The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-15
THE COUNTY CONTROVERSY.

1 The Herald is of the opinion that the
county officials have not been fairly
criticized in reference to their response
to the demand of the citizens COM
mittee.
The resolution of that committee,
that bonds viii furnish the most salts
factory and economical means Of set
Ting the county Indebtedness, and of
putting affairs on proper basis, is an
endorsement of the same conclusion
reached by the county officials and by
the press of this city.
But the demand that the bonds
should be issued only on the condition
that nine citizens should supervise the
expenditure of the money. was a
virtual vote of mo confidence in the
county court. It was entirely proper
for the county officials to decline sub
hitting their official actions to the
supervision of unofficial persons.
There has been. perhaps some mis-
understanding of the whole question.
The county officials have been ae-
eused of inconsistency in asking for
the aid Of citizens in the financial
emergency which has confronted them,
and then peremptorily refusing that
aid when rendered. The Herald has
not seen the matter in that light. The
county court asked for aid and adj
vice, not to be superseded in their Of
fee or to be placed under guardian
ship.
1t is very clear that the only persons
who can lawfully handle the county
funds are those who compose the
county court. No matter whether
there be an advisory committee of
nine or of ninety, the county court
would be held responsible in law and
in fact for the administration of
county affairs. They have no right to
yield up or delegate the powers en-
trusted to them into the hands of any
number of gentlemen not officials, how
ever able and intelligent, even if
backed by the sentiment of the whole
county.
The county officials are willing to
receive advice from committee of
nine or from persons not on COM
mittee, who have any cousel to give
on county affairs. But they must not
concede the right of any body of citi-
zens to dictate or control the expendi-
ture of county funds, for that duty
devolves upon the county officers who
are under bonds for that purpose.
We beg to remind our Republican
friends who are offering so many I'M
complim entary reflections upon the
selectmen, that those gentlemen were
elected by Republican votes. Why
were they chosen if they were not
known to be fit for the place? Now
that they are in office they ought to
be supported at least by their political
associates, in their endeavors to put
the county on a firm financial basis.
What is the matter with them, after
all? The only faults that can reason
parent desire to put in as many days
and as much mileage as possible. and
disposition to Dust men from positions |
on party grounds and find places for !
their own favorites. In those things
The Herald does not wish to defend |
them. However, explanations may be
afforded to justify some of their ac-
LUIS even III L4ICSC ICoPSNlSs
But they have started in diligently
to bring to light improper financial
transactions and bad bargains, and to
rescue the county from a bad financial |
condition. 1t is strange that in that
they do not receive the support of their
own party. Is that because the in
vestigations they have instituted, so |
e, ;o1 oai
Republican ex-officials? 1t certainly |
looks that way.
Now, The Herald maintains, as 1t |
has maintained from the first, that It |
will be cheaper and better to bond the I
county, to the necessary extent to pay |
off the warrants drawing eight per cent /
and to put the county on solid /
financial ground. And the county
court must be the disbursing agent to
handle the money. An advisory COM
mittee might be appointed to aid the
court, but that body cannot legally
yield up any of its functions to an
other body.
In discussing this matter, If the peo-
pie of this county will talk and act as
though they understood that the debt
is theirs and not the selectmen's, that
the present court is not in any way
for it, and that the money
when raised will not be obtained for
the selectmen but for the people whom
they represent. less nonsense and more
reason will be uttered in reference to
this matter. We, the people, are in
hole. Why not get out of it in the
easiest and best way and have done
with it. We will have to come to the
bonds, after all. and the sooner the
cheaper and the better.