The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-05

The suffering taxpayer wanted a
change in the county administration
He got it yesterday There is no
chance for an argument on this point.
The new board of county commits
sioners held a very brief meeting yes
terday afternoon, but sufficient bust
ness was transacted to indicate the
course to be pursued in the admins
tration of the affairs of the county
Business methods will prevail and
the slogan viii be retrenchment More
than this, the board viii not be run
by the heads and employees of the
different departments. This was illus
trated yesterday when some Of the
salaries of deputies and clerks We're
fixed
The custom of the old board was to
grant county officials anything they
asked for The result of this practice
had the effect of bringing every male
employee in the building into the COM
missioners' room when salaries were
30 be fixed. Each one would then
suggest the amount he ought to re-
ceive, and he generally got it.
a CONTRAST.
But what a striking contrast yester-
day Not an official save the sheriff
raised his voice in remonstrance of the
schedule arranged. The latter did sug-
gest that his chief deputy ought to
receive a higher salary, but he was
repulsed in a manner that convinced
everybody the board viii tolerate no
interference in its business.
SO far the new board has fixed the
salary schedule in two or three de-
partments. The reductions are heavy,
ranging from 20 to 40 per cent. The
force in every department is reduced,
and many other radical changes are
being made the one great object being
to reduce the enormous expense of
running the county.
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning
Chairman Geddes called the old board
to order, and without transacting any
business an adjournment was taken
until y o'clock At that hour the new
board. consisting of Francis Arm
strong, /. e. Hail and J. S. Rawlins,
put in an appearance and were re-
ceived by the old board After a
mutual exchange of courtesies for some
ten minutes. Tall arose and moved
that the new 5Uard organize by elect
ing Francis Armstrong ca -irman. The
motion was duly seconded by Rawlins
and carried.
Mr.. Armstrong then thanked the
pressing the hope that he would fill
the place TO the satisfaction of the
members of the board. as we'll as the
taxpayers of Salt Lake county. With
out transacting any further business
an adjournment was taken until .
o'clock
MANY APPLICATIONS FILED.
When the board reconvened there
was an army Of men filing the outer
office and entrance to the commission
ers' rooms Some We're drawn there
from curiosity, while the greater num-
Der had applications for positions as
janitOr. so that when Clerk Dunbar
arrived the table was practically
loaded down with applications for po-
sitions, from janitor to county ply
sician
But the board had matters of imme-
ate and greater Importance, and
proceeded to decide upOn the
number of deputies to he al
lowed in each department and
salaries to he paid Hall made all
the motions when it came to fixing
salaries and the number of employees, /
and the other members cOncurred. The I
method adopted was to fix the number !
of employees and deputies first, then I
take up the lists of appointments sent /
in by the heads of the departments |
and attach the amount of salary op- /
pOsite each name.
COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE.
Clerk Dunbar reported the appoint |
ment OF the following deputies and as
sistants. which were confirmed and 1
the salaries for each were fixed as fol-
lows:
Deputies
George d. Loomis. ...................$1 1920