The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-10
CR|TIC|SES BOARD
OF PUBLIC WORKS
Councilman Hall Says Body As
sumeS to Ignore Important
Clauses in Contracts.
ASKS CITY ATTORNEY TO
DEFINE IT'S AUTHORITY
Estimates of p. J. Moran for
First South Street Paving
Arc Held Up.

Two estimates in favor of p. j. Moran
for paving East First South, in paving
district No. 81, were held up at the
instance of Councilman Hall at the
meeting of the city council Thursday
night. The first estimate was the ninth
partial, and the second, the tenth and
final. The ninth partial was presented
a week ago, and at Mr.. Hall s request
was held over one week. The amount
of this estimate is n little more than
$4,000. Thursday night the final cstl-
mato was presented for $500.
MIR. Hall made Il speech Mr.. Hall
also presented q resolution. Tho rcso-
luton was 10 the effect that the board
of public works pursued n practice of
determining for itself and everybody
else. whether or not the forfeiture
clause in n contract should be en-
forced Mr.. Halls resolution asked
informaiior of the city attorney rs
to the right Of the board of public
works TO decide whether or not the for
fciturc clause should be enforced.
Mr.. Halls Speech.
Mr.. Hall said in support Of his rcso-
luton that the board of public works
continuously ignored the council IN the
matter of The forfeiture clause. In
the present instance, said Mr.. Hall. the
contractor had n forfeiture period of
scvcnty-ninc days. Furthermore, the
contractor had pursued methods that
were obnoxious To tho people living
along tho street. In the half block on
which the First Congregational church
fronts, - said Mr. Hall, the contractor
had delayed beyond all reason the pay
ing Of the street, and all because some
of the people had insisted that the
street be paved with the kind Of asphalt
originally designated in the contract
Utah asphalt-but had insisted on us
ing California asphalt.
Matter of Information.
Mr. Black said that everybody knew
that n large part of the delay was due
to the burning OF the asphalt works.
g. didn L know it, said Mr.. Muir
doch
well, you wouId if you had read
the papers. II was even in your own
paper
Mr. Black objected to the form of
the resolution. maintaining that the
information sought by Mr.. Hall as to
the authority Of the board Of public
works to ignore the forfeiture clause
could he very easily obtained
without taking Il 'F slam" at the board
of public works or any other official,
The city attorney. said Mr. Black,
would be glad to furnish any informa,
tion desired by any councilman.
Mr., Hall insisted that his resolution
was proper. Continuing his remarks
regarding the forfeiture period. Mr.
Hall said the scveuty-fvc days at $2j
a day amounted TO sl975. If the ninth
estimate had been allowed, he declared,
the city could not have had enough
withheld 10 cover that amount, as the
final estimate Of only 1905 would not
nearly cover it,
Referring again TO the assumption Of
power by the board of public works,
Mr.. Hall said the board might as well
disregard aud ignore any other import
ant clause in n contract; it might even
change the price.
The matter finally went over a week,
when the city attorney will probably
have passed on the powers and lmita-
tions thereof Of the board Of public
works.
Strugnell, the Eunsmith.
ITigh-gradc repairing. A2o So Main