The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-27


covering the first half of April, was the
subject of an interesting discussion in
the city council last evening. The de-
bate was not without results. Some
significant revelations were made, to
be followed later if an implied promise
fails, probably by resolution requir-
ing the return to the treasury of $102
of the taxpayers money, which, at the
special instance and with rhe approval
of the nOn-partisan councilmanic re-
formers, was paid TO the retiring su-
perintendent, clerk and StOrekeeper of
the waterworks for ''instructing' their
successors in their duties The Demo-
cratic contingent in the council wanted
to know, as does every citizen, why the
duplicate items and amounts were al
lowed without even the justification of
necessity or warrant of authority.
HOWE'S INQUISITION.
Councilman Howe preached the sub
ject by stating that his attention had
been called to what appeared to be a
fragrant abuse of authority. and he
deemed il proper to make some inqui-
ries 50 that he might be possessed of
Information which mis- constituents had
solicited from him since reading the
newspaper comments on the peculiar
features of the new waterwork's super
intendent's first pay roll Continuing,
Councilman Howe asked: by what
authority did the three of the five mem
berS of the finance committee approves
the superintendent department pay
roll? Why were the two storekeepers
paid salary after the office of store
keeper had been abolished? Has the
head of a department authority to put
mems name on the payy roll when there
IS no provision in the ordinance for
h.dsr low, he
committee possess itself of powers
greater than the council? I await in
formation"
Chairman Wallace of the finance
committee ventured to say that the po-
sition of storekeeper had not been abol-
ished, but Howe retorted that the rec
ordS showed that a. resolution recon-
mended by the finance committee, con-
solidating the positions of clerk and
sterekeeper had been adopted by the
council.
Recorder Backman verified Howe's
statement.
Howe announced that he was waiting
for the desired Information.
EXPLANATIONS BY ALLEN.
Allen. chairman of the waterworks
committee, took the hint and proceeded
to say that while he had voted to not
confirm Mayor Clark's appointment of
Mr.. Game for superintendent. he had
since yielded to the majority. as all
must. At this point Robertson sought
to head Allen off for not answering the
questions propounded by Howe, and be-
cause he feared the chairman was dan
gerOusly near the domain of personali-
ties.
However, Allen proceeded by saying:
L consistently endorsed the pay roll. 1
believe superintendent Game was JUS
tilted in retaining eX-Superintendent
Wallace to instruct him in his duties
I believe, too, that the superintendent
has right to employ whatever help
he thinks necessary for the proper man
agement of this most important de-
partment. I have been informed that
the bookkeeping is complicated, but
am unable to dispute the claim. Sells
and Phillips were two weeks inventory
ing the. stock in the StCrehOuSe and
yard. AS to the approval of pay rolls
by the finance committee and the chair
man of the department committee a
resolution of the former council author
lied it," In answer to Diehl, Allen
stated that the pay roll in question
amounted to a little over $500 for the
half month, while the departments
monthly pay roll allowance is $1,000. :
1.-THE pay roll amounted 10 $925.S0, as a /
matter of fact1
Weller expressed himself as DESTROYS
questions.
STRUCTURES BY HOWE.
Howe maintained that the superin- /
tendent had no right to employ any
unauthorized help, without the consent I
of the council. In this Instance he !
added, 'the money was probably not (
unwisely spent, in coaching the IN
skilled superintendent, but the method .
was wrong. 1t is bad precedent, and
permits the smuggling of names on the
pay roll without letting the public or
the council know about it,
Allen remarked that if the head of a
department spent public funds wrong
fully, it was the councils duty to re-
move the offending officer.
Callister disagreed with Aliens con-
tention that it was all right, if the
monthly allowance limit was not ex-
Ceeded.
Robertson said it looked like a per
sonsl matter, and the council was no
place to vent grudges against one whom
some of his colleagues objected to see
ing in office AS to the pay roll in
question. he had raised the same sort
of objection last week, with reference
to the unauthorized employment of a
quarantine inspector, but he failed to
get any support. However, he agreed
with Howe.
Fernstrom said if Robertson could
not see III 10 CSnSuTe the SuDeflnIeeQ-
ent's abnormal pay roll, he had turned
a s.omersault in the most approved
manner.
Buckle was called for but he had
foreseen the storm that was brewing
over his head also, and had left the
DOM.
PATRICK APPROVES.
Patrick wanted to cut off debate by
calling for the appropriation list Fail
iHg ii this he justified the act of his
friend, the superintendent, by relating !
how he had pulled the city's leg, as it
We're, for instructing his successor in ;;
the seXtor's office, in 1890.
Chairman Wallace, of the finance
committee, attempted to justify his ac-
ton in approving the pay roll, mainly
by pointing to a similar looting of the
cash box in the treasurers office, but !
he was compelled 10 admit that Treas !
urer Morris had really caused the city ]
no expense in the matter of learning {
the work
SIDEWAYS BROADSIDE. :
Siddoway waited for his opportunity. I
1t came, and he made good use of it, $
He said: Il believe the new suoerin- I
tendent was victimized into the belief Z
that his duties were so intricate that
three men must instruct him. 1t is the
first time in six years that three men
have been two weeks in breaking in the /
new help. / believe it only took three G
days to take that stock, and I believe 7
that II days pay was given for moth I
ing. Yes. l say that if l could not take t
that stock in a day, 1 would eat it. and G
am familiar with the stock EX-Su- +