Salt Lake Tribune | 1904-02-19 | Page 11 | Mayor Morris Will Now Force This Issue

MAYOR MORRIS WILL NOW FORCE THE ISSUE Refu3es to Sign the Payrolls of City Employees,, and Appeals to the City Attorney for an Opinion to I ' Sustain Him. i X ! i The payrolls of tho employees In all of, tho city departments havo been hold up by Mayor Morris, who refuses to sign them oh tho ground that the positions aro not being lawfully .filled. Although Mayor Morri3 'says ho Is holding up all o tho payrolls It Is understood that only thoao o( the Engineering and Comctcry departments, depart-ments, together with a part of tho Water-work Water-work and Land and Water offices arc tho ones ho rofmes to audit. In tho stand taken tho Mayor is relying rely-ing upon chapter HI of tho Stato laws of 1813, referring to the nppointmont of officers offi-cers and assistants, which rends as follows. fol-lows. "Tho Mayor, by and with the advice ad-vice and consent of the Council, may appoint ap-point all appointive officers and agents that may bo provided for by law or ordinance, ordi-nance, and. In Hko manner, fill all va- canics among tho same, except as otherwise other-wise provided by law; provided, that elective elec-tive officers shall havo tho sole right to appoint all their deputies and assistants, who shall be conflrmod by tho City Council," Coun-cil," The Mayor consulted with City Attor-noy Attor-noy Dey upon tho matter yesterday afternoon, after-noon, and although ho stated he had not received a formal opinion upon tho Interpretation Inter-pretation of tho statute, said that tho opinion would uphold him In tho conclusion conclu-sion made. This may be only a bluff on his Honor's part to bring the Republican Councllmcn around to a confirmation of his appointments appoint-ments or it may bo his Intention to attempt at-tempt to deprive tho employees of tho city of their salaries. If tho latter bo the case It is said that he wilj be mado de-. de-. fondant in a number of Injunction suits within the next wcok, which will result In having tho Juggling with the laws put. to an end by order of the courts.