The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-19

CounciImen Black and Martin
Refuse to Sign the Report
Agreed Upon.
"W0RST DEAL | EVER SAW"
RAYBoULD JUMPS DAVIS, BUT
GETS NO SATISFACTION.

Sensational disclosures in regard to the
claim of P. j. Moran for so, 45s.67 came
last night at the meeting of the city
council, when it became known that two
members of the special committee appoint
ed to check up the bill had broken faith
with their colleagues and refused TO sign
the report that the papers and bill Of
Moran be filed and be not allowed
The two men are 7. r. Black and l.. ID.
Martin, members of the original commit
tee. F. 5. FernstrOm, the third member
OF the original committee named by Pres
ident A. j. Davis. lodged by nOn-attend-
ance at the final meeting yesterday, when
the committee unanimously decided to file
the papers and thus court a lawsuit from
p. j. Moran TO collect his money and thus
enable the committee to obtain reports on
work and materials which the contractor
refused TO bring before the committee.
The fine Italian hand of President A.
J. Davis has been seen throughout the
Moran controversy. When the bill first
came before the council from the board
Of works. President Davis startled the
council by naming Councilman Black,
Martin and FernstTom as the council COM
mtJtee. All three men were known to
have been favorable at all times to claims
by Moran and to have pushed through
matters for the city's official contra ctor
over the heads of others in the council.
There was a protest from other members
OF the council, and President Davis was
forced to appoint L. r. Hall, g. H. Ray
bould and James d. Murdoch to work with
NAAN SNAACA NtAANt III NAANShAAA6 AAAC bAAAs
Storm Breaks in Council.
Last night the storm broke when the
report of the committee was brought in,
signed by COuncilmen RaybOuld, Murdoch
and Hall. There had been five members
at the meeting Saturday morning when
this action was decided upon, and all
agreed to sign the report turning down
the claim and thus forcing Moran to take
the matter into court if he cared to re-
ceive the money. Councilman Raybould
had been in the chair presiding for Pres
ident Davis until this matter came in.
Then President Davis took the reiHs.
let me see that report" he said to
Deputy City Recorder Ben S. Rives.
The report was handed over, signed by
the three cOuncilmen-only half of the
committee.
There is nothing before the house."
said President Davis The matter will be
referred back to the committee"
I would like TO say something in re-
gard to that report" said G. H. Ray
bould."
There is nothing before the house, Mr..
RaybOuld," declared President Davis and
chopped off the councilman.
Councilman RaybOuld was on the point |
of forcing the matter to an issue, but let |
the matter go so far as the proceedings
were concerned. He walked out of the
council chamber, mad clear through.
THAT is the worst deal l ever saw in |
my life declared the little councilman. |
Every one of the cOuncilmen agreed to
sign that report when we met this morn
ing It's a nasty shame that they have
acted this way. Where is Councilman
Black?'
But neither Councilman Black nor
Councilman Martin was TO be found. |
They had walked quietly from the room
and departed when they saw the storm
Raybould walked straight up to Presi-
dent Davis when the council session ad- !
journed a few minutes later.
Davis, that's the worst deal ever saw
In this council ~ he declared fiery
tone.
well. 1 had nothing to do with it. |
The matter was not before the council" |
came the reply
You can't tell me that" stormed Mr. |
Raybould- IF I went around parading /
myself as an officer of this city I'd at |
least be man about it."
Charges and Countereharees.
Charges flew thick and fast against /
COuncilmen Black and Martin, but they /
had departed, fearing 10 face the storm. /
This thing is more than 1 can under |
stand said Councilman James d. Muir |
dOch after the meeting. 'All of these |
men gave their word this morning that /
they would sign the report to have the /
matter taken into the courts. can't un- /
derstand why they should have refused to /
sign the report
I'VE have been absolutely unable to get /
any accurate reports in regard TO the !
work, given by Moran. Frank Gowan, |
MOranS private man, was there one morn /
ing ana all ne would say was that we 1
had MOran's bill before us. and that it |
was right. We sUbpOenaed Homer Reed, |
MOrans accountant, but he refused to 1
come with the books. We had no Way 4
of getting TO the bottom of the matter
and to refuse the claim entirely and have /
Moran take the matter into the courts |
was the only course open. Through this !
means, at least, We could get at the |
facts
Moran claims that he was ordered by /
City Engineer Kelsey to put concrete |
around the wooden stave pipe Is inches on /
the bottom and both sides of the wooden /
stave pipe and "A inches on top. Mr.. KEEL /
sey says there is absolutely no truth in /
that statement. But even at that from
the bill submitted by Mr.. Moran there /
would have to be more than two feet of /
concrete around that pipe every inch of /
the way. There is a charge in for 300 /
1aborers to bend the steel for the rein
forcing. and when I went over the work
I saw great piles OF that steel all rusty,
lying on the ground. believe they were
bought bent in that shape. There were
81 tons OF the steel, according to MOran's
claim, Of which 10 tons We're purchased
from the city. If that much reinforcing
was used the bars were placed an inch
and a half from each other the whole |
length of the pipe. / have not found a
man yet who is foolish enough to believe
that this was done.
Il believe we will have to dig down /
to the pipe and uncover part Of il to dis !