The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-15
NO MONEY TO
CARRY ON WORK
American Party Caucus to Dis
cusS Present Dilemma Held
in Mayors Office.
MANY OFFICIALS PRESENT
CONSIDERABLE JUGGLING WITH
FINANCES MUST BE DONE.

A secret caucus of the American admin
istration officials was held in Mayor
ThompSon's office all day yesterday to
consider how a creditable showing is to
be made before election time on public
Improvements with no money available to
carry on the work with.
Among those present were Mayor
Thompson, who acted as chairman Ru-
dolph All, city auditor; Frank A. Sven
son city treasurer; +. +. Christensen,
clerk of the board of public works; w.
Mont Ferry, chairman of the finance
committee of the council. and Councilmen
Black. Holiday, Carter and O'Donneli.
The present dilemma was gone over in
detail and all manner of propositions as
10 how 10 get out of the trouble were
made. The session was a continued one
from smaller and more informal gath
ering held Monday
Il is understood that the mayor berat-
cd the councilmen for their dilatory tao
Ties and told them in plain language that
II they did not make better impress
sion the party is doomed. II was the
mayor that called the meeting. and he is
evidently worried over the situation.
one Of the principal subjects discussed
was how 10 complete the work left I'M
done by the Utah Fireproofing company
which was released from its sidewalk
contract a week ago The property own
eTs on the north bench. where the bulk
of the uncompleted work is located are
mp in arms over the delay In putting down
the walks, and if something is not done
can be relied on to vote against the pres
eut system of government in a body
Hardly council meeting passes without
y dozen or more Complaints from this dis
iuct- ana the mayor realizes that some
Thing must be done. The problem how
ever, is how to do something with moth
ing.
The fact of the matter is that many of
the property owners who have not been
benefited have paid for the expected i'm
prONements. and their money has been
spent in paying for the completed work
The work in front of this property must
now be done by the city at a higher
price than the original contract called
for. The city has not enough money in
its street fund to pay for one-third of the
citys portion of the improvements now
under way, and with this burden added
she. camefs back has been bent, if not
broken.
money in other funds which are not now
In use and apply il to this work taking a
chance on reDlenishing these funds at
some future date. This scheme. however
Is vigorously opposed by the bankers and
also by some of the wiser heads in the
councils OF the party, as it is seen by
Them that II will lead to endless compli-
cations.
Another matter which was taken up was
the laying OF water mains on the north
bench The mains there now are entire
~ inadequate and the people are de-
nanding larger ones. The city however.
has not money to use in installing them
The cost of the work desired wouid
amount to nearly 100000 In order to as
certain Just what can be done the au-
ditor has been asked for a statement of
the condition of the water fund
1t is thought that the caucus will con-
Tinue for another day at least. and some
developments in next MONDAYS council
meeting may result.