The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-18
ALFF REFUSES TO
PAY MORAN CLAIM
1t Is for $3.50. Which Con-
tractor Demands as a
Bonus.
MAYOR ADVISED AUDITOR
TO WITHHOLD WARRANT
Matter Had, However, Been Ap-
proved by Officials and
the Council.

City Auditor Rudolph Alff has re-
fused to pay TO P. j. Moran, con-
tractor on the Big Cottonwood con-
duit, $3.50 which Moran claims as
bonus due him for completing the
conduit within the time limit specified
in the contract. The claim for $3.50
has been approved by City Engineer
l.. c. Kelsey, by Chairman Fred T.
Leonard of the Board OF Public
Works. and by the City Council and
Mayor Thompson. After approving the
claim, however. Mayor Thompson sent
n letter TO Auditor Alff declaring that
he had done so inadvertently, and ad
vising the Auditor not to issue the
warrant until the claim can he fully
investigated, Auditor Alff had re-
fused 70 Issue the warrant even before
Mayor Thompson advised him to do
What Contract Provides.
Mr., Moran contract provides that
he should receive $50 day bonus for
every day prior to July Is, 1906, that
the contract was completed, and that
he should pay a forfeit Of $3.50 day
thereafter in case he failed 10 com
plete 1t by July Is, 1906, Mr.. Moran
claims that he completed the contract
on August 10, but asserts that he is
because he was required by the city
to stop work last winter while the
matter OF changes in the plans were
before the City Council for considora.
tion. Had he been allowed to proceed
without interruption, he contends. he
would have completed the contract
sixty-one days prior 10 July 10, and he
claims. therefore, that he is entitled fo
$50 a day bonus for those sixty-one
DAYS.
y tax takes sessa e same ne g yeM Kesfv s S. fvdea
ter as Mr.. Moran. because he an.
proved the, claim before his recent
departure for California. The $3.50
was included in partial estimate
was acted upon favorably by the Coun-
ell last Monday night Mayor 1nomp-
son approved the estimate Tuesday.
Auditor Alf's Statement.
City Auditor Alff made the follow
te,rday: Last Monday at $50
o clock in the afternoon Mr.. Moran
came into my office with an esti-
mate of $4,000 10 be approved Ii
had already been approved by the
City Engineer and the chairman of the
Board of Public Works Included in
the estimate was an item of $3.50 for
ing that item. The chairman of the
Board of Public Works told ME over
the telephone, however, to go ahead
and approve it and send it into the
Council, and that he would furnish me
the data the next day TO Justify
my action. Upon that suggestion. I
did approve it, and sent it into the
Council, where IT was approved and
ordered placed on the appropriation
list
Mayor Thompson signed the ap-
preparation Tuesday, and ! then went
to The clerk of the Board of Public
Works TO get the data iustifying the
claim, which Mr., Leonard had prom
lsed me. The clerk was unable to
furnished me. AS there was no evi.
dence before me that Moran was en-
TITLED 10 receive a bonus for sixty-one
days / held up the entire estimate, and
have paid none Of it.
F. Il. Christensen, clerk Of the Board
or Public Works, says that there is
no data IN his office showing that Mr.
Moran was ever given formal ex-
tension of time, and that he was,
therefore, unable TO furnish Mr.. AIff
with the data which the latter wished.
Saturday Mayor Thompson sent the
following letter to Auditor AIT:
Mayors Letter to Auditor.
beg to advise you that In approving
the Appropriation list passed by the city
council. Dec. 10. an item in favor OF p
j. Moran. for the sum of S9l50. for com
pleung his contract the conduit with
In the time limit was approved by me |
under misapprehenslon OF the facts
l therefore disapprove IL, and direct YOU |
not TO pay said item until further ad- |
vised In the premises. and until the mat
ter has been thoroughly investigated.
Mayor Thompson said last night that |
he would send a message to the Coun- |
ell tonight advising that n thorough |
investigation be made of the matter |
before any further action is taken. tt |
is probable that the investigation will !
have TO await the return of City En- |
gineer Kelsey, late this week. as he is
more familiar with the facts concern
ing the stopping OF work last winter
than anybody else. Mr.. Moran claims
that an Investigation win establish be-
yopd question that he is entitled TO the
s9l50 bonus under his contract
Auditorium Roller Rink for nice
people.