Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-06-29
BOARD Of WORKS
IS. TORN AISUNDE:R.
McMilIan's Excessive Assunp-..
ton Of Authority Causes a
Big Pow Wow.
= $500 ---- - 4
MAYOR is WITH ENGINEER
MAYOR is WITH ENGINEER {. E:
for sidewalk Repairs
Causes Several Sorts of Characters
tic Dissensinn Among " Americans"

As a result of petty squabb!e about
the repairs OF sidewalks on Main street
between Chairman II. G. Mcmillan and
CD. Rooklidge, members Of the board
of public works, and Mayor John S..
Bransford and City Engineer L. G. KEEL
sey, the entire american party is
again on the shoals OF internal discord,
Unless Mcmillan, who always wears a
chip on his shoulder and Rooklidge res
4oede from theil. position, Mayor Brans-5
+ ford will ask for their designations
K Mcmillan and Rooklidge, on the other
hand, declare that II the board
of public works lis not recognized
on the work Within its province, that
they intend to resign. This strained
condition has existed since Saturday
when the two factions cIashed. With
in that time several meetings have been
held on the situation. but neither side
4 has abandoned its position In spite
of this, p. j. Moran, the official con-
tractor. is repairing the sidewalk in
accordance with the plans and specifi-
cations.
Chairman Mcmillan started the trou-
Bile last Saturday when he noticed that
the sidewalk on Main street which i;
being prepared, was being laid flush up
against the curbing. Mcmillan ordered
the contractor o8leave a space OF hair
an inche between the sidewalk and
curbing for expansion
y$ n ENGINEER SEES THE MAYOR,
When City Sngineer Kelsey heard of
this order. he went to Mayor Bransford.8
1Ihey rushed 5tosthe scene in an automo-4
bile and controversial the order of Nc
MILAN. telling the contractor to lay
the sidewalk flush up against the curb
ing as required in the specifications.
Mcmillan, accompanied by RooklidSe,
came along a little later and found that
the contractor was paying no atten-E
Stion to his orders. Frank Gowan. Mo-
rams superintendent. was ordered to
change the work and he objected.sSs He
informed McMillanth that Mayor Brans-
ford had told him to pay no attention
to Mcmillan or any of his orders. This
so enraged Mcmillan that he and
.Rooislidsei Immediately called or, Mayor
Bransford and declared they would res
sign. Mayor Bransford offered to ac-
cept their designations.
After hunting Up G.. P. Brooks, an-
other member of5the board, they held a.
meeting At this meeting they or
.dered the Inspector to see that a space
Wpls left for expansion between the
curbing and the sidewalk. but the In
spectorS refused to go against the may
or'ss orders. He Was threatened With
dismissal
Mike Fitzpatrick. chief inspector was
called in and q written order from the
board was handed him to present to
Frank GoWan, who was experimenting
the job. He, approached GoW-an and
handed him the. order from the board
INC use to give that to me. / can't
read. he said and then Fitzpatrick
read t to him. GoWsln refused to obey
the order and Fitzpatrick reported b1ck
to the board In post haste he was
fired back to arrest everybody on the
job and stop the work. In the mean
time. Frank p. Christensen. secretary
OF tho board was kept busy writing
out designations.
REFUSED TO STOP WORK.
Fitzpatrick returned shortly, declar-
ing that Gowan had refused to stop !
work and asked for further instruc-
lions.
fsWith their designations in their
hands, the members of the board con-
suited with H. j. Dininny, city attor-
ney, on what could be done. Dininny
advised Mcmillan that unless the mat
ter was specifically stated in the spe-
cifications, he was right and the mayor
was wrong. But the specifications |
showed that Mcmillan was wrong and |
he and his compatriots left the office.
So far they have kept their resigna-
tions in their pockets, but it Is probable
that they Will be called for by Mayor
Bransford. Halloran and T. G. ARM
strong, the other two members of the
board. are with the mayor on the prop
osition. Tho majority of the councils |
men feel that Mcmillan has exceeded
his authority In this matter as we'll |
as in manF9iother matters.