The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-11
THE MUNICIPAL FINANCES.

The finances Of this city for the nine
months Of the present year. as shown
il the official statement printed in The
Tribune yesterday morning, make q
first rato showing for the American
party administration. Coming into
power as the Americans did, with the
first of the year so far as finances are
concerned, they found this state Of
facts That the officials OF the Morris
administration had collected up with
extraordinary diligence every available
dollar that could be obtained, from tax
alton, from licenses, from the assess
menJs Of vice and crime, and from
every possible source. At that same
time that same Morris administration
had put off the payment of debts, Of
warrants, and of all obligations to an
extent that was not only unbusinesslikc
but amazing in volume and In the range
of accounts covered. These reached
from past due expenses like the election
expenses of November TO the holding
back Of warrants that were due and
payable months before. The whole play
Of the Norris administration was to
make a show Of turning over an i'm
mense quantity of immediate cash, in
Guiding most Of the 81 ,00o,0 received
from the sale OF the water and sewer
bonds, aud at the same time to deluge
the new administration with immediate
and pressing demands for the payment
of accounts, warrants and hundred
forms of obligations, this to the end
1.ol zh N I
be scored.
BY reason of this avalanche Of past
due accounts and warrants, the first
four months showing Of the American
administration was unfavorable on its |
face. At the same time, when an eX"
animation Of the items that were ag-
eregated was made, tho trouble was !
imm mediately apparent as abo2e eX-
planned The Morris administration !
had collected everything, and had paid |
nothing; this in order to mako play !
to the galleries and 10 show, precisely |
as was shown, that the American city |
had not collected much
money, as IN fact ii could not do, be-
cause very little was collectible, and at
the same time had paid out immense
sums; and the vice OF gambling, which
had paid large revenues, was sup
pressed, from which Morris drew con-
siderable sums,
1t wss the hope Of those that set up
this job that the public could be deceiv'
ed as 90 the reasons for the extra large
payments made during the first four
months Of the American admnIstra-
ton, but an analysis OF the accounts
made the matter entirely plain, and it
was easy to show lust what the plot
had been and bow IL had worked out.
Tho special funds are all shown 10
he in good condition, and the general
due Morris accounts are taken out, of
$ll9,000 more favorable TO the city
treasury than the balances for the cor
period last year.
In spite of all the difficulties, in
spite of all the jobs, plots, and schemes
to deceive the public, the American ad-
is showing clean record,
IN excellent financial administration,
and thorough disposition and ability
10 protect the pubic in its finances,
in It's morale, and in ITS safety. Every
time the contrast comes up between the
American administration and
The Church administration under Nor
ris, the well-wisher to this city, the
patriotic citizen, has a
right TO exclaim, and does eaclaiD1,
- Thank God for the American party!'