Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-08-22 | Page 22 | Power Dispute Rages in Provo

POWER DISPUTE I RAGES IN PROVO PROVO PROVO Opposing Opposing sides In the Provo municipal power fight flared r nt at each other here hero Monday afternoon afternoon after after- r-I r noon and night as on nn open letter from 22 citizens criticising poll pol pollute Its res of city officials in connection w th construction of the plant was fol- fol o f glowed by on nn answer by by- Mayor I Mark fark Anderson Anderzon declaring the opposition op op- opel position 1 to he ho nothing but sabotage sabotage sabo- sabo Y tage and deserving of no no more respect than the dynamiting of r public works i r Main tenor of the citizens citizens' letter Chas VM VI criticism a against city officials for tor payment of nearly from the municipal power fund to the Ulen then Contracting corporation Jn In n advance for machinery equip equip- ment and buildings for the proposed pro pro- posed oed plant It would seem to us that not ny good business practice but jour responsibility as nl public officials dais als would require that you jou hold held h ld the money until you are satisfied tho contracts have been fulfilled properly the letter stated Tho The letter Jetter also questioned certain tain aln expenditures In connection with the plant These Included purchase of office furniture for lIens ulen s office here payment of to the city attorneys attorney's law firm for I legal expense payment of SOO to the city engineer when he already Is drawing a n salary from the city Nu- Nu payment pa-ment of legal expense to teen veen company In connection with the Issuance of the bonds e. e expenditures expendi expendi- tures tares with a n weekly newspaper for lor propaganda purposes and many other items Citizens Signing the letter Jelter were Alfred J C. C Johnson R. R W. W Moorefield Moorefield Moore- Moore field Alma E. E Wright John O. O Sidney W. W V. V Russell Alex Hedquist H. H C. C Johnson J. J Elmer Jacobsen W. W M. M Wilson W. W It R. Butler M. M H. H Graham Jean A. A Hoover J. J Edwin Stein I U. U L. L Love S. S J. J Jon Jones Jong Thomas Thom s It R. Smith Theodore Theodore Theodore The The- odore A. A Madsen N N. Halvor Madsen Mad- Mad sen n T Tb C. C Larson S. S I. I Levin and Allan u. u Johnson Answering the open letter Jetter Mayor Mayor May May- or or Anderson declared We frank frank- b admit that we have paid out the power plant money somewhat faster faster faster fast fast- er than under normal circumstances circum circum- stances but circumstances arc not normal when the power company and citizens' citizens committee are arc every everyday everyday d day y demanding that Provo city be forever enjoined from paying for forthe forthe forthe the plant and system that the peo pea people pIe voted for and Provo city Is under contract to pay for Explaining that he thought the money safer saler In the hands of bonded bonded bonded bond bond- ed contractors than In city officials officials' hands or the bank when a tie up Is a constant threat the mayor declared declared de de- dared that we are certain that we have o done the very cry best thing for jor or Provo city in making these advance payments