Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-27
UTAH's EXPENSIVE COMMISSION.
The New York ssWorld's'' Cores
dent Brings Forth Some Inter-
esting Facts.

/ The following Washington special t.
the New York World has not come ovel
the wires along with other dispatches,
and as If refers to the Utah Commission
it will have local interest. 1t is pleas
ant reading and shows the inner working
of great if useless institution:
WASHINGTON, January 10.-The Commits
sioners appointed in 1882 under the Ed
munds Utah bill are in hot water. They
have evidently had a very pleasant time at
| the expense of the public without accom-
plishing much in return. The Commits
sioners who were appointed by President
Arthur are: Ex-Gov. Ramsey, ex-senator
Paddock, ex-Assistant O. S. District At
Indiana; and Mr.. Pettigrew, of Arkansas.
These gentlemen knew scarcely anything
about Utah OF the Mormons. Their duties
were simply to have charge of the appoint
ment of registration and election officers,
the canvas of the votes for members of the
Territorial Legislature, and the preventing
MOrmons from voting or holding office.
Their salaries were fixed at $1,000 each per
annum, and they were allowed $4,000 flor
expenses of the commission, for printing,
stationery, clerk hire and rent while
$25,C00 was appropriated for election e1-
penses.
The Commissioners have taken advantage
of the comma after the word Commission"
in the law allowing them $4,000 year for
expenses, and have interpreted the act SO as
to allow them to charge for personal ex-
penses. Messrs. Ramsey, Paddock, Godfrey,
Carlton and Pettigrew went to Salt Lake
City shortly after their appointment, They
were all non-residents They allowed them
selves to listen to the advice of those who
had prejudices one way or the other, and it
is alleged that their entire actions as Com
missioners SO far have had no benefcent
effect. Only few polygamists have been
convicted, and about three thousand polyga-
mists have been refused suffrage. The Com
missioners have had $65,000 year for sal
aries and expenses They organized sort
of government of their own hired relatives
for clerks, and drew on the expense account
for their personal outlay.
Scarcely one of the Commissioners has re-
manned more than two months continuously
in Utah. They make frequent visits to
Washington, and render an account of the
cost of the trips to the Treasury Depart
ment: They do not go together, but travel
in pairs or singly. They charge for sleeping
berths, railroad fare and meals, and draw
regularly their $4,000 year. Sometimes
they go on short excursions and foraging
expeditions. There is one voucher on file in
me AUDITORS Office from Commissioner
Godfrey as follows: "August 20, 1885; ex-
oenses from Salt Lake City to Des Moines,
a., and return from the meeting of the Utah |
Commission eping-car fare, 1915; rail |
oad fare, S4.25; meals en- route, 1925; bus
are, ST.,
In September, last year, Commissioner
Paddock took flying trip to Omaha. Here
8 his account: "Sleeping car, Ogden to /
omaha, SIS; seven meals, $3.50; omnibus at
'alt Lake City, 25 cents; total, $21.75.n Mr..
'addocks board at Salt Lake City from
uly II to September 7, 1885, cost the Gov
rnment $145.6O. These are few samples
f the personal expense bills rendered by the
The most impudent one,
owever, was bill of $54.3S for laundry ex-
enses for 1883. The Treasury Department
rev a line here and threw this item out. [
The Treasury Department, under the {
resent management, protested against pay
g the personal expense bills of the Com
customers, but was compelled, under the ,
riot construction of the law, to paw their
eding and travelling expenses, although
lch expenses were never contemplated in :
lie original law. 1t is said the duties of the
can be better performed, and
r great deal less money, by a change.
be clause in the Edmunds act continuing
is Commission indefinitely will be sharply (
tackled in the House. \