Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-24
OPEN WAR IN
THE CITY COUNCIL
Record Stormy Session Last Night
Resolves Itself Into a Three
COrnered Fight.
CLAwSON, KELSEY AND COUNCIL
Kennedy Contract Creates Warm Time
-Fernstrom Scored by Chairman of
Board Of Public Works.

Board Of Public Works.
Apparently lest the public might for
pet that the city council OF Salt Lake
has a reputation for wrangling that
body last evening broke loose with
another one Of it's famous fights which
rlll be remembered sometime after the
present council goes out OF commission
entirely on the first of the year. The
session last night of the committee OF
the whole was one of the stormiest and
most bitter In the history OF the coun-
eff and the end of the trouble has not
been reached yet, and from all indl-
cations the session next Monday might,
which viii be the last one OF the pres
ont administration, win be almost as
tropical as the one last evening.
The trouble arose over the rejection
Of the bid OF Kennedy a Co., tor the
saver extensions for 1904 and also over
statement made by Chairman Claw
Bon at the meeting OF the board of pub
h works last Friday to the effect that
The city engineer had used his influence
with the members OF the council and
Induced them to sell certain amount
Of asphaltum to j. J. Moran at loss
10 the city Of $500. Ordinations and
nominations were made and a ques-
ton of veracity was raised which me-
cessitated the disgraceful proceeding of
putting city Official and employe UNI
der oath to make statements before
the council. After two and half
hours Of bitter wrangling the commit
tee OF the whole refused to rescind its
action In rejecting Kennedy 4 Co. 3 bid
Tor the sewer extensions, and Clerk
Kegler OF the board OF public works,
was cited TO appear next Monday even
ing at 1880 O'clock and defend him
stf Of the charge made on the floor
Of the council that the proposal of Ken
needy & Co. had been tempered with
or substituted while In his possession.
In regard 10 the asphaltum proposition
the committee adopted the motion made
BY Fernstrom that the statements
made by Mir, Clawson were unjust,
untrue and incorrect In every partcu-
hr.'
ROBINSON OPENS THE BALL.
When the committee was called to
order Councilman Thomas was chosen
as chairman. Robinson was the first
10 secure the floor and he stated that
according TO the figures of the board
Of public works the contract for the
sewer extension this year was only $50
more than last year. He did not see
where the $l,6OO difference came In, and
stated that If the contractor agreed to
lurnsh lO-inch pipe at 80 cents, the
sane price as the S-inch pipe, It would
be gain to the city because Il could
demand the l0-inch pipe altogether. i.
Even at 80 cents for the S-inch pipe he 4
SAID that Kennedys bid was over ST.
w below Moran's bid, who was the
next lowest bidder He suggested that
tharlman Clawson be given the'iloor.
MR.. CLAWSON EXPLAINS.
Mr. Clawson was granted the prlyi.
lege OF the floor and after making
several remarks about the recent con-
duct of city Engineer Kelsey towards
lne board of public works, he gave a
detailed history OF the advertising and
receiving Of bids for the work, and
lhen told Of opening and reading the
ods at the board meeting. He said
mat he probably did read Kennedy's
Dd Tor the S-inch pipe as 20 cents in
sIead OF 3D. ana that others IN the room
VINO saw the proposal no doubt mis-
WOA the hgures for 20 too. a clerical
error ne said, was not sufficient ground
W rejecting the bid. The tabulatlon
me dds by the city engineer.he con-
ENDED, was not official in any sense
ana dld not bind the company but the
Whtract was what bound the company,
anu II clearly read 80 cents for S-inch |
ppe, He said that the bid az 80 cents |
g s'hch pipe was over a thousand |
uolars lower than the next lowest bid, |
ana ne thought the city would save |
money by awarding the contract to |
Ashhedy Co. II there was any mis- |
sAe made IN regard to the bid he said |
was made while the proposal was In |
'e hahds OF the city engineer,
CITY ENGINEERS SIDE.
wy Engineer Kelsey was then al
wwsea TO present his side of the case. |
sad that he took the figures 20 |
wuS IRON the contract before 1t was
C Csu ana also when 1t was read by Mr.. !
lawson and that several other parties |
o. we room took the bid as 20 cents. |
49, MY salu mat he took the original pro-
~, ros', TO his office Immediately after
Sr pVard meeting and that his chief |
nisa,usIhi,ssman checked II up and tabu-
S",h eu u and that the bid was UNI
cSatuiy " cents, He asked that |
nue. .s''es ~ Reed, his chief draughts-
'' oe allowed to make a statement.
MIR. REED SWORN.
,s., reed said that he carefully
hro,uV.u ana tabulated the original
hoPossl OF Kennedy & Co, and that
Wr,, va Tor S-lnch pipe was 30 cents
uros u Uut IN words ana also In fig-
tbos When asked II he would make
tbs, statement under oath he replied
swoy,, ~ would, He was accordingly
sOln IN by Deputy City Recorder
man. and then repeated his state
ntarI, iie further said that he saw no
''"ea'lons In the proposal at all.
cLAwsoN DENIES.
sVo "r''lnan Clawson then asked TO be
erea d ana The oath was also admlnls-
pron5sWo, nun lie then stated that The
Tho or Joi winch he held in his hand was
subni,e,a,15al proposal OF Kennedy & co.
iabnia,teu 70 City Engineer Kelsey FOR
and ~ on at the meeting OF the board
Tor Sincl ' contains. the bid OF 80, cents
atlon n'l pipe and has an interllne-
of at inc conclusion where Tho mama