The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-03
SAYS BILL IS EXCESSIVE.
County Auditor Objects to Ac-
count of Ferry Builders.
MR.. MORAN ROASTS HIM.
Claim. the PopuIist OmcehoIder Is
Attempting to Make Political Cap
itaI by Trying to Besmirch
the Business Reputation of the
Firm, Which May Take Back the
Ferry Boat King County.

Ferry Boat King County.
County Auditor EVenson yesterday ex-
hibted in hts office in the county court
house copy OF a report which seems to
have been public property for the past
few days and which he claims he viii
shortly file with the board OF county com
missioners, wherein IL is set forth that the
bill rendered the latter body by Moran
Brothers Company for extra construction
work and materials furnished the ferry
boat King County em5odies approximately
g. 400 overcharges which in part are
duplication of the bills already rendered
for the work. The report is the result,
Mr.. Evenson says, Of an investigation
which he has conducted in his capacity
as county auditor OF the account through
the medium of Capt. Edward H. Lee. an
employe Of the office who was recently
detailed to examine into the items Of the
bill which Moran Brothers rendered Mr..
Evenson intimates that the bin was rail-
roaded through the county commissioners
office
County Commissioner Gibson, who by his
profession. which is that Of marine en-
gineer Is said to he particularly well
equipped to pass upon the character of
the work performed by the builders OF the
ferry boat charactertzes the report as an
fectly reasonable charges for work per-
formed into discovery of alleged wrong
doing on the part OF the contractors
without foundation for the allegations
Robert Moran. president of Moran
Brothers Company, also treats the alleged
discoveries in the light of an attempt to
manufacture political capital out of that
portion of the board of county commits
sioners which is Of an opposite political
faith from the county auditor by incl
dentally attempting to besmirch the husi-
ness reputation of his firm Before he
was aware Of the report which the county
auditor says he Will file Mr. Moran stat
eel last evening that he had made prepara-
tons 10 take charge Of the ferry and hold
the vessel pending settlement OF the
companys bills, which he emphatically
AYERS are not only entirely reasonable
but in one instance actually rendered for a
lesser amount than the company was war
ranted In charging
The report which Auditor Evenson
exhibited Yesterday was prepared on Fri
DAY OF last week ana according to the
ofhcial's own statement. the document was
Immediately given into the hands of out
sac parties, and was not returned to MIR
kNenson until IA late hour yesterday al
ternoon. Though the document was sup
posedly on file in the auditors office YES
terday access to 1t could not he had I'M
III late hour, when II finally made It's
appearance among the files OF the office
The auditors charges against Moran
Hrothers are in substance to the effect
the commissioners for 49, 100 q for extras
provided over and above the original con
tract price, the Inspection of the vessel
fails to revea. the expenditure of more
than N.3ll IL OF the amour, claimed by
the builders 10 be due. The auditors re
port claims TO have discovered an addi-
uonal charge Of 1878 for placing extra
beams In position and widening the YES
sci from thirty-two feet. which was also
embedded In the bill rendered FOR extra
labor and material in changes to increase
"a zf.- ffnaf .{r..r
tn $3.50. Numerous other alleged discrrp-
ancies are pointed out in the report and
recommended TO the commissioners for
When seen last evening regarding the
aitsed discoveries Robert Moran, OF Mo
ran brothers Company, characterized
them as na unwarranted attempt to cast
aSp"rSlons upon a reputable business
urn WIN the Interior motive of manu-
Ian,nr'ns Po.ti'si capital out Of the
The county got "A great deal better
boat than We would haze tcen f"rc.d
70 build under the terms OF tho contract
watched hN paid Inspector Tor the
county whom | consider an expert In Ms
Protesslon' 10 not cnre 20 reply to tho
asperslonS cast upon the business intpg-
ritN OF our firm by politician who +
STRIVING Tor q very apparent end Not
one item OF N" bill which Was rendered
the commissioners can be honestly ques-
toned, and I shall immediately proceed
70 demonstrate this fact TO the auditors
unless my bill IS paid forthwith Mean
time do not care 20 discuss or disp,lfe
with anyone the business Of The charges
contained therein I shall tomorrow INK.
stantial assurance that our claim viii be-
shortly settled. have this LAY mailed
ing letter. which is seif-eNrlanatory
Hon County Commissioners. Gentle.
mon some days aeo We transmitted I'd
T"u aNr bills for balance tlu. fsr lor
4 H h. r. O. r lHf Z It..r