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Show MR. KELSEY AND CLERK KEGLER. The friction between the city engineer and the board of public works has resulted in the retarding retard-ing of work upon public improvements and the matter has been hanging Are so long that it appears ap-pears about time for the affair to be summarily settled. The trouble was caused primarily by the desire de-sire of the engineer to be the whole board of public pub-lic works and his habit of Issuing ordeis to the clerk independent of the sanction or knowledge of the board of public workB. This was naturally resented by the cleik, who did not feel disposed to proceed with work unless the responsibility were placed wheie it belongs. The respective duties of the board of public works and the engineering en-gineering department are clearly defined, and there is no reasonable occasion tor a clash between be-tween the two departments. A mistake seems to have been made by the mayor in making the engineer en-gineer a member of the board. He assumed at once a dictatorial attitude, and when his desire to have Clerk Kegler ousted was not listened to favorably by the board, he retired and sulked In his tent and refused to attend any subsequent meetings of the board. There appears to be nothing noth-ing dilatory or reprehensible in the conduct of the clerk, and the peevish attitude of the city engineer has merited for that official a decided rebuke from the council. It is likewise hinted that there Is a political aspect to the attitude of the city engineer. Ho is a radical Knox man, and is apparently greatly displeased over Kegler's avowea Intention to work fo rthe independent candidate, |