The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-13
THE CITY ESTIMATES.


| is obliged. under the law, TO complete
| its budget and estimates and apportou.
mcnt of revenue for the ensuing twelve
months by January 10th This is law
that is decidedly unfair to the commits
sion; for 1T compcls that body. at only
a little over fortnight IS incumbency in
office, to complete its financial arrange
mcnts without having had the necessary
experience TO know with precision what
revenue, in fact, it will need
However, being forced to the issue,
the commission decides not To increase
the levy of last year, which was thir-
teen mills, aud to cut down. if neccs-
partmcnts. Mr., kcyser, for instance,
who says that his park plans should
| require the expenditure of $4,000. is
willing 10 cut down to 100000. This
will be an increase of $4,000 over
the cxpeditures of last year, and In
this case probably no direct harm will
come from the cutting down Of the ex
pepditure, But il is not enough that
no harm shall come. There ought to
he money enough TO do positive good
and not merely to scrapo along. The
$4,000 suggested by Mr.. keyser is
not any too much to expeud on our
park system; in fact, good deal more
ought 10 be spent upon it yearly. City
Creek canyon would naturally be the
first great object Of this expenditure,
and there the expenditure is badly
needed. City Creek canyon should be
the popular pleasure and outing resort
Of the people Of this city. 1t is con
venient; it is beautiful; it is shady
aud pleasant; an idea resort, exten-
sive enough to accommodate thou
sands without any crowding. And then
the great bench to the west Of the can
yon, from the Ensign Peak plateau
reaching around and following tho
course Of the canyon, could be made
Il park of unsurpassed beauty and
commodousncss. OF course, it is not
supposed that all this can be attended
TO in any ono year: but we are merely
suggesting that the money to begin
these great and needed psrkings ought
not to be especially stinted.
In Mayor Park S department also
there is room and need for additional
be provided, and they should be better
paIdH The pay of policemen is alto
gethcr too small TO attract the best
class of men and TO allow Of good
man having home and family. The
need Of increased pay for policemen
has been presented BY The Tribune
heretofore, and we wish TO renew the
expression Of our opinion that there
should he good substantial raise in
the pay of the police force. Their
work is arduous and often dangerous.
Instances of this peril arc too fresh
in the public mind and too numerous
TO call for any especial emphasis or
repetition on this point. And, unless
proper pay for competent and coura'
geous men can be provided, it js too
much for the public to ask that good
men shall impcrl their lives for pit
tance. Then. again, there is need of
keeping up the firc-fighting force TO
the best possible standard; and the fire
apparatus should be continually added
to AS Improvements are brought for
ward
The street improvements under Mr.,
Morris also should be kept up. The
city should not be allowed TO lag in
progress in the way Of improving its
streets and adding the scenic boule-
ward, as well as pushing additional
paving.
The water department. under Mr..
Korns. Will require extension and bet
terment constantly as the city improves
and grows. ..
The Finance Department, under Mr.,
Lawrence, viii need additional money
also, by reason Of the addition to the
force. But Mr. Lawrence hopes that.
through the improvements which he
has in Yicw. the departments will be
saved a good deal Of money through
the purchasing agency and in other
WAYS.
However. II is net our purpose to
advocate increase in taxation, only
10 call attention TO the uufitncss of
tho Legislation which requires the com
mission, when they arc hardly warm in
their positions. 20 declare a financial
programme which it is quite impossi-
BILE that they should have mastered bv
the time required; aud also TO direct
needed attention 10 the inadequate
pay Of the policemen, and 10 the de-
STABILITY Of getting good and fit men
in all positions, at fair pay; as well
Is 10 urge that public improvements
should be pushed without ceasing.
FINDING A HORSE RATION.