The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-06
BATTLE ON AGAINST
PROTECTED GRAFT
Irregularities in the Conduct of
Public Affairs in Weber
County.
TAXPAYERS ARE AROUSED
AND AFTER DERELICTS
Queer Bill Allowed by Board of
commissioners for Expenses
in Lobbying.
Special 20 Tho TrIhune.

SGcc!1l 10 Iho Iribunc.
OGDEN. March 5.-Thc Tribune at this
time desires to call attention to some ir-
reGuloritles Ghnt Is nice phrase) in the
conduct OF public affairs I'm Weber coun-
ty. This is not tho first time the attcn-
tion of the public has been directed to at
least one OF the nagrancies but repetl-
ton OF the facts now that tho public
conscience has been awakened may assist
the people I'm their determination Of the
best course 10 be pursued I'm the fight
against protected graft"
Here Is Peculiar Bill.
Joseph Stanford, chairman of the Board
o. County Commissioners, presented 10
TINT body on April g. 1903, q claim for
sZI35O. which was allowed and paid The
itemizntion OF thJ blu is as follows:
For reimbursement OF actual and ne
ccssary expenses on special committee on
legislation under appointment made by
board August 4. 1902, for railroad and
street car fares, hotel bills. typewTitinG,
messenger service. etc, during December.
l|2, and February and March. 1893
Auditor Refused to Audit Bill.
The bill was not audited by the County
Auditor. he refused TO do so. 1t was not
signed and approved by the County At
torncy as II should have been and above
all II was against the provisions OF sec
tlOn 2Hg, laws OF 1888, which reads as fol-
lows; The members OF the Board OF
County Commissioners shall not receive
ony compensation In addition to that pro-
vded In section Posi- for any special or
committee work. but each member shall
be paid the amount OF his actual travel
ms expenses In attending the regular and
special sessions OF the board and in the
discharge N necessary committee work
not TO exceed 500 annually" The COM
pensatlon provided In section 2o57 is $500
per annum.
What Stanford Accomplished.
The principal work accomplished by
Chairman Stanford during his legislative
lobbying was the creation OF another Of
flee for himself that IS poor commission
er, under the new poor law, and which
yields an additional revenue Of $500 per
year TO him. or course, he has q legal
right to occupy that responsible position.
and IL Is believed that he has the distnc-
ton OF being the only one In the State of
Utah TO hold the joint commissIonership.
Another Bill Paid.
on May S. 1905. Chairman Stanford re-
peated the process Of presenting bin
for similar services at the last Legisla-
ture amounting 10 80. 1t was paid. the
same illcgaltieS attending its discharge.
and II was paid during the absence of
Auditor Mattson from the State.
Interesting Irregularity.
Another interesting irregularity is the
appointment OF Robert L. Wilson.
nephew OF Commissioner w. c. Wilson.
horticultural Inspector for the county.
and tho performance OF his duties. The
County Attorney, II Is true has ruled
that the appointment was perfectly reg
ular. others contend that IL is not. The
two sections OF the statute over which
the contention arises read as follows:
Section IL. chapter 9s Laws OF Utah
1906. In part, says
said inspectors shall be paid out OF
the county treasury for the tlmc and SER
Vices actually rendered at such rate per
day as the Board OF County Commission
crs shall decide, not to exceed 81 per
day"
Section l.. chapter 10. Laws of Utah.
1907, is on what the County Attorney
bases his opinion 1t reads: Providing
for destruction of pests etc. To provide
for the desrtuction of gophers or squir-
weeds and insects, Injurious TO fruits.
fruit trees, vines. vegetable or plant life"
And incidentally let Il be remarked here
that there are many pests in these parts
geological;
on motion OF Chairman Stanford. sup
ported by Commissioner Wilson, the ap-
pointment was made Twenty-Five days
was counted the months work the salary
was fixed at S75 per month, with $40 per
month thrown In for horse and convey
ancc. and since May ! Inspector Wilson
has been drawing down that amount.
To the lay mind section Il, chapter as.
Laws Of Utah 1905. appears to be the
statute under which the appointment
should have been. II provides for pay
ratio not 10 exceed 81 per day. But SS5
per months exceeds that limitation
No Report Since October,
And the legislative enactment Of paving
for services actually rendered" seems to
Just such a condition as evil
IDENTIFY prevails, for the last report that
Inspector Wilson made TO the Board OF
County Com ;nissioners was October q
1895. Thot is the last one on file II is
that he may hive made verbal
r. ports TO Chairman Stanford In the in
terim IL Is also intimated that Tor three |
or four months in such weather as wa |
have been having there Is little doing In
the pest killing business, at least those |
who particularly trouble Observation-Disclosures |
and hence, the inspector can take a lay-off |
Certain IL is that the last report from In |
spector Wilson on Ale in Clerk Mattson's |
Office is October g 1906
Wilson Public Official.
il may be urged that this matter is a |
IL. L..