The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-01
GET DOWN TO THE TRUTH.

In response to The Herald's demand
for particulars as TO the purpose of the |
sso0,e bond issue, the city council has
addressed the voters of the city on the
subject The address reiterates the es-
Inmates contained in the bond resolu-
ton and adds a specific pledge as fol-
lows:
The mayor and the. city council of
Salt Lake City do hereby pledge them
selves to carry out the above de-
scribed improvement at the least pos
sible expense consistent with good re-
suits. and do hereby further pledge
themselves To eXpend the money only
in the manner set forth in the fore
going statement
AS far as il goes the statement, in
Guiding the pledge. reads fairly well. 1t
does nor explain Why s125.0OO is esti-
mated for sewers. when $4,000 is the
engineers estimate. II does not tell
the voters that the contract is already
let and work progressing on the con-
nection of the intercepting sewer with
the gravity sewer. nor does il say that
the pumping PifiiiN - pa
let Again ii fails to show that $4,000
of the money asked for water mains is
to cover a bank debt incurred by pay
ment of Moran for the Fifth South
main which was laid last winter, and is
not new work - all.
However. these are minor matters
The conspicuous and fatal omission in
Nrhn
asked to authorize 100000 additional
indebtedness Is the failure TO tell the
exact condition of the citys finances
Exactly six months have elapsed since
this administration told the people
what IL owes. what its real status is.
although the law requires monthly
statements. This reticence Is not
likely to be caused by any excess or
surplus funds. In fact. II rs known the
administration is hopelessly involved in
debt and cannot find any way out ex-
cept by the issue of bonds. The over
draft and unpaid warrants amount to
anywhere from s250000 up what ii ac-
tually is no one has been able TO learn,
unless possibly some councilmen know
who won't tell
Having made one step toward hon
esty. the administration is about due
now to make a clean breast of II. Here
are some suggestions for the next pub
lie address and pledge TO cover;
What does the city owe the banks?
What does it owe in outstanding, un-
paid warrants?
What does II owe on contracts COM
pleted and not yet paid for?
How much of the $500, 600 bond issue
does the council propose to apply TO
existing Indebtedness?
What will the tax levy be If the
bonds are not authorized?
These are simple questions. easy to
answer il the administration really de-
sires TO be frank. Moreover. they are
questions the people are entitled to ask
and which they expect to have an
swered Whether as a matter or poll
tics or common business sense, the adj
ministration would do well 10 get uI
q supplementary statement to the tax
payers telling the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth about
their affairs. The city council does not
stand so high in public esteem just
new as to warrant the people in plac-
ing $500. 900 at its disposal on blind
proposal. If the money is really need
ed for legitimate purposes there will b'
no hesitancy about voting 1t; but i
will take more than a general state
ment. unsupported by affidavits, to ge
vote of confidence in Black and Da
Wis ard Martin and the rest OF tn
crew that dominates the administra
ton