The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-07-10
READY TO FIGHT
FOR AUTHORITY
poard of Public Works Men,
hers Court Clash With
Mayor and Council.
MORAN ESTIMATES HELD UP
ANOTHER CHAPTER IN ENPAN-
SION JOINT TROUBLE.

r.1I q. Mcmillan. chairman, and Z.
d, pookIidge, member Of the city board
- ,orIzs. have their way, P. J. Moran
narl-known city contractor who has
g., doing some work on Main street,
sT receive no pay for that work, nor
-.uI il be accepted by the board until
W nrIts iii expansion joints between the
Thing and new sections of concrete
-t5syyaIk which he has laid. The board
I'm has under consideration resOlu-
FAN TO that effect, introduced at the
l-se+in, Yesterday by Mr. ROOklidge,
rbirb would have gone through had
r g. Armstrong, the only other
--sr,ber present, objected to IL as too
E-ssfic. IL was deferred until the next
--sg-fnr when there may be other men,
hers present
ne spirit OF Mr.. Mcmillan and Mr..
p5oElidee is TO have the inevitable fight
-,t al once which is brewing with the
,-gror and council as TO the powers OF
~ hoard. These members say that the
+,srd has the power to enforce its or
5srs by law and intends to do it.
The trouble arose over Main street
-,,.fng though there has not been the
Est of feeling between the mayor and
-arneH and city engineer on the one
tsgd and Chairman Mcmillan and some
III tba members of the board on the
other. Mr.. Mcmillan ordered Moran
3, leave a space between the curbing
and the new sections of sidewalk going
.r for the expansion of the concrete.
when the city engineer discovered that
his order had been made he took the
mayor around and showed him that this
was unnecessary with concrete laid In
rg Vr-ffT7ld with
r5ld weather and only expand again to
Hs original position. The mayor or
5srsd Moran to cut out the space for
evanston Then Mr.. Mcmillan hunted
rD Mr. R0Ollidge for moral support and
cave several different orders which Mo-
ran and his superintendent, Frank Ga
wan refused to recognize, the latter
saving that he could not read when
handed the written formal order of the
board.
Two Estimates by Moran.
Mcmillan and Rooklidge tore their
hair and threatened to resign. They
thought better of this and began to
say what they would do TO Moran for
pr7ferring to obey the mayor rathei
f17u themselves. At the meeting OF
the board Of works a week ago an esti-
mate of Moran for the work was pigeon
hoLed. It came up at yesterdays meet
Ing with another estimate. the two
amounting to S34, 731.43.
When these two estimates were pre-
scented Chairman Mcmillan began softly
and without heat I'VE have here, gen
uemen, two estimates of p. J. Moran,
Who has twice failed to comply with
written orders of the board in regard to
putting in Of expansion joints. Besides
Jhs written orders. members OF the
board have taken the matter up with
Moran and understood 1t was to be at
tended TO. 1t is very important to have
these joints in or the cuTbing Will
crack. There are indications of small
cracks already on this job and we must
expect results similar to what we have
had in other parts Of the city where the
sUbing is being cracked from this
cause
Mr. Rooklidge Immediately offered the
following resolution.
Board Claims Power.
Resolved That inasmuch as the con-
tract entered into by the board of pub
Tie works on behalf of the city of Salt
Lake with 2. J. Moran for Main street
Improvements, dated June l. 1909, Sec
ton 10 thereof requires expansion joints
10 be inserted adjacent to the cement
cubing constructed along said street,
ana, said contractors attention called
oy the inspectors of the board and mem
oers Of the board to this requirement,
also written communications emanat-
ns from the board directed to and
served upon the contractor OF his agent
In charge of said work, respectively
GATED June IS and June %, insisting
upon the insertion Of expansion joints;
ana inasmuch as the board has full au-
,lonty by law to require the contractor
70 perform said work Independent OF
me requirement of the contract; and
whereas, the contractor refused to com
ply with the requirements of the con-
uact and the orders of the board as "a
cong said work. II is the decision OF
me board TO refuse to accept said i'm
pfoVement or approve any estimates fOI
payment thereof, until the requirements
Or tne contract and the instructions OF
lhe board are complied with. IN respect
10 inserting expansion joints"
Thinks II Radical.
Isn't that rather radical?'' asked T
w. Armstrong, the newest member Of
que board who is not so hardened Il
CONFLICT with the council and engineer
.'Atldctor is so much to blame as h,
las been in among a hard row o.
esuiups here with the city engineer ad
using him otherwise. I believe tn,
yonlS ought to have been put in, bu
oe'Ier way would be merely to holC
~ enough money TO do this part o
compel it."
I'VE have the power" said Mr.. Nc
MILAN, grimIy.
BIT DIT. Rookidge persisted: There is
t-eslon involved which We may jus
- Wen hight out now. That is whethe
Aot We can compel the contractor
en Guy work to comply with the speci
Sauohs OF their contracts"
NJ. armstrong insisted that befor
10y suoh drastic action be taken Their
ftoulu De a full board present and no
rs-Ii5 members only, and Mr.. Rooklidg
( h. -lel mat c. P. Brooks may possibl
F.T az me next meeting, but that W. ]
IA -'oian would be absent from the cit
I .--I not present in any case.
| men, said Mr.. Armstrong. 1--WE ca.
/ f-,-. l lstef- There may be no damag
/ .li me way the work is laid and 4
vase why enforce this at aT?"
soard's Authority In Question.
rs, ,ls nettled Mr.. RookHdge. who in
| No. mat It was the power of IN
/ hs ~ lllat was in question and in thi
/ Ian -, supported by Chairman McAfil
/ So. . lhaliy, In difference 10 Mt. Arm
os scruples. the resolution wen
| No.. until the regular meeting of tn
| M next Friday and the estimates d
| l5tr 1iofan ON the work are held L
| mat meeting.
| tba, e" minutes later It was remarke