Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-19


streets. Inspect food, particularly ice
and milk. and prevent the spread Of
contagion by the enforcement Of a rigid
quarantine. The recommendation Of
the commissioner that the duties of
that officer as city physician should
constantly recurring conflicts with the
county officials. is Timely and should be
acted upon.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The board of public works Is cstab-
lished by State law and cannot be
abolished by city ordinance. Its exist
ence therefore must continue until ter
minated by Legislative enactment. II
Is true that with the small amount of
public work which the corporation can
engage in under existing financial con-
dtions, there is little need for such
board. The suggestion has been made
and l favor IL as matter Of economy
II not in conflict with existing law.
that the offices of city engineer and
chairman Of the board Of public works
he consolidated, with little, "
any. additional compensation above thu
present salary of the engineer. Under
present conditions, l see no reason why
this consolidation cannot he made. In
this connection, ! call your attention
to n suggestion made by my predeces-
sor to the effect that the heads of GER
tain departments of the city govern
ment be made members of the board
of public works. This can be accom-
rllshed by the repeal of the present or
dinance which prohibits the members
of the board from holding amy other
office.
DEPARTMENT or PARKS.
Cost of Maintenance-The cost of
| maintenance of this department dur
| ing the year was sG,Gi0.0I.
Improvements-Some advance toward
bcautifving Liberty park has been
made during the year, which is no
| doubt highly appreciated by the public.
recommend that improvements. such
as can be made with the limited means
| at your disposal for that purpose, be
| commenced as soon as spring opens
and be continued during the senson.
| Pioneer Square, suggest that the
| necessary steps be taken to perme-
nently dedicate this square to the pub
| lie use. II Is the one upon which the
| Utah pioneers built their first cabins,
| thus making 1t the birthplace of the
settlement and the cradle of civlliza-
| ticn for this whole intermountain re-
| gion. The square should be preserved
as perpetual memorial of the noble
deeds and triumphs of the Pioneers.
CITY CEMETERY.
Maintenance and Receipts-The total
cost of maintaining the city cemetery
1
receipts were SG,0S1,iO The cemetery
| should be selfsustaining. and / am
of the opinion that by judicious man
| agement 1t can be made so. There is
no good reason why the cost of main
tenance should exceed the receipts by
nearly 1000.
OIL INSPECTOR.
Report of Inspector-The report of
the oil inspector shows that eighty
| six cars of oil We're tested during the
year. The fees collected We're sufficient
to pay the inspector and to provide a
surplus of s317.03. which was covered
into the city treasury.
PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES.
The purchase of supplies for the sew
eral departments of the city govern
ment is a matter which should not be
overlooked. A system should be in
augurated whereby the heads of the
respective departments should estimate
the probable wants of their depart
ments for three or six months ahead.
By compiling the several acquisitions,
bids can be asked for and the purchase
of such supplies let to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder. l have understood
that in the past the highest retail
prices have in many cases been paid
for supplies, caused no doubt by the
head or some employe constituting
himself purchasing agent for the
city. This system should be entirely
changed. and / SUGGEST that some re-
sponsible clerk or other employe of the
city be designated as a purchasing
agent and empowered and required "a
make all purchases tof supplies to the
best possible advantage to the corpor-
alton. After purchases are made and
the bills properly verified and audited
the Council should see that the neces-
sary appropriations are made, so that
the bills can be promptly paid. 1t has
occurred In the past that merchants
have refused to credit the city because
of the uncertainty as to when their bills
would be settled, months frequently
TRANSPORTING between the date of pur-
chase and the time of payment. The
city. to be able to obtain goods at the
lowest possible rate, should establish n
reputation for prompt payment, and SC
maintain a first-class credit.
INVENTORY OF PROPERTY.
1 recommend that you require the
head of each department of the city
government to take an accurate inven-
tory at as early date as possible, OF
all the property belonging to the cor
poration in his charge. placing an es-
timated value upon each article, where
the real value is not known, and to file
a copy of such inventory with the city
recorder, for the use of the Mayor and
| Council; also to copy said inventory
into book to be kept In his office fol
that purpose, and thereafter to enter
in said book all the property, tools
ETC., coming into his possession during
his term of Office. He should show on
the credit side of his book the dispo-
sition made of all property, IL used
and for what purpose, or If sold. lost
or otherwise disposed of. If such sys-
TEN is followed, a correct checking and
transfer of all property on hand can bt
made from one administration to an
other. and thus closer business policy
sbe established than has heretofore OBJ
tained.
REVISION OF ORDINANCES.
I suggest that the Council committee
on municipal laws, with the city attor-
ney associated, be requested to exam
inc the existing city ordinances and
submit to the Council, at as early 9
date as practicable. such amendment:
as may be necessary to place the or
dinances in harmony with the Revised
Statutes of the State, so far as the,
apply to cities Of the first class Any
assistance outside Of the attorneys OF,
flee which may be required for this
work, should be authorized.
PRINTING AND ADVERTISING.
All city printing and advertising
should be let by contract to the lowest
responsible bidder 1t has been STATED
that the printing OF the Mayors mes.
sage and the accompanying reports OF
the several departments for the yeai
1896 cost over 81 600. Such an expendi-
ture of public funds for that purpose Is
excessive and SHOULD be guarded