Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-08-05
THE MAYOR'SADVIC
Neglect 10 Follow II Has Cost The City
Quarter oil a Million Dollars.
REcKLEssmEAp OF DEPARTMENTS
Couusel Ignored by Sppnthrifl Omcials
Who Have squandered Money In
Their Own Precincts.

When the present City Council took
their seats about nineteen months ago,
Mayor Baskin (having been elected Mt
the same timc) was the presiding OH.
Ger of that body. The Liberals vocif.
orously, and on ovcry occasion when
opportunity afforded, declared that the
administration would DO one they
could point - with pride; one that
would spend Tho public funds with
discretion. "Ono part Of that state
mont is true" said an cX.Liberal
councilman today. "rhe money has
certainly been spent"
Mayor Baskiu, too, placed great
confidence In tho new council and In
making his inaugural address affection
ately referred TO the members thereof
an his "boys" He promised great
things providing the "boys" would
stand by him; but they didn't Itwas
not long before they kicked over the
/ traces and started of on a ruinous pace.
/ HIS honor plainly snw what the con.
| sequences would bo uulgfs there was
mUst ,iectual halt. He admits, It 10
/ uudeutuUd, that II was with exceed
! INK regret that lac was compelled 10 re-
fer publicly 10 the rucklussnesi OF his
party. The following note Of warn.
ing Is an extract from hls hpt annual
message delivered at tbs beginning Of
tho present year;
"During tho past year the heads Of
] departments have made expenditures
| for improvements, tho objects and
/ amounts Of which woro unknown TO tho
council until tho matter appeared IN tho
| appropriation list, aud dil not appear
there until after tho work was performed
| for which tho expenditure was made. 1
therefore recommend that IN tho future
| each hoad of departments be required,
ln advance, to send la estimates OF all
l contemplated expenditures, stating the
amount off money required and tho OBJ
/ Ioct Tor which Do Is required, and that tho
| council, through It's proper committees,
before mahing any appropriations meet
the same and before permitting tho work
| Co proceed, mako inquiry regarding such
objects. OF course. In practice, many
! emergencies VIII arise In which imme.
dlato action will bo roquirodi such a. tho
breaking iu Of bridges, bursting of wator
pipes, olc. Provision should DO
made excepting such cases from tho
Commended. Without the adoption u
such plan u will bo almost impossible
Iu kurp tho expenditure. within the
rcd and necessary limitn
ring the whole OF the present I'd.
Do. t slfatiOn the loose practice OF MI.
loving heads Of departments TO employ
men and spend money Just a. they
saw ft without reporting 10 the COun-
Gil has prevailed, Notwithstanding an
apparent effort Of late 10 follow the
Mayors advice. The latter emphati-
Cally declares that had his counsel
been regarded the city would have had
no outstanding warrants today and
that II would have had $3.50, 200 In the
treasury. This IL regarded Rs
"A very conservative estimate. IL
IL HisO noteworthy TACT that
Treasurer Duke likewise raised
his voice In condemnation OF the
course pursued and that he, too, was
turned down by the high mUguls who
spent money In their own precincts
aud on their irleuds AZ though II had
luen 30 much trash. A couple OF
Liberal councllmen are now preparing
list OF the work done and money
expended In the various precincts
without authority aud by whom. It
promises to be an exceedingly interest
ing document aud its presentation will
duuhtlcss cause good deal OF quaking
II tho Liberal municipal closet.