The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-02
THE NEXT COUNCIL.

Everybody should pity the city council
which will be chosen next year. We are
confident that that council viii be made up
of the very best men to be found assum-
ing that the best men will make the sacri-
tice which will be asked of them. Party
tickets may be arranged, and there may be
hoisted three cr four flags, each with more
or less Of following. 1t is not improbable
that the gang now iii will endeavor to con-
tinue, and make a fight for another two
years term. There are more factions in
politics than ever before, and three or more
municipal tickets are not at all unlikely.
But the ticket that will win is the one that
will be made up without regard to the pol
itics or religion Of the Individual nominees.
Already the cleaner and better element of
the community is talking of such ticket
and in mind fixing upon the men to be
chosen. That element will get together
next winter and select gentlemen for the
city council and municipal Offices whose
lives are a guarantee that they can be
trusted; that they will not Cypress the peo-
pie with unnecessary and exorbitant tax
alton; that the public money will
be expended wisely and not seuan-
dered in reckless and misguided efforts
nor bestowed as rewards for partisan ser
vices in the campaign and at the polls. The
ticket will be composed of men IN whom
the property owners will have confidence
and will be enthusiastically supported and
triumphantly elected by the people, who
have grown tired of misgovernment, of in
competency, extravaganza and reckless
ness.
But we sincerely pity the poor men com
posing the municipal government. Theirs
will be a sad lot, and If they shall run their
terms without arousing sharp criticism and
mourning savage abuse they will be for
tunate indeed. And why will they be more
liable to assault than others have been?
The explanation is easy enough. Their in
heritance will be an empty treasury and
city debt equaling the maximum amount
permitted by law. To this ugly legacy will
be an attachment in the form of de-
mand for needed improvements which
the present council has neglected
to make, though squandering the
money which should have been devoted to
them. We need but refer to one of these
this morning to give fair foreboding of
the storm which is certain to break upon
the devoted head of the next council. that
one being the water supply. Notwith-
standing the expenditures of over half a
million dollars since February the water
supply of the city has not been increased a
drop. Instead OF an increase, however, the
mains have been extended in various di-
rectlons, so that when a shortage shall
come the flow will be insufficient to fill the
pipes and worse service than was ever
given will be the result That the shortage
Will come, and come this year, is absolutely
certain. At the corresponding season last
year the snow was deep in the mountains.
whereas to-day the canons are bare and
the roads dusty. The snow which falls
after this will be of very little value, as it
will not remain for next summers use.
We may say that the winter is over, SO far
as the storage of snow is concerned, and
this being true, there is certainty of a
snort water supply, for which there is now
no help. The present council NAV be
blamed for the unhappy condition of things
next summer when trees wither, laws turn
yellow and the streets are ankle deep in
dust, but the succeeding council will be
called upon to prevent recurrence of the
trouble without having the means to com
ply. The debt having seached it's limit no
more money can be borrowed the people.
already oppressed by taxation as deeply as
they can bear, viii revolt at any suggestion
to raise the taxes, and the city's revenue.
economic as may be the administration.
viii be no more than enough to meet the
interest on the enormous debt and pay the
current and necessary expenses of the
government.
The outlook for the successor of the pres
ent incompetent and reckless council is
anything but pleasant. The only thing
that can induce honest men and intelligen.
ones to accept places in the new govern
ment will be determination to save the
city from the awful wreck which two
years more of such government as we
are now afflicted with would bring upon
the corporation.