding will
say that the engineer has exceeded his
in making so extensive
survey and search for comparative
iata on the problem of how best the
,ity's water supply may be permanent
V increased. and that the question OF
him to complete the work
n hand should be referred to the COM
nittee of the whole for determination.
Kelsey Vigorously Denies.
When asked what he had to say on
he subject of his threatened removal,
Engineer Kelsey remarked, after learn
ng the grounds of censure:
TT is utterly false that my accounts,
Jay rolls or records are fictitious, de-
.eptive and calculated TO deceive the
.ity council. My records do not show
Tor have 1 stated the matters alleged in
Fernstrom'S motion Ev-
.rything in the city engineers office is
,pen for inspection by any one. and 1
.ourt the fullest investigation by eX-
,erts. councilmen or any others
In reply to the question as TO whether
lie had exceeded the estimate of cost of
making his report on the water ques-
ion. the engineer said he had not at
he time he reported his expenditures
or the special work, but since then and
Until the work was ordered stopped he
lad expended a little more than the
$50 remaining.
TT will cost couple of hundred dol
airs more" added the engineer, to
omplete the work. and the whole cost
viu be only about $500 in excess of the
stimate. l don't think the council will
avor stopping the completion of the
yhole report, because not one thing
Ias been done beyond what was regu-
arly authorized by the council stake
nv professional reputation on the ac-
uracy and value of the information in
nv report. and to prevent the submits
ion of a full report would be money
vasted. and can't believe the council
viii agree upon such policy
dUST FOOT THEIR OWN BILLS.