The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-05-15
Other Essential Elements.

ed, II equally commondS the work and
records Of David Jensen, clerk of the
Municipal court and refers to 1T as one
of the best conducted In the city de-
partments. but critlcises the methods
OF the Auditor In checking reports from
the clerks office; points out lrregulari-
ties In the PolltaX Collectors reports
for 1904 and 1905, and submits sugses-
tions for the correction of this evil. The
Poundkeeper and dogtaX reports agree
with the records
Assets and Liabilities.
A complete and detailed account of
the assets and liabilities Of the city Is
presented as follows;
Assets ......,...-.... ........ s72l .0S5. 10
Liabilities $50. .469 "A
Book assets over Liabilities. ..-..S 81, ,5Gei6
a number Of deficits. however. had
been carried as assets and the net
assets over liabilities on December 81
1905, was but S45S36I, whereas when the
administration took charge on January
l. 1904, the net assets were S19275.49
showing a deficit for 1904 and 1905 of
S14, ,691.S2.
Alleged to Be Illegal,
The report further cites the various
resolutions Of the Council in which IL
appropriated to its members Compensa-
ton not provided for by law, and con-
sequently alleged to be Illegal. also an
appropriation to the City Treasurer on
February 6. 1905. of 500 which appro-
priation, however, was paid on January
so. 1905, or seven days before the action
authorizing Ii was taken. But here is
one OF the findings that is suggestive
OF organized graft.
Was Paid in Advance
On September IL. 1896. the minutes OF
the Council show that thc Street Super
visor (L. Il. Balch) was granted an addi-
tional allowance OF $3.50 for Sunday and
night work, l9vt-5." The action Of the
Council was vetoed by the Mayor, how
ever but subsequently passed over his
veto. on September y, 1895. the Auditor
addressed communication to the Coun-
ell stating that she was unable to deter
mine Just what period OF time the appro-
priatlon made was intended 20 cover. and
was Instructed that II was to cover scrv-
Ices for all Of the years lJ14-5 showing
that the Street Supervisor was paid for
the remaining four months Of 1903 before
such services were actually rendered.
Probably in Addition.
The Street department payroIs for the
years 1901 and 1895 show that the name
OF the Street Supervisor, Il b Bolch by
teamstcr," appears thereon at regular In
for each two weeks. This. apparently.
is In addition to an allowance OF $25 per
month which is made TO the same officer
for team hire, under resolution Of tile
Council.
Extra Compensation Refunded,
The books OF the City Treasurer show
that of the above appropriations the fol-
lowing amounts have been refunded II
p. Randall Councilman, $50; A. II.
Moyes. Councilman, $50; w. f. En-
NETT sloo5O: f w. Chambers. $1,000
For Extra Compensation.
The following warrants. issued by au-
thor'ty of the appropriations set forth,
arc still In the hands OF the Auditor; T.
H Carr. Councilman, $1,000; II p. Ran
dali Councilman, $l0O5O; j. c. Nyc. Coun-
sloo.5o, Max Davidson, Council
man. Sl0O.SO.
of ], c. Nye, it appears, was delivered
by the Auditor to Mr.. Nye. properly re-
ceipted for, and aftcrward returned TO the
Auditor and the receipt Cancelled.
Erasures Are Found
The warrant in favor Of Max Davidson,
1T Is shown, was delivered TO Mr.. David
son. receipted for. presented TO tho Treas
stamp OF the City Treasurer. 1t appears
that some time after, the can
collation. stamp OF the city Treasurer
was erased. the warrant returned to the
City Auditor, and the receipt on the claim
era seq.
Recommendations.
1t is questionable IL the City Council
has authority in law 10 make these pay
ments of extra compensation, and we
therefore suggest that n judicial decision
be procured. and should II be aScertained
that the payments wee without warrant
Of law, then all of the amounts so appro-
funded. should be covered back into the
city treasury. and the warrants stIll
awaiting delivery be Cancelled,
Clerk Is Needed
The duties Of the Treasurer have be-
come go great that II Is an Injustice both |
10 the taxpayers and TO the incumbent of !
tho Office, TO have the office located in
office should be established In the city |
hall and the City Treasurer should, II !
necessary be allowed a clerk at reason !
able salary TO assist him In the perform |
lncc OF his duties. This, we feel sure. |
would tend to Increase the efficiency of
his department,
Under q resolution of the Council, |
adopted prior to 1894. the City Recorder
was allowed extra compensation OF SIS
per month for verifying as notary pub
lie claims against the city And in De-
cember. 1906. he presented a claim for
S120 additional, which was allowed by
the Council and approved by Glas-
mann. The special auditors consider
the claim without warrant, and set out
that a large number of the
Recorders hands were not properly
verified Claims OF corporations. such
AZ the George y, Lowe company. Boyle
Furniture company. BOYLE Hardware
company. instead of being verified and
sworn To by some officer OF the COM
oanies. are verified in the name OF the
firm or by some minor employee. In
other instances the signature OF the
is written above the sub
,cribed and sworn to before me- etc.
when Il subsequent comparison has
shown that the signature did not agree
With the signature of the manager.
Methods Are Criticised.
The report concludes With many de-
allied criticisms of the methods OF city
officials and with some wholesome rec
that Will probably be
adopted by the present administration,
On It's face, the report while it was
by the last administration. Is
one OF the most damning things that
las ever been brought up against the
perpetrators and promoters of graft
during the period when they managed
he city's affairs, ending December 81,