Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-25
MAYOR URGES REFORM.
Expenses Must be Curtailed or Taxes
Incrcascd--A Strong Message.

Ogden Feb. 25.-ln a message to the
city council last evening Mayor Brewer
presented number Of recommends
tons for retrenchment in city affairs.
For the purpose of considering these
recommendations the counsel will meet
with the mayor on Wednesday evening
The finance committee joined with May
or Brewer in the conclusion that either
the taxes would have to be increased
or the expenses OF the city lesscned,
Among other things the mayor called
the councils attention to the fact that
the revenue OF the various departments
since 1900, outside of direct taxes, has
decreased, and expenses have increased
by about 800 per cent. He submitted
figures showing that 1t costs half again
as much to collect the revenue of the
police department as the revenue itself
amounts to. This, too. in spite of the
fact that the revenues are increasing
each succeeding year He said that
the expenses of the fire department had
increased 2ls per cent. He took up all
the depar'' "'erts in turn, showing where
they inca "a. cohsic's'e.-.f proportion to
revenue. He Poles and serious
matter and 1t wa vn. ~ council to
increase the taxes o. ,aecfsase the eN-
penses He recommended that the de-
partments be cut down In proportion to
their revenue and absolute necessities.
He illustrated with the police depart
ment, saying that he did not under
stand why it should cost more to run
it now than during the "cutoff" period.
He submitted figures to show that Og-
den ran behind SlO0S67 from 1900 to 1906.
and during the years 1906 and 1907 1t
ran behind SSS,000.
He suggested also that soda water
charged the same license as saloon
keepers, and that cigar stores running
card games should be charged the same
as gambling halls. He recommended
the appointment of n special auditor 10
audic the city's accounts and devise
means to simplify matters so that 1t
can be seen at a glance whether OF not
the city is on a paying basis.
He also urged a revision of the ordi-
nances and that the ordinances include
only such laws as are being enforced.
His other recommendations included
regular meeting nights for the stand
ing committees, and that city warrants
be paid in order and according to their
number. His message closed with an
appeal to the council to cooperate with
him In putting the city on a paying
basis.
The resignation of Joseph II. r. Sny-
der city jailer was accepted, and when
it came to naming his successor the
council divided on political lines. Hag-
bert Anderson, Democrat. and r. b.
Paine. Republican, We're named for the
position, each receiving his partys vote.
The matter OF placing man in the po-
sition temporarily was left to the chief
of police. The jailer's salary was made
sos month, and the price allowed for
each meal fed the prisoners was re-
duced from 1874 cents to 10 cents. The
chief OF police recommended that the
rooms at the city jail heretofore used
by the jailer for living apartments be
turned into detention hospital, re-
quiring the jailer to live elsewhere. This
went to the police committee.
Mayor Brewer reappointed ]. F.
Lewis as a member of the park COM
mission for four years, to succeed him
self, and the appointment was con-
firned.
Councilman Thomas, as acting mayor,
vetoed the proposition adopted 'at the
last session, providing for the payment
by the city of one-half the expense for
building wing dam along Ogden river.
for the reason that there was not
enough city property affected to war
rant the expense. The veto was voted
down.
The sanitary committee reported ga
new cases of contagion, making a to-
tai of "a now In quarantine.
Pay rolls amounting to S97LS5 were
allowed.