The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-20
R[ISER JOLTS COUNCIL
City Auditor Threatens to Stop
Drawing Warrants.
LETTER WAS STRANGLED
COUNCIL REFUSES TO HEAR THE
COMMUNICATION.

Auditor Reiser last evening submitted
TO the council a lengthy cOmmunica-
ton, directing attention to the diver
sion of money from one fund to another
in the city treasury. AS the recorder
read the communication. the Repub-
Hcan members became nervous, until
Councilman Robertson relieved the ten
sion. The council was unappreciative,
and before Recorder Nystrom was half
through reading he was stopped by a
motion from the chairman of the
finance committee to meet with the au-
ditor at his office Thursday evening at
Z O'Clock. The motion prevailed with
out dissent.
Auditor Reiser's communication stat
ed in effect that he had before called
the councils attention to the misuse
OF several thousands of dollars IN the
city treasury by the operation of a fund
for the redemption of water scrip. To
show that the creation of this fund
and also the issuing of water scrip by
the treasury department are without
authority of law, the auditor cited an
opinion from the city attorney, and in
the next sentence passed an uncom-
plfmentary reference to the author of
the opinion. After quoting several sec
ton from the statutes TO sustain his
position the auditors communication
made several unkind illusions to the
treasurer's Office.
Reiser's Threat.
Concluding, the auditors communi-
cation stated: Your honorable body
will observe how this complexities the
city's business, and in tying up over
$4,000 which should be applied TO the
Inn fff
political attacks upon the administra-
ton at the expense of the taxpayers "
Unless the funds were kept in the man
ner desired, the auditor gave notice
that he would refuse to draw warrants
on the waterWorks fund for payment OF
pipe extensions.
The only comment passed when Rob
ertson's motion was open for debate
was from Councilman FeTnStrOm. He
said he was present when the city
treasurer and the auditor created the
water scrip fund, and Mr. Reiser fully
acquiesced in the action. I think the
auditor should get his own affairs in
order" suggested Fernstrom, "DeEofe
he attacks the treasurer.
This sentiment met with the concur
renee of the whole council in speedily
adopting RObertSOn's motion, which
was put without hearing all that the
auditors communication stated.
A
municatiOn on the council by calling
attention to the law requiring the
treasurer TO monthly turn over to the
auditors office all redeemed warrants
and Cancelled bonds and interest cOu-
pons The auditor said he had never
vet received any of the redeemed bonds
and interest coupons, so that he could
post up his bond register and he re-
quested that the treasurer be directed
to comply with the regulation stated.
The communication was merely re-
ferred to the finance committee without
comment.
More Pipe Contracts.
On recommendation of the board of
public works a contract was awarded
to 2. J. Moran for furnishing 1000
linear feet of siX-inch cast iron water
pipe Morans bid to the board was AT
the rate of 6SA cents foot and 4
cents a pound for specials. Carthey &
Dumbeck, the only other bidders, Of
fered to furnish the pipe for SO cents a
foot, but mentioned nothing about the
specials.
A batch Of claims, aggregating So
$50 IS. and out of which Moran gets
81. 97S.1S on contract work done by him
for the waterwOrks system, was ap-
proved, on recommendation of the
/ board.
Mayor Thompson's appointment of
Land and Water Commissioner Wester-
field to represent the city the ensuing
season in the division of Parley's can
yon water with the farmers who own a
minority share Of the stream, was con-
hrmed.
Directing attention to the approach
/ ing third trial of the PaTley's canyon
! conduit case. which viii commence III
| the federal court about May and last
| a month, City Attorney Stephens sug-
[ 10
gagged, as formerly, to prepare and help
conduct the trial for the city. The mat
| ter was referred to the committee on
municipal laws, with the mayor assO-
4 ciated, with power to act
Land and Water Commissioner West
| erfield called attention to the necessity
/ of cleaning the city's Jordan canal and
! repairing the fumes before the irriga-
! ton season commences 1t was estimat-
/ ed that the cost would approximate 81
I 500. and the matter was referred to the
/ committee on irrigation.
Higher Bid For Land.
/ For the city's forty-seven and one
quarter by 165 feet of ground adjoining
/ the Eighth ward meeting house on the
/ east which the council committee on
| publis grounds offers TO sell on lOns
| time payments TO the Mormon church
/ corporation of the ward for $500, the
/ Hebrew Congregation MOntefiOre Of
/ fered $1,000. The proposition was re-
| ferred to the committee on public
! grounds.
/ The department payrolls for the halt
month ended Feb. 10, aggregating S4,-
! 569. IS. were referred to the finance
! committee. with the chairman of each
department committee associated, fol-
I approval.
The claims of Wells, Fargo & Co. in
| the sum of S2S30.9S, and the National
Bank of the Republic, S1,1O9.O9 for in
/ terest on the city's overdraft last year
| were allowed. on recommendation Of
| the finance committee
After passing the appropriation Use
which was called for out of its order
and voting to hold the committee meet
ings Monday night. instead of Friday
! Washington's birthday, the council ad
| iotrrpad