The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-24
Some Important rlatters Consid-
cred at Yesterdays Session.
LIMIT OF INDEBTEDNESS.
AN EXTENSIVE OPINION FILED BY
ATTORNEY WHITvTEMORE.
Regarding the Infirmary
Middle AdOpted-TO Purchase an
Cottonwood Power Company
Miscellaneous Matters.

The county infirmary muddle, the
Big Cottonwood road controversy, the
J. w. Farrell & Co.'S claim, the coun-
tvs legal limit of Indebtedness and a
new elevator for the joint city and
county building were among some of
the more important matters consid-
cred at yesterdays session of the
county court.
County Infirmary.
The former subject is the result of a
long-standing disagreement between
Superintendent Boman Cannon and
the inf1rmary committee, though more
particularly one of the members, Sc
lectman Roberts, as referred to in an
other column. The only action taken
by the court yesterday was the adop-
tion of the following resolution:
Whereas, Certain complaints have
been made by a number of persons,
including employees of the county in
Urinary, against Boman Cannon, the
superintendent of the infirmary, and
requesting THAT the charges be investi-
gated by the county court; therefore
be it
Resolved. That said complaints are
hereby referred to the seleetmen to
carefully investigate and report to
this court at the earliest possible
date
Limit of Indebtedness.
In reply to a letter from County
Clerk Stanton regarding the legal
limit of the county's Indebtedness an
extended opinion from County Attor-
ney Whfttemore was placed on file
and from an abstract covering the
point is given as follows:
1.-The supreme court of the territory,
in the case of Fenton VS.. Salt Lake
county. held that the Indebtedness of
the county in any year could not eX-
coed the total income and revenue for
the two years preceding. The reve-
nues of the county, as defined by the
court in the opinion, includes the cash
receipts of the county from all sources
This revenue. as [ am informed by the
county treasurer and by yourself,
for the years 1893 and 1894
amounts to $324,17S.S6. The le-
gal indebtedness of the county
as fixed by the supreme court
in the case mentioned, on January /,
1895, amounted to 1887, 1896. This
shows a decrease in the revenues for
1893 and 1894 of S13. 5000 as compared
1893, so that the revenues of the county
for this year to the last named amount
must be applied to reducing the limit
of the total Indebtedness.
''The supreme court held further in
said case that as fast as funds were
received into the county treasury, to
take up outstanding warrants or new
ones could be issued in lieu thereof.
THE cash receipts for the year 1895
%11ry fT1lf
taxes, $4,000; from miscellaneous
$35, 900, making a total of $141,-
900. Of this amount $13, $500 should be
applied to bring the limit of indebted
ness within the amount fixed by the
revenue for two years preceding, and
the balance, $133, 1850 is available for
the redemption of outstanding warrants
in lieu of which new warrants can be
issued. | am of the opinion that the
the issuance of warrants during the
present year to the last named amount.
This amount is fixed upon an ap-
proximate estimate of the revenues Tor
this year as furnished me by the
county collector and county treasurer,
and it may be varied from somewhat.
[ think, however, the limit could DE
safely fixed at $13O.OOO.
According to this the county will be
w
tent of 10000 more than had been pre-
Jiously appropriated, the estimate hav-
ing been placed at 100000.
An Elevator.
The court took timely action in the
matter of securing an elevator LOT the
building. passing a resolution author
ling the county selectmen to purchase
in conjunction with the city an ele-
vator at the earliest possible date.
FarreIPs Claim.
The claim of So, 1876 from J. w. Far
rell &, Co., for extra work on the JOINT
building came UP and received another
knock out blow; this time from the
county attorney.
Judge Mckay appeared before the
court in behalf of the claimant and
submitted resolution to the effect
that the claim he paid as soon as there
was available cash in the treasury
The court, however, took no action ON
the measure, but followed the advise of
Mr.. Whitternore and referred the whole |
matter to the county selectmen TO in
yestigate the correctness of the bill.
In his opinion relative to the claim
Mr.. Whfttemore refers to the supreme
courts ruling in the Fenton VS.. Salt |
Lake county case under which ne !
thinks the county court would not be
to allow the claim, or any |
part thereof, and for that reason only |
he claim should be rejected.
The claim, he thought, however, was
lust, and one among the many which |
he county should, and doubtless will, |
.eceive legislative authority to pay. |
The item of $66, however, for discount |
IN warrants, was one that could not |
,e legally sustained under any circum-
stances, and it should not be taken into
in fixing the amount to |
De paid.
Cottonwood Power Company.
The Big Cottonwood Power company. |
through it's president and SCI t":.. |
rohn W. Donnellan and George VI. Can
ION. submitted a formal acceptance of |
he conditions imposed upon the COM
1any by the county court in its resolu- |
ION, passed tic last session, vlcatinS |
he old county los d where th5 same |
passes through the company's reser-
yoir. and accepting the new road. |
Under the terms of the agreement the |
power company binds itself to main
ain the bridge across the Big Cotton |
wood creek ait the east end of the new |
Dad in good repair at it's own expense !
or a period of ten years.
Backman as an AbstractOr.
City Recorder Bachman was grant |
ID a license authorizing him during all !
business hours to have free |
access to the records of the county re- |
,order for the purpose of conducting an
abstract business. Petitioners bond !
vas fixed at $4,000, conditioned for the |
faithful ahStractinga of the records.