The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-10
FACTS FOR THE JURY.
POINTERS FOR THE GRAND ,JU-
RoRs IN co. INVESTIGATION
Selectmens Bills For Mileage Are a
Good Thing to Begin On-The
County Attorneys Detective Bills
Need Attention-A Statement
Which Was Never Filed.

Now that the district court has in
structed the grand jury to investigate
the affairs of the present colaty count
as well as the old, this paper will give
| that body of intelligent gentlemen a few
pointers which will be of service.
1t is presumed that the county attor-
Eey. who has been appointed as assist
an. United States attorn ", pro tempcre
by Judge Judd, W i confine his attention
to an inquiry into the old administra-
ton; that he Will not attempt 10 mingle
with those of the new and thus give
caust!c critics an opportunity of saying
that he is attempting to whitewash his
own acts. If he does the grand jury win
doubtless stop him. All of which would
be right.
1t will require some time to look into
al the matters of lavish expenditure of
the money of the taxpayers; no superb
GA Ga, examination will answer. There are
bills and bills which have been passed
Illegally. There are accounts on file
with the clerk which have no explana-
ton attached or vouchers appended. Mr..
Geddes' private pauper account VIII be
good thing to look into. 1t comes in the
shape of overdrafts at one of the city
banks for considerable sums and up to
yesterday nothing appeared in the files
to indicate what the money was expended
for.
The mileage accounts of the selectmen
are not according to law. They fail in
almost every instance TO conform to the
statute which says a claim must be made
! according to the stated conditions.
In this connection. the following IS
given:
On the allowance book of the county
court appear. the following charges
| against Merari North, the supervisor of
the road district of Mill Creek-May l,
81; June l, IS; June 10, $3.50; June 20, So;
August 9, $3.50. Total, 5000
There is but one presumption attach
ing to these bills which are doubtless
correct. They were contracted in the
performance of work on the roads.
But here is something which can be
investigated. The mileage of Geddes and
Roberts to Mill Creek during the months
these charges were made, the other times
not being mentioned are as follows-Ged-
des, May, $15.4O; June, $3.50; August, 81;
$3.50; August $40. Total, 5000.
The combined mileage of these two
men foots up to S60.20,w thin $1,000 of the
amount expended
These figures on mileage are taken
from the books of the court and Che
bills sworn to by the selectmen them
selves.
| Here is some more. The expenses of
keeping up the Mill Creek roads appear
to be very moderate. In the light of the
figures of Supervisor North it looks as
though the thoroughfares there do not
need much attention. But in. Bingham,
the nome OIL SSlecCndn tLODeTlS. oupSI-
visor Lee has expended S1,209.55. Mill
Creek is a district equal in Importance
with Bingham and perhaps the select
man mentioned can explain why this dis
crepancy occurs.
The grand jury need not be in a hurry.
This paper will in the IEXt few days
present the figures and all that is needed
will be the ver;fcation.
Mr. Whittemore is fit subject for in
vestigation also. He so admitted yester-
day in the presence of witnesses. On
July he filed with the court the follow
ing compensation:
II have this day presented a claim
against Salt Lake county for $3.50 on ac-
count of compensation as county attor-
ney, and in explanation thereof will say
that 1 have been mourning considerable
EXPENSES in connection with certain
matters for and on behalf of the county,
which expense for obvious reasons l de-
sire to pay personally until such time
as detailed statement of these eXpen-
ses can be made. This allowance there
fore is compensation which is already
Que and will enable me to carry out my
plans
The money was voted on this showing,
and no statement has ever been filed.
Yesterday the. county attorney was
taxed with having violated the law in
presenting bill of this kind and freely
admitted it was so. 1t will be found
without the consent of the court; with
nothing on the records TO show this was
authorized.
The grand jury will observe that the
people of this county elect a sheriff to
do all the acts which the county attor-
ney has been engaged in; that he is the
officer who should have done the job and
not the county attorney. If the grand
Jury look into matters it will find that
several times when the court met it
could not have the services of the county
attorney because he was absent and his
deputy busy
There are a great many people in this
county who will rejoice if the selectmen
and the attorney have to prove their &C
counts. because such an action will let
in light on the methods which are now
clothed in darkness.