The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-29
SUSTAiNS BOARD
PUBLIC WORKS
Council Decides There Was No
Substitution Of Bids.
ADVERTISE FOR NEW ONES
KEGLER FAILS TO PROVE HIS
CHARGES AGAINST KELSEY.
ADVERTISE FOR NEW ONES

Sitting in committee Of the whole last
evening the city council passed a reso-
iaticn to the effect that there had been
no substitution Of bids in the sewer
contract for 1904 as submitted by
James Kennedy & co. Of Fargo. n. D.
The resolution exOncrated the board Of
public works of any suspicion that
there had been any crooked work. BY
tie vote a resolution was defeated
which provided for the awarding Of
the sewer contract TO that firm.
Clerk Kegler of the board Of public
works filed number of charges
against city Engineer l. G. Kelsey.
charging him with favOring p. j. Mo-
ram i'm the payment of materials and
work on city Improvements. After
hearing both sides the committee de
Cided the charges not proven.
In regular session the council passed
the Utah Light a. Power company veto
OF Mayor Ezra Thompson over his
head. Before doing so the recommend
ations of the mayor were incuicated i'm
the franchise. which extends its life
twenty years.
The franchise was passed with the
amendment that fog twenty-five years
after May 10. 1918 the company furnish
the city free of charge, six additional
arc lights; six for the same period
after July a. 1918: the same number
after Dec. IS. 1918. and seven for
twenty-five years after May II. 1922.
Clawson Is overridden
over the disapproval of Chairman
Spencer Clawson and members of the
board of public works, the council
placed upon the appropriation list the
cost for paving sidewalk intersection
"a the northwest corner Of state and
Fourth street The work was done by
Austin g. Allen by order of the council,
which limited the cost to SIS. The
board refused TO approve the estimate
drawn by CITY Engineer l. c. Kelsey.
-inasmuch as the estimate is in excess
or this amount and this board took no
part In the making of contract or
rates under which the work was done.
We must decline to approve the esti-
mate" submitting the same 10 the
council without recommendation.
William j. Lesker. as city plumbing
Inspector. is the first appointment made
by Mayor Thompson under the pro-
visions of the new revised ordinances.
Action was deferred until the Wednes-
day evening session Of the council
city Attorney George L. Nye report
90 to the council. sustaining the
point of City Auditor Albert S.
AANa1NN ANiINHI lilll6 the new III NJ
compelling the city TO pay a portion Of
the cost of collecting city taxes. He
said the law is not very plain. and
that a contest i'm the courts might re-
suit favorably to the city. His recon-
mendation that the matter be referred
10 the incoming administration was
adopted.
No Written Charges.
The council then went into commit
zee Of the whole to enable Clerk Keg-
ler TO reply 90 the insinuations cast
Epon him at the last meeting by Coun-
filman Fernstrom. The latter could
not be induced to repeat his accusa-
tions. and as there were no written
charges on record there was a long
Wrangle as to just what charges had
been made against the clerk He re-
fused at first to make any statement
until the charges were made more spe-
Cific. After q charge had been framed
mp verbally. Mr.. KeEler took the stand
and explained how it would have been
Impossible. as he viewed the matter,
FOR any changes of bids to have been
made. He positively identified the bid
50 evidence as the original. After
other light had been thrown upon the
matter. a resolution was passed eN-
ouerating the board or the clerk from
any crooked work
Then came the matter OF readvertis-
ing The council was divided on the
question and the motion to award the
bid TO Kennedy q Co. was lost on a
tie When that matter had been dis
posed OF. the following charges made
against AR Kelsey by Mr.. Kegler were
read:
Kegler Accuses Kelsey.
10 the Hcporable President and Members
~ Of the Hty Council. Gentlemen.
I'm fulhulng my duties as clerk OF Tho
board of public works. certain irregular
tiles and misconduct on the part OF tht
city engineer, J.. G.. Kelsey. havinE com,
before me as such clerk and such irreg
ulariues and misconduct having beer
made and perpetrated over the Certificat,
and signature of L. O. Kelsey while per
forming his duties as city engineer. !
make these charges hereinafter specificaL
Iy stated against T.. O.. Kelsey as ctty en-
giueer. submitting same 70 your honor
able body for investigation and such ac
ton as you may deem proper.
Tirst-I DO charge that on June "a 1903
IA O. Kelsey. MS city engineer. did max,
CT cause to be made an estimate in favot
81 i. j. Moran for constructing specla
valve box; that among the items Certilie,
20 by INN as having been correct al q,
.Ineunt ana E3lue. appear three and one
hait barrels Of cement at $3.50 each, d
which IS added - per cent. making Tn
cost Co the city ~ SL95 per barrel. This
] charge is not "a correct value TO place
upon the cement. but IL Is am exorbitan
and unreasonable charge. the city at o.
about the same time paying through th
IS win appear on voucher No. s. on fl
with the city auditor.
More Cement Charges.
Second do charge that on June 3. 1906
t. O.. Kelsey as city engineer did maxi
or cause to be made. an estimate in favo
or +. j. Moran tOr work done ON scwe
extension No. JIG. that among rhe item
certified TO by him as being correct as q
amount and value appears one ourt-
barrel of cement at $3.50 per barrel ID
which is added HN rI-r q .
cost 70 the city at the rate of Sass pc
barrel Also ON the same estimate apusar
nfty-siN pounds of asphalt at S5 be-
Ton, TO which Is added 10 DER cent
making the cost 10 the city at the rat
OF $3.50 per ton. This. I charge Is NO
a correct value to place upon these an
ucles, but t is an eNOrbitant and uurca
ECnable charge
Third do charge that on Aug =. 1gI
i. @. Kelsey. as city engineer. did max
or cause 10 be made. an estimate in ia
vQr or =. j. Moran for constructing sewc
man-hole. that among the items certiffe
% by him as being correct as 90 amour
and value. appears four barrels Of ccmeu
at A.Uo each. 90 which is added i1 ne
cent. making the cost 20 the city 50 40 De
barrel Ihls- charge is not COrrey
value 20 place upon this cement but Is "a
eNorbltdur and unreasonable charge th
city at or about the same time paylna
through the board of public works bu
g325 per barrel as VIII appear upOu v0uch
or No. 66 now on file with the city aud
itOr.
Not According to Contract.
FOURTH do charge that on oct. o 100
J.. G. Kelsey. as city engineer. do max