The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-27
A PROPOSED PROTECTION,

sible to support the issue of bonds pro
posed by the school board, and if thu
bonds are voted, prevent any evil tam
pering with the money by way Of
graft, selfish grabs jobbcry, or rake
offs. To that end. we understand thai
a movement is afoot for the selection
of what might be called committee
of safety, which will keep close tai
upon the proceedings Of the board with
respect to the purchase of sites, the
planning and construction of buildings
and generally be a check on any wrong,
doing in connection with the eXpendi-
ture Of this money.
The friends Of the public schools rec
ognize the need of high school build
ing and also of relief in the grade
schools; The Tribune has conceded this
all along. This latter is especially ap-
parent by reason of the growth Of the
city's population. Progressive people
also wish to see building going on, and
to see the employment of labor that
this Will entail
In view Of these premises, therefore,
the question is, can the people afford
to vote the bonds with the check that
will be applied to the boards action
by this committee of safety that will
arouse public sentiment such as will
prevent wrong doing and graft on the
part of the board?
If such a situation can be created,
it seems to us that it would be quite
possible for conscientious, progressive
people, friends Of the public schools,
to vote yes on the bond proposition.
At the same time, there should be
measures taken to eliminate from the
control of the board that evil influence
that has heretofore appeared to dom
mate its proceedings, the weu-known
grafters who are unlawfully benefting
themselves at the public expense and
illegally enjoying trade profits, and en-
ployment for relatives at exorbitant
,,rf hu oF Ihas, ,ha,- eJ,y ~
in the board A public sentiment is be-
ing aroused against these lawless pro-
cedures, which, we are informed, is
about to take definite form, and which
will make it highly uncomfortable for
those persons who are acting In defiance
of law. This procedure will at least
deprive those persons of their command
ing influence in the board, and will
assure the prevalence Of honest methods
hereafter in that body. It will not be
a question of tolerating such practices
any more, but of absolutely eliminating
them; and 1t is hoped also to elimin-
ate the persons guilty of them, ousting
at least some of them from the board,
The Tribune has been the especial
friend and champion Of the public
school system of the city from the first
1t is kindly disposed toward the schools,
and has always given them its influence
and support when adverse influences
were operating actively against them.
It has always supported every bond
submitted, either for school
or municipal purposes. It wants to see
its way clear to support the bond issue
now impending. And if the committee
of safety can be organized, and there
is reasonable prospect Of stopping
the improper procedure that has here
tofore been in control of the board, Ii
will feel free to urge the taxpayers to
vote for the bond proposition on Sat
urday next.
Our objections hitherto have been al
together on the proposition that the
board could not be trusted. We are
still of that opinion. The prevalent
influence of the board heretofore has
been an influence Of selfish greed and
graft With that eliminated, and with
the committee of safety to have over
sight Of the way the bond money is to
be expended and the school buildings
located and constructed, The Tribune
will be found in line with the best and
most advanced school sentiment on this |
question. We abominate gratis and
grabs, and because we do so we have
felt that the board could not be trusted |
under the influences that have hereto
fore been In control But with the
elimination Of that control as is pro-