The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-16
Directly in Point.

Directly in point are the charges made
against City Engineer Kelsey yesterday,
In which he Is accused OF CLOSE relation
ship. with p. J Moran, the contractor
on the Big Cottonwood conduit. In order
to convince somebody that Mr.. Kelsey
and Mr.. Moran are in CLOSE relation
snip the silly charges made against Mr.
Kelsey by former clerk OF the Board
Of Public Works are dragged from their
dishonored grave and paraded before the
public.
These charges were TO the effect that
City Engineer Kelsey had allowed Mr..
Moran an eXorbitant price for certain
work and materials. The fact is that the
overchargcs complained of amounted TO
exactly gll9.S7 on work for which Mr..
Moran received $44 1902. Again. the
charges were ignored by the City Coun-
ell upon a simple statement of fact by
Mr. Kelsey they being deemed too frlv-
olous for investigation,
Fair Sample Is Given.
Here Is a sample: Mr.. Kelsey was
charged with permitting Mr.. Moran to
charge the city S2S 90 per ton for asphalt
when II was selling in the open market
at much lower figure. The asphalt in
question comprised just ffty-siX pounds,
and the difference In what Mr., Moran
was allowed for 1t and what IL was con-
tended he should have been allowed was
is cente The other charges made against
Mr. Kelsey. If charges they may be
called. were fully as silly as this one.
oliliSdl lallOlm'
So far as the Big Cottonwood conduit
matter IS concerned. The Tribune has
herctoforo pointed out that the conduit
was first to serve as political platform
upon which Morris and his gang ex-
pected 10 get back into office \ +
Doremus, who built the Parley's canyon
conduit and the gravity. sewer, was en-
ployed as consulting engineer, but Mr
Doremus himself diSclaims any response
bility &hateyer for the conduit, and says
that instead OF being consulting engineer
he Wa nothing more than third or
fourth assistant engineer.
So II was that when the American adj
minstraton came into power It was
found that the conduit was being built
on faulty lines, and IL was determined to
remedy H. Mr.. Kelsey. the Board OF
Council made a thorough inspection of
the work and 1t was determined TO make
certain changes The changes have been
ordered made and there the matter rests.
Morris Crowd Did It.
II must not be lost sight OF. however.
that Mr.. Moran did not secure the Big
Cottonwood conduit contract from the
present administration. The present ad-
ministration had nothing whatever to do
with the letting of the contract Mr.,
Moran bid upon the work, together with
other bidders. and was awarded the con-
tract by Mayor Morriss Board OF Pub
lie Works, upon plans and specifications
prepared by Mayor MorriS's City En-
X
by Mayor Morris's City Council and later
approved by Mayor Morris himself,
Low Bidder on Paving.
But this is not all that the Morris ad-
ministration did for Mr. Moran. Mayor
Morris's administration also give Mr..
Moran the contract for paving South
Temple street Mr Moran being the low
est bidder on the work. Mr. Morans bid
was $9S O65. 80. as against the Sll003S bid
OF the Barber Asphalt company. On this
work alone Mr.. Moran was allowed ex-
tras aggregating S5.6939S and Mr. Kelsey
was not the City Engineer at the time.
The charge that Mr.. Kelsey Is favor
ing" Mr Moran Is foolish as II is un-
true and ridiculous. The fact is that dur
ing the years 1901 1902 and 1903. while Mr..
Kelsey was City Engineer. Mr.. Moran
did work for the city aggregating Sl3S-
OILS IS, and received Sl,44l.0l for extras.
Comparison Is Made.
In 1904 when Morris was Mayor and
George W. Snow City Engineer. Mr.. Mo-
ran did work aggTegating Sl39, 4S9. .aS for
the city and received s.. S.13l q for extras.
The following year, when Morris still
MAYOR and George W, Ritter was City
Engineer Mr. Moran did work aggregat-
ing S223 424 0S and was allowed 1910 81 eI-
tras In 1901 IT should be added. when
Mr. Moran did work aggregating s37.-
l279s and Mr.. Kelsey was City Engineer,
there were no extras So much for the
favoritism shown Mr.. Moran by Mr.. kel-