Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1905-08-12
HOW CITY EXPENSES HAVE IN
CREASED.

For instance four years ago it cost
to maintain the city council the sum
of $6,33G.75. Last year the fifteen
eminent gentlemen absorbed $G,Sz6.17,
or $4S9.42 more. This too when their
number is the same; when no more
meetings were held than there was
at that time Four years ago the ex-
pense of running the mayors Office
was $1,56355, to which should be add
ed, in order to be absolutely fair,
$S9S.1G, making $2,461.71. The item of
SS9S.16 was for sundry expenses of
his office, such as for help for in
digent persons and like charitable OBJ
jects. Mayor Morris has paid out
$3,104.13, of which only 1920 was for
contingent expenses, So that with
everything conceded in his favor that
can be conceded, the mayor has sue
ceeded in costing the taxpayers $642.-
AZ more than Mayor Thompson did in
his most eXtravagant moods. In the
year 1900 the city recorders Office
cost the taxpayers $4,SO472. Last
year Mr.. Critchlow and his deputies
took $12, 1881 of the peoples money.
1t is true that Wilkins, clerk of the
board of public works draws $100 per
month, or $1,000 per year that was
formerly charged to the board and
that the city courts, police and civil,
are charged to his Office, but when
it is remarked that both the courts
have a deputy at 800 month, clerk
at SIS and a stenographer at $50, it
will be seen that they are expensive
luxuries. Nor is there any reason
for needing so much help. One
bright clerk at even the maximum
salary could do the work and one
stenographer could take care of all
that sort of business for BOTH effect
ing a saving of $3.50, without any
effort. But because the statute pro-
vides that such officers may" be ap-
pointed of course Brother John and
the mayor had them appointed. They
need votes. The auditors office used
to cost $2,337.S5. In 1900 of course
In 1904 it cost $4,56720. Only $91S.S5
more than it was then but considera-
BILE advance in four years. The at
torney's office cost in the year of
grace 1900, $4,56720. Now it costs,
or did last year, $7,77726. An in
crease of 1920. To be fair to the
attorney an item OF SoOU should De
deducted from this sum, because that
was the amount of the emergency
fund four years ago. The board of
public works four years ago cost
S1,265.91 for maintenance. That in
cluded the clerk who is now charged
on to the recorders Office at a salary
of $1,000 per annum. Last year the
maintenance of that board was $2,496.-
IS without this clerk at the $1,000
rate The maintenance of the engin-
cering department four years ago was
SS,702.35. Last year it was $16,3Y2 &c.
An increase of $7,690.31. OF course
there has been more work in the en-
gineer's Office of late than there was
at that time, but not sufficient in
volume to make that much difference.
Four years ago the health department
cost $14055.51. Last year it cost
$30,S3S.37 Two items amounting to
S9,6S6.53 should be added to the cost
four years ago for isolation hospital
and crematory, making the total cost
S23,742.04. So that the cost is $7,O96.53
more than four years ago, due to in
crease in clerks, inspectors and gar
bage wagons for the Sperry family
down in the Second precinct. The Gre