Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-25

finance committee, and was not ord
cred published. TO this day no iln-
ancinl roport such as the law requires.
and signed by the incumbent OF the
auditors office, has reached the pub
lie. p,r even the city council. Can
an administration that refuses to
furnish the report the law requires,
be trusted with more money? That
is the question the Tribune has care
fully avoided. so far.
There arc many other questions that
might profitably be considered I'm con-
recticn with the proposed bond Issue.
For instance, who was She beneficiary
Of the $4,000 OF more. that was spent
on ,vhitewHshinE the conduitP What
ortlon of the $4,000 paid to 'speuia'
auditorsr was money thrown away
what BENEFITS did the city derive from
the $4,000 poid for advertising In the
Marty organ? Who profited by the
rccul!ar transact on by which the pub
.ic funds were transferred from bank
ravlns interest on the deposits, 90 one
not raging interest? The city. we
have been told. lost in the neighhor-
hood Of 100000 in that little TRANSACT
ZION. who benefited by it, IL any
body And, dnally what about the
sundry irregularities that according TO
rumor. were hushed up. when disoov-
| cred
The business methods OF the admin
TO
spend. though it refuses to give any
account OF its Stewardship. are we'll
! illustrated in its high-handed dealings
with the citizens of the southeastern
| part Of the City in the matter OF the
| ,aying of sewers. Before the last
| election the cost was only $3.50 a
| foot. after the election, II was SIS
! one of the victims of this Intended
extortlon some time ago went to one
of the officials to ask for an explana-
ton of the discrepancy. when a con-
versation took place. of which the fol'
| lowing is the substance:
Citizen: What is the reason thai
Won charge us double the price you
have charged citizens in other parts
of the city, for the same work.
Official: I'm other perts we used
the trench digger, and that is so much
cheaper"
c.: "Then. why did you not use the
trench. digger in our part of the city,
o.; Because there We're too many
tree strmps in the ground"
c.: But you did use the trench-dig-
al
ger fof four blocks. and it worked al
right. why did you discontinue to use
liz"
o.: well, to tell the truth, had to
to give employment to voters
c.: so that is it? You want me
and the others to pay for American
votes, under the pretext of paying foi
improvements?
No answer!
That tells the entire tale of the bust
ness methods of the dictators of th'
American" city officials. No wondeI
It Is difficult to get a financial report
They do not want anyone to touch then
sore tooth But they want more money
The citizens OF this City, as rule
are not in a position to undertake any
heavier financial burdens in the form
of taxes. Most of them are already
taxed to the limit of endurance. Nor
taxes means that people with moderat'
means will be forced to sell their homes
The real estate market will be depress
ed and prices will fall still lower thai
they are now. What Is needed is tn
emancipation of the City administra
ton from the monster that has fastene'
itself upon its neck. When it has free
itself from this incubus and become tn
servant of the people instead OF tn
party dictators. IL will know what +
do to extricate the City from tn
situation into which selfishness an
hatred have plunged IT. There are busl
ness men in the administration, il
whom the people have confidence,
they will act as independent officials
But as long as they consent to act tn
part OF insignificant marionettes in tn
hands of INSCRIPTIONS politician
> there is no way out Of it. OF cours
, the dlctators can order an enormous IN
L crease IN the tax levy, and althoug
y the citizens may be helpless againS
c that form of robbery, popular opinion
l. when aroused, IL force which eve
PARTY dictators, constituencies thong
II they may he, must take into account.