Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-10
"TuRN ON THE LIGHT"


tunity to some Of our contemporaries,
to Indulge In their usual pleasantly
about some members Of that body, IN
termlngled with misstatements to de-
ceive the ordinary citizen, who does not
either read between the lines" or dive
beneath the surface to find the true
inwardness' Of things and Of Journal
istlo comments thereupon.
The resolution was introduced by
Councilman A. j. Davis It's prepare
ton and the motives behind It need not
Just now be ventilated, they will do to
keep for little while. II provided for
the auditing OF the books OF every city
official and head OF q department VINO
in any way Handles any Of the city's
funds, the auditing to be done by two
expert accountants, at q cost not TO
exceed 5000, and to cover the period
from the date Of the last examination
Of such accounts up to date" Council
men Cottrell and Fernstrom opposed
the resolution and viewed 1t as
scheme to cast reflection and suspicion
upon present city officials, and also TO
find fat jobs for some Of the movers
expert friends. This. OF course, he en-
phatically denied, and the resolution
was ultimately referred to the finance
committee, By vote OF eight to seven,
Whatever may have been the motive
for presenting the resolution, II was,
we think, very properly referred to the
finance committee, To oppose an inyes-
tIgation Of the city finances and
the keeping of the city accounts,
might be construed as an ex-
hlblton Of fear lest such an
inquiry might disclose something UNI
pleasant or improper Therefore the
finance committee should look into the |
matter, and see II there is any reason |
for this special inquistion and for the !
employment OF expert accountants TO
do the work Incidentally, too, the
animus behind the motion might be
brought to light, and the reasons for
ter be explained to the public.
Now as to the opposition to the pas
cage Of the resolution, The Herald,
which is gaining much notorlety for
its manufacture Of news that has no
foundation In fact, says editorially, that
Fernstrom attributed the resolution to
a desire to discredlt Mormon officials
and then proceeds 10 argue on that ba-
sis In favor OF the investigation The
truth is that Councilman Fernstrom
made no allusion to Mormon" or any
other class Of officials. Nor does the
resolution aim at any such class. The
statement is sheer fiction on the part
Of the Herald, Ike other assertions OF
that paper In regard to current events.
The resolution includes "the books OF
every city official and head Of depart
ment." 1t has no reference TO Mormon.
Gentle or Jew. Nor was any objection
to II raised on such q ground. SO much
for that
Now as to the investigation Of city
finances and accounts The City Audi
tor is the legal officer TO perform that
work; he has to make his reports regu-
larry TO the council, and these are pub
lished periodically, But who is TO ex-
amin mn books and see that his work
Is properly performed? The Mayor and
the finance committee Of the council
have that right and can ex-
ercise It at any time, and his
accounts should be gone over an
nnaliy at least, for that purpose,
Probably Councilman Davis has not
been engaged In that kind OF inquiry,
although he is a member Of the finance
committee. AS he has been employed 80
much in eastern and ogden work for
certain private company, for about
third OF the time he should have been
at his post, he may not be aware OF
what the committee has done. But the
law provides for ample means OF inyes-
tigation Of city accounts, and the
Mayor and the finance committee
could employ experts when necessary
for special Investigation The resolu-
ton, therefore, exhibits either ignorance
OF the law or some interior motive
which IS not difficult to discover and
may perhaps be brought to the surface.
But about that 5000 appropriation
II the resolution means what It says
the amount named Is insignificant and
absurd. The examination would have
10 20 back to the beginning Of the city's
administration. as no such special ex-
pert inqulsiiion has heretofore been
made In the manner poposed. Not that
there has been no inspections Of books
and accounts, but these have been CON
Quoted In ordinary course. and not as
wanted by the mover OF the resolution
To go over all the books and accounts
OF every city official and head OF de-
partment even for one year would cost
more than that sum, as experts OF
the Kind suggested would be paid $40
per day each. for their services. And
to go back TO the beginning would
bankrupt the city and would take too
long for election purposes in 1903.
The truth IS. the resolution was not
well prepared, and The purpose was not
that which appears on its face. Per-
sonhl and political motives lie behind It,
and knowledge Of these prompted the
opposition to it which was offered IN
the council Now LEI the finance COM
mlttes determine what needs TO be