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Show m Straight Talk H "Making a Goat of Lawrence" could easily bo H the appropriate title of a farce staged In an act H or two recently produced by the city commis- H Preceding the first meeting of the commis- H sion some new roll call blanks were ordered H printed. Formerly they contained the names of H the commissioners in alphabetical order, as fol- H lows: Kcyser, Korns, Lawrence, Morris and Mr. H Chairman But on the new blanks the alphabct- H ical order was changed and the names of Mr. H Shearman and Mr. Wells wore substituted for Hi those of Mr. Kcyser and Mr. Korns, the idea nu- B doubtedly being that they would vote first on any- H thing that came before the commission. H The deputy recorder, Warren Smith, was ask- H cd why the change had been made, and he stated B that it had been done by the order of a com- H missionor, which immediately made it pertinent H to ask if city commissioners wcro in the habit H of ordering changes outside of sessions in any- H thing that might affect the public business. H On Monday at the session when the roll was H called, it was -called with the name of Mr. Law- rence first, that of "Mr. Morris next, and those ot H Mr. Shearman and Mr. Wells following. Not H that the deputy recorder mentioned the matter H in the interval between the time that the now order of things was discovered and the meeting, H but it probably happened just as a matter ot H course. However, Mr. Lawrence took it upon H himself to make the explanation that he had sug- H gested that the names of Shearman and V ells be H placed in the positions formerly occupied by Key- H ser and Korns; that he had done it in a joking H way, and that those in the recorder's oftice had H evidently taken it seriously. H Wo are naturally of the opinion that Mr. Park H and Mr. Morris knew nothing of the matter, and H that Mr. Lawrence was, of course, telling the H truth when he made his explanation. Far bo it H from a gentleman of Mr. Morris' calibre to put H over anything of that kind or to suggest that an H explanation might smooth things over in tho H event that it was discovered. H The recordB for truth and veracity held by M both Mr. Morris and Mr. Park are such as to m preclude the possibility of any inference that they H would be guilty of political trickery, and the 1 fact that they are always greatly surprised when M any knowledge of what has occurred in their de- M partments comes to tho surface from some one H other than those in their confidence is sufficient M proof that their brother commissioners and the H public are kept fully informed of everything that H transpires. However, for the benefit of the pub- H lie, which did not see the former roll call, or H the present one, we are publishing a couple of H photographs herewith in order to illustrate more H vividly the little Joke perpetrated by Mr. Law- H rence, whoso sense of humor is exceeded only H by his apparent willingness to stick with the M gang and be the goat. H H The attitude of Mr Shearman in opposing the 9 reappointment of Chief Grant is just what it H should bo. The protest of tho voters in Novom- H ber was not only against the administration in H general, but in particular against Grant and some H of the delectables under him, and for the commis- R sion to retain him in ottice is an insult to the pub- H Not only that, but Mr. Park's effort to keep H i puch a man as Glenn on the force is not only a I ' reflection on him as a public official, but a per- HL sonal reflection, considering tho position of dig- I nity and honor that he holds and considering the Hpp l vrecord of Mr. Glenn in and out of office, of which BI) he has full knowledge. There is something wrong jL i I with a man who can got up in mooting housos B- I Sunday night and take a stand for iaw and order V m. v and morality, and during tho week fight to retain this ex-gambler. We have no quarrel with Mayor Park as a private individual, and wo don't want to bo personal, per-sonal, but in the case of this fellow Glenn, Park's attltudo reflects anything but honor on himself or his office, and down deep ho and his closed friends know it. Of course, political ambition often leads mon to do things that they would not do otherwise. Governor, congressman, 'senator great stuft, boys. And in the event of such a succession why not Hugh Glenn for private secretary as a reward of labor, faithfully performed? At this writing none of the city commissioners commission-ers has introduced a resolution compelling tho Chief of Police to make a monthly report of his secret service fund, but wo hope It will be done Why that should be a confidential matter between those in authority, nobody knows, and if ther had been a public record of such expenditures during the past two years, providing i,t was honestly kept, it would be an eye opener to those who have not the slightest idea ot tho methods ought to bo cleared up, so tho thing to do fo Mayor Park, who offered it, is to pay It personally. per-sonally. There has never been a rottener piece of business pass the commission than that which turned tho matter of tho water supply of the city over to the engineering department which is under the direction of Mr. Morris The slippery one probably did not have that in mind in voting for the Keyser resolution and perhaps none of the other commissioners realized what they were doing but the fact remains that the trick was turned and the offensive and defensive triumvirate headed by Morris and including his willing aide3 Park and Lawrence, are running things and in tend o run things just about as they please. Lather they realize that they are politically J dead or else their ego has developed to such an ' extent that they could not read the signs at the November election and are laboring under the impression that they will be elected irrespective of what they do They, of course, have the support sup-port of the subsidized press, but just how ef fective that is may be judged from what hap- ROLL CALL , . . Salt Lake City, Utah,. . , ? V0T1NG J0 I move that resolution No. by Mr , be adopted. Kotn . Lawrence . Morris , , . I Mr Chairman , . 5 ?; KtsUIT , E?s ra -r. I .' .r ROLL GALL Salt Lake City, Utah, I m Shearman. .. ! j I moc that resolution No .,.,,., Jbv Mr. ... ... r ,. Wells . . " " lie adopted. I awrencp . .... ) Morris Mr. Chairman . - Result I i. prevailing in the police department and the way the money has been spent. It might be Inconvenient and embarrassing to tell the story at times, but the public is entitled en-titled to it and certainly proper publicity on the subject would stop many of the repellent features of the abuse of unfortunates now known only to a few. When is the reward to be paid that Mayor Park offered for Anselmo, and who is to pay it? The Mayor has no power to offer a reward in his official capacity and there is no fund provided for such things unless it be the poor old con tingent fund, which seems to bo the source or never ending mystery for the use of Chief Grant in running down the desperadoes who sell a bottle ot beer in a rooming house while those who ate ransacking residences are allowed to go as far as they like. The former auditor gave notice that he would not pass a vouchor for the leward. Tho new auditor should do the same. It is entirely en-tirely contrary to law, the governor being the only ono) authorized to offer a reward for those committing an offense against the state. But ! pened to the candidates of the administration J papers in the last election. The people know, they are tired, and seemingly they have better f memories than they used to have, and unlesa I there is a radical change in the methods of the holdover commissioners it would save any one I of them considerable disappointment if he did not put his name up for re-nomination two years hence. We thought it was time that the Utah Bar association began to investigate charges made against Willard Hanson, former county attorney of Salt Lake county. He was arrested some time ago charged with attempted bribery and theft of evidence, but owing to a technicality in the complaint the case was dismissed. However, ' there has been nothing to hinder Mr. Willey from , filing a new complaint, but this has not been done though some fifteen months have passed since I Hanson was arrested while coming out of an alley leading from the police station to State street. It was after midnight and he was carrying a bloodstained coat said to have been secured trom a storeroom in tho police station. Besides Be-sides the alleged theft of tho coat, which was one that had been worn by Thomas Mc-Gillis Mc-Gillis when he was killed by Alfred Sorenson, the officers accused him of attempting to bribe thorn to pay for protection for certain clients of his. It is certainly high time that something was done in the matter and the members of tho Bar association are tho people to take it up if the county attorney's office has not time. |