The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-21

The much disputed bill Of Moran Bros
against the county for the ferryboat King
County, which was attached several days
ago. and is now lying In idleness at Mad
ison street wharf. has been allowed by
Auditor Evenson. under protest. which
he has filed with the clerk Of the board
of commissioners.
The document is a lengthy one and re-
cites In full the case from the time the
contract was let up to the present date.
and states the officers reasons for not
allowing the bill sooner The charges
against the commissioners and Moran
Bros are somewhat sensational, and in
teresting developments are looked for at
the next regular meeting OF the board.
The commissioners. after reading the
auditors voluminous protest. waxed
wroth. and Immediately forwarded the
gentleman the letter OF which a copy Is
given below:
Auditors Lengthy Protest..
ITO the Board OF County Commission
ers, King County. washington--Gentle-
e er he sh arss & MHsna
three hundred Cs3oo) dollars, which you
have allowed them for extras upon their
King County, i desire to enter my pro-
test as a public officer against your ac-
ton in allowing said claim at the sum
you have.
81 am advised by counsel that In view
OF the fact that there is an existing con-
tract for the construction of this boat.
and that you are the board having juris-
diction to audit and allow claims against
the county upon such contract. that I
am but clerk whose duty II
Is ,. to ,, issu warrants ministsriaily
upon claims upon which you have juris-
diction 70 act; that ! have no right TO
sit In review OF your acts no matter how
be. provided always II is a matter upon
which you have Jurisdiction to act
therefore. desire to say TO you and
rant TO Moran Bros. for the sum OF three
thousand three hundred (s3oo) dollars
upon your allowance of the claim. be-
cause the law makes IL my duty to do so,
and because have no power to refuse,
at the same time believing your action
In the premises to be a violent disregard
OF the rights Of every citizen taxpayer
You are. certainly aware that there
are many duplications in this BILL which
OF the county; that the reports '' * your our
experimenting engineer OF construction
r. A. Turner. reads more like special
pleading OF a trusted employs. of Moran
Bros than Of representative acting
in the interest OF King county"
The auditor then goes on to recite the
alleged failure Of the firm to comply with
tne specfncauons and what he considered
the exorbitant charges for extra labor
snd material used In making the changes
desired Dy the board.
Il understand you have undertaken IN
cover the nine hundred dollar charge for
extra labor and material in Changes 10
Increase the size and strength az the
steamer as directed, to one for damages
allowed Moran Bros Co. for your NOT
sooner acquiescing I'm their pronosed
changes In the construction OF the heat
1t is evident upon the face OF the record
that this change and claim ia a pretext
trumped up for the purpose of covering
this steal. when IL was discovered thai
IL was a duplication az a charge for ex-
ira labor and material You know that
their claim that they were DELAYED in
Inc work IL negatlyed by their own writ
ten communications TO this board. sss
s- Calls IL Robbery.
..Op JuIv stb Mnran D.. -
board 10 grant Insnao,nr $500, aHeu your
ity to make changes in mo ern,xe. "
Construction without amhmit,,nn ~ tsNt .uI
TO your board ''e sa'"e
ION July sth You refused this r.,,,a..
and insisted that nil naccssar, nhaan arss
should be referred to yo,Ir hoard
In pursuance OF this ON JuIv ia,b Mr.
An Bros. recommended certain snseiao
changes. AT your request Moran Hros
CO.. on July 22nd submitted n sparlac
proposition In writing OF what they would
make those changes for. to-wit: Two hun
dred and sixty t26ol dollars; the cost OF
widening the steamer seven hundred and
eighty V~D dollars. On July 2sth YOU sc-
cspted THIS proposition and they proceed
ca TO do the work. IL your acceptance
MAS hot t.eariy enough, II was their I.iv-