The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-28
COMMUNICAT
TO THE COUNCIL

A communication from Secretary
Kennedy OF the Ogden Chamber of
Commerce was presented at the city
council last evening and was about to
have been read by Clerk Allison, when
Councilman Flygare moved that the
matter be laid over until another
time. The motion was unanimously
carried and the communication was
therefore dropped for the time being
A copy Of the paper, however, was
furnished this paper and is as fol-
lows:
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council OF Ogden City. Utah:
Gentlemen:-On June 18th the
writer hereof under the instructions
from the Chamber OF Commerce, sent
YOU communication regarding the
oity's water rights In Taylor's can
yoD. Strongs and Water fall canyons.
and South Fork. which communlca~
tIon was presented June 18th In the
city council and referred to the
mayor and city attorney,
We have since received a letter
from the city recorder having at
tached thereto a copy of the mayors
report TO the council from which 1t
appears that by agreement tho city
attorney was 10 report on South Fork
and Taylor's canyon and the mayor
was to report concerning the city's
water rights In Strong's and Water
fall canyons.
We are sorry TO note that the
mayor saw fit In his report to be
funny at our expense We are sorry,
a. Because It hurts our feelings.
Cd Because IL was not a dlgnified
report for our mayor to make
80 Because 1t does not put any
more water in that new cement-lined
reservoir.
Before receiving copy OF the re-
port we had chance to read It in
the mayors own paper together with
his own approving editorial COM
ments- 1t is not difficult matter
TO see that the hint is broadly convey
ed to the Chamber of Commerce not
to "intrude itself INTO public affairs
and the suggestion is openly made
that before approaching the city Of
flcials we should first look them up
quietly and Informally and confer
with them un-officially.
| take the liberty In behalf of the
Chamber of Commerce of respectfully
declining both the hint and the sug.
eeetiou, not because, they are coupled
with a lesson on officiousnesS,
but because We believe that public
business should be transacted openly
and above board, and that the city'5
interest often suffer from the failure
of citizens TO make their wishes and
demands known to the council
The right of petition is expressly
granted In the constitution of the
United States. 1t is reaffirmed In the
constitution of Utah, 1t Is provided
for In the statutes OF Utah and in the
Charter OF ogden Cily
Any citizen or ASSOCIATION OF cit
liens has a right TO send in a dozen
communications. petitions. sugges.
tions. complaints, or criticisms, at
each and every meeting OF the city
council. If he. OF they, think best. and
each communication must, or should
be. disposed OF on It's own merits. and
not mado the basis OF sarcastic re-
joinders by officials.
Ii there is any right OF the citizens
that Is more clearly defined by the
courts than any other II is the right
to know what officials have done,
what they are doing, and what thoy
intend TO do In transacting public
business
Again. 1t was long ago settled that
public officials must answer the In.
1uiries OF citizens, not gradgingly or
with sarcastic comment, but freely.
cheerfully and with courtesy.
In his report the mayor states that
eight years ago the city's rights in
Suonss and Waterfall canyons were
permanently adjusted" by IAN agree
ment' which was entered Into the
form of decree Of the dictrict
court" by which decree Mr.. r. W
Horn and the Strong company and
Water. Fall Irrigation company were
TO have free and undisputed right" J
to use the citys water. amounting to |
nearly one-third OF the total flow of !
the two streams. until such time as |
the city of Ogden should want 10 use |
the water"
We already know all that and the |
purpose OF our communication OF June |
llth was clearly stated wnen we said |
that there now seems to be a doubt |
as to whether the city has any inter /
est there at all"
Eight years is a long time where J
water rights are involved, During |
these eight years neither MI Horn |
nor the irrigation company has paid I
a cent of rent for the use OF the
water nor have they in any manner
publicly recognized tho city's rights
or acknowledged that they were
lcssees Of the city water
Tho important thing In this matter
is not whothor the Chamber Of Com.
merce has been In Rip Van Winkle
sleep for eight years. but whether
the city has slept Oh lis rights for
al ioht Noarc and oIIouoJ thne, ,l.k,.. 4