Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-16
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES.

The utmost vigilance should be eN-
erclsed by the Legislature In the exam
inatlon Of demands upon the public
treasury. No appropriation should be
made out OF the ordinary channels
without the strictcst scrutiny as to the
purpose and. the necessity Of the pro-
posed expenditure II is easy to ask
FOR public money. and II is also easy to
grant the demand without dllgent in
qulry concerning IT, Some trouble ls
required to get at the bottom OF
schemes and demands for large appro-
prlatlons, aud the guardians OF the
public funds should be as careful ana
economical IN spending them as II they
were their own,
We agree to large extent with the OBJ
icctlons raised against meeting deficits
which are becoming quite common IN
states and municipalities through the
oarelessness, or extravaganza, or lack
OF foresight on the part OF those VINO
appropriate or handle money for public
purposes. But there are exceptions to
every rule. aud we regard as one OF
them the excess that has occurred In
the expenditures Of tho ST. Louis Elk
positlon Commission. The reason for
II has been fairly and fully explained,
No provision was made by the Legls-
iature for the educational feature OF
the Utah display Yet It became high
~ desirable, II not essential to the sue
cess OF the effort OF this state TO place
itself properly before the public. The
gentlemen who with high public
spirit and faith IN the justice Of the
legislative department OF the state,
advanced the money required for that
purpose had no personal object In view.
They made nothing by the loan, but
they relied upon the good sense and
fairness Of the prospective Assembly to
re-lmburse them for their outlay. Their
confidence should not be blasted We
believe they will not be allowed to lose
o dollar. because Of their trust
1t ia true that the Commission had
no legal right TO borrow the money.
Technically It may be said that they
exceeded their powers. But taking all
the circumstances into consideration,
tho generous public win not blame
them. and but few citizens will inter-
pose any objection to the payment OF
the money that was advanced, Should
that be denied the loss would fall upon
those who We're publc-splrlted enough
to risk recovering the amounts advance
cd. No matter how well grounded may
be the arguments against deficits in
general we think that IN this case the
sum required to reimburse the credl-
tors should and VIII be appropriated,
The proposed appropriation for the
Lewis and Clark Exposition at Port
land appears to us reasonable and
desirable Utah ought to be repre-
scented there respectfully and In mun-
nor of which her people win not be
ashamed, There was a little friction
occasloned In consequence Of some III
natured, ll-udyised and scurrIlous re-
marks at the late Mining Congress
held In Portland, which reflected UNI
favorably upon Utah They were
looked upon by some people as an ex-
preston Of the sentiments OF the peo-
pie Of chat city and We're strongly re-
sented, as they should have been, But
inquiry establishes the fact that the
adyenturor who uttered them was not
supported by the good people Of Ore-
gon, nor even by the ladies who were
reported MS having approved Of them
and Of him, because OF flowers pre-
scented to him in common with other
speakers at the Congress
Portland is famous for it's splendid
roses, which are az common there as
Bage-brush is ON the uuculuvatod
pralrles, They are as profuse as they
are large and beautiful aud their pre-
sentation ON the occasion referred 10
was quite general, and not intended to
have the significance applied to it by
some sensitive persons. There should
therefore, be no feeling Of resentment
on that account connected with the
proposition Tor the necessary funds to
make Utahs display at Portland one
OF which this State can be proud,
The Irrigation Congress win be held
this year at Portland, and viii attract
a large number Of influential persons
from different parts Of the country
Utah should therefore he properly rep
resented not only by her delegates
who win attend that Congress, but by
mn exhibition OF her products aud IN
dustrles In "a shape and In quantity
that win command the attention and
admiration OF the visitors to the fair
There should be no lavish expenditure
for this purpose, but the sum now pro-
posed appears to be absolutely neces-