The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-07
doubt that even Methuselah lived to
the age credited to him.
THE GOOD AMERICAN WORK.

the city. It affected, a few days ago
to find the financial situation of the
city, which it represented to be in the
condition of desperation, a source of
great humor and merriment 1t was
easy, however, TO point ont that the
Herald did not in the least know what
it was talking about, and that il was
in the position of a chattering idiot
making light of serious things which
! he did not in the least understand.
! Every time the Herald makes a gen.
eral onslaught upon the American nd.
ministration in this city, it shows that
it has nothing specific TO urge, and
when it undertakes to urge anything
| specific it shows such dcplorable and
ridiculous lack Of knowledge of what it
is talking about as to be the laughing
stock Of the public.
On yesterday morning, for instance,
1t undertook to be specific, and, as
usual, was merely ridiculous. II stated
that two years ago the overdraft on the
about Sl0,000.' The fact is, however,
that two years ago the overdraft on
the contingent fund was S25, 5,656.4S
The overdraft on the contingent fund
at the present time is $120, 1851.
When we consider that the Morris ad-
ministration of two years ago put over
upon the American administration to
pay more than $4,000 of it's obliga-
tions, it will be seen that the two
amounts do not materially vary: there
is not more than about $4,000 differ
ence between them. The Herald in the
same connection misstated the over
draft at present, stating that cit is
over Sl75,000' - That is to say, it over
states the present overdraft by $55, 900.
And these are specimens of the way IN
which the Herald pastes itself when it
undertakes to deal with the city An
ances. The fact is that when the
present years taxes are collected all
the obligations will be fully met and
there Will be also handsome surplus
over
In the same editorial the Herald says
"what the public criticizes in the ad
ministration in its city affairs is the
favoritism to contractors, the unbusi
nesslike lack Of system in handling
contracts, the ineffciency of the street
department, and other municipal de-
partments. and the unwillingness Of the
American administration TO face it's
own financial condition. All of which
is precisely the reverse of the fact.
There is no " favoritism TO contractors
The leading contractor of the present
administration, against whom the wrath
of the Herald is so much directed, is
the same man who was the leading con-
tractor under the Morris admnistra-
ton. and who received the award and
contract from that administration for
putting In the Big Cottonwood conduit;
but the specifications for that work
were in such a wretched condition that
they had to be reconstructed on the in
of the American administration,
lust as they would have had TO be re-
constructed If the Morris administra-
ton had been continued, for the faults
in those specifications were notorious
complete reconstruction.
Neither is there any Fnnbusiness-
like lack of system in handling CON
tracts for all are treated fairly, and
are Justly and promptly paid,
There is no ineffciency Of the
street department" but the contrary.
What troubles the Herald and all of
the opposition press in the street de-
partment in particular, is the excellent
showing that department makes from
time TO time of economy and saving of
money in contrast with the lavish eX-
pcnditures which were made in the
street department to no purpose and TO
no public benefit under the Morris ad-
That is what hurts; and
the contrast is altogether IN favor Of
the American administration.
Neither is the American administra-
tiou unwilling ''to face its own fnan-
cial condition. 1t is, of course, un-
willing to face the fake financial CON
dition which the opposition press cook
up for it. But that is not the financial
condition of the city; that is merely a
pipe dream of the opposition partisan
press There is no reason in the world
why the America an administration should
face any such hot"air, imaginary prop.
osition as the opposition press put
forth. There is no reason why it should
wish TO face anything of the kind.
There is nothing but hot air in it, This
is business administration; not an
of dreamerS, of poets,
or sentimentalists Of any kind. 1T does
business for the public in straight
forward, business-Iike way, and is not
only ready to face the record which it
makes and the conditions that are in
volved in the work it is doing; but it
is anxious to make precisely the show
ing that any business man would in
his business, and il shows up anything
that any taxpayer will call for. 1t
makes those reports from time to time;
these reports being the dismay and con