The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-16
The Mayor and the Council.

The Mayor and the Council.
The famous LOLA Monies was once trav.
cling by train IN England, and to relieve
the monotony Of the journey lit cigar.
cite and commenced to smoke it. The
guard. as the conductor is called tower
there, - saw what she was doing and said
Madam, you can't smoke here.' LOLA
continued her pastime and he repeated,
You can't smoke here.'' Putting 6
small cloud into his face, she calmly re-
piled, s'You see Eat CAM
We are reminded of this incident by the
action of the City Council on Tuesday
evening over the veto of Mayor BAsKIN in
reference to the sos, 900 appropriation
The Mayor said, Gentlemen, you cans
make that appropriation. "You see
that we can, ''was the response, and they
did it.
We do not assert that the Mayor was
wrong in his legal view of the question
nor that the Councillors, who were unani-
nous in their action, were technically
right. 1t was question of can't and
can. you shan't and we will, and the we
wills gained the advantage.
There have been times in the history OF
this nation when the expressed powers OF
the government have been somewhat
transcended, and the necessities of the
case justified the action in the minds OF
the sovereign people. 1t is something
similar in this instance. The people who
are to be affected by this appropriation
approve of it and that goes long way
towards iustifying the action.
This is not to be considered in the light
of a precedent, nor as a rule that is to
govern in future matters before the City
Council. 1t is an exceptional affair.
Strictly construed the law and the char
ter do not admit of such appropriations
of public money. The mayor was, no
doubt, correct in that. And we think the
most conservative people will appreciate
his watchful care over the city treasury
1t was right as he saw it to veto the ap-
appropriation. The law gives him the
power TO do SO. But he must remember
that the same law gives the.Council power
by two-thirds vote to override his veto,
and that the unanimous vote of its mem
bers is greater than his objection and
quite as legitimate.
The Mayor has relieved his mind and
he is clear OF all responsibility in relation
to the question. That rests entirely upon
the City Council, and if they are willing
to shoulder it he need not feel aggrieved.
1t is unpleasant to think that there is
such lack of harmony between the
Mayor and The Council, and the feeling
often displayed on either side amounts to
public scandal. 1t would be good
thing if the parties could come together a
little closer and put away these asperities.
But we suppose they viii continue until
another election, and the public will have
to smile and put up with it till a change
can be lawfully effected.
It will be just as well now forall parties
to let this matter go on without further
disturbance. If the people, the taxpay-
ers, objected to this outlay it would be
a different thing. If it were for any per-
sonal object the members of the council
might be censured. But the public well
fare and the prosperity Of the city were
fully in view in the transaction, and the
authority to buy and sell real estate,
which is conveyed in the charter, gave
the council some color of right in the
matter.
1t cannot be doubted that the good OF
the city will be subserved in the purchase
of real estate which will, when sold, re-
imburse the treasury, and mean
while will secure the establishment
here of an industry that must be
financially profitable to the entire com
munity. II is because of that the people
will condone such stretch of authority as
the Council have exercised and if they are
satisfied why should any one official fur
Their object?
On principle and as general rule THE
HERALD would oppose an expenditure OF
public money for anything but public
purpose, strictly construed. The danger
of establishing such policy is imminent.
Only as an exception to the rule under
these exceptional circumstances could we
view with complacency any such depart
ure from the principle which should usu-
ally prevail.
Now let us have the copper works. In
a short time there will be returns from
the real estate purchase by which the
project is to be helped, and with a full
understanding of the reasons why this
money was used, in the good results that
will accrue the people will not be dis
posed to find fault with the City Council.
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The Wyoming Situation.