Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-09-02

enc OF the YEAR and even when we did
get u no one could tell anything
about IT, The special auditors sue
ceeded IN SWING us a system OF book
keeping which Il unintelligihle even to
the city auditor
The law requires. too. that a state
ment OF the outstanding warrants and
the warrants unpaid shall be included
IN the statement / have tried time
ana lime again ~ get the auditor TO
include IN his statement the amount
Of the unpaid. outstanding warrants
lsl lod against the city, but this Was
refused me But as city councilman
u Is hard 10 nnd out just what the
financial situation is, and although
th'nk know something about &C. !
am not sure As an example Of the
complicated system introduced by the
special auditors. I was astonished 10
learn that IL requires some 80 war
rants each month 10 pay the city engi-
neer his salary And there are other
thlnRs Just as foolish in the system
The speaker referred TO the attempts
made by members OF the council 20
appoint a purchasing agent whose duty
II should BE- TO call for bids for the city
supplies and award the contracts to
the lowest responsible bidder. The
proposition TO appoint a purchasing
agent was approved by the American
majority IN the council. il was "A good
thing 10 have a purchasing agent and
get the supplies for the lowest and
best figure possible. The resolution 10
mat effect was introduced into the
council' II was not opposed II went
70 the committee on municipal laws. OF
which Tom Black Is chairman. and
there the resolution remains To this
dav'
Fellow citizens. ] believe Il is duty
OF those elected to Office BY the people
10 render some account TO the people OF
what Is done with the peoples money
Ana 7 tell you II they do not do that
II Is your own fault-it il your duty to
elect servants in the city government
who VIII give an account OF every doll
lar spent and show that the city has
received fun value for your money.
GET GOOD MEN.
"The people should govern them
selves, and not b. dictated by any in
ner circle Get good men. be they RE-
pubiicans, Democrats or Americans
yes, mere are good men, though mis-
guided, IN the American party. Re
gardless OF politics get good men for
your offices and not men who believe
70 the victors belong the spoils
don't believe there should be- amy
'spoils' in city government
90 not wish 10 offend by anything
] have said ] have some good friends
IN the American party. but I must
say that ] for one. should like a change
IN matters OF city government"
NEPHI L. MORRIS.
Nephi L Morris was introduced as
the next speaker lie said IN sub
stance. II have greatly enjoyed the
instructive address which has been
given by Mr.. Hail and the Introduction
By Mr. Lawrence. Ny position Is not
particularly In opposition To any PARTY.
nor Is Il In the interest OF any party
or political gang. nor prohibition. but in
the interest OF the welfare Of the CITY.
President TAFT said: one Of the
conspicuous failures Of the American
people Is IN their municipal govern
ment So let us learn a few lessons In
civic government. Here is crisis In
city affairs which confrOnts US and we
must solve the problem From what
Mr. Hall says. we need solution. And
! think the time Is ripe. As / under
stand IL, We are here tonight to try out
the sentiment OF the people in attempt
ing TO find a solution for the situation.
'Des Moines few years ago was IN
bad condition, and the story has been
told Of the redemption Of the city A
man by the name OF Brown lived near
defective sewer When IL rained the
sewer overlooked and caused a stencil
He went to the city hall 10 have the
nuisance abated. He traced from one
office to another and from one officer
to another before he found the right
man TO make complaint. Il took six
hours OF his time 10 make the complaint
and then nothing was done When he
went back again the offices were closed,
"A baseball game was on in the after
noon.
We'll, Brown went on a vacation be-
fore anything was done 10 remedy the
sewer. While he was away the sewer
overlooked, and his chickens we're
drowned. When the flood receded the
chickens lay upon the ground and de-
cayed. The neighhors complained and
Brown was arrested for maintaining a
nuisance when ne returned home. This
story may be true and II may not. but
Il serves purpose.
"A breeze was created by the citizens
which brought relief The newspapers
took the matter up and dropped parti-
san politics The ministers became ac-
tive and all the citizens were astir
This breeze worked up into storm and
the slogan was things can't be worse
no matter what Is doae. There we're
the wolf-lik Office seekers. the gang Of
politicians and grafters hut the storm
annihilatcd the crew and the citizens
found responsibility The people were
the judge and the jury and convicted
them.
UNDER NEW PLAN
I'm two years time they made won