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Show THE CITIZEN 4 bcrcd that it took the state over three years to build 3.4 miles of gravel road over the summit in Parley's canyon, and at this rate we need not expect to see the Silver creek road completed before winter. It was started early last fall. No, they are not paving the Silver creek road it is just a gravel affair. A couple of farmers and their teams would long ago have finished it. Probably the longer it takes to build it the more money there will lie in it for somebody, but we are under the impressioin that it was let out by contract, and that it should lie completed in a specified time. Every auomobile driver that has gone over these detours has cussed, and we do not blame them; we have also cussed. CROOKS OVERRUN CITY Not so very long ago The Citizen called attention to a general exodus of criminals from California for points further east and according to the high class jobs pulled off here during the past two weeks, it is quite evident that some of the professional crooks have decided to cash in at this station before continuing their journey farther east. 'While we do not expect all the crooks to be caught, yet we ought to catch some of them, and a majority of them ought to be intercepted at the railroad stations and given the word to continue to the next town. Commissioner T. T. Burton appears to be too busy with minor offenders about town and with his large force of men in marking automobiles and running down girls of the underworld and arresting them, he is completely demoralizing the police department as far as catching criminals are concerned. The girls arrested are held in an unsanitary and bedbug ridden ward with the usual charge, held for the board of health. After being held for one or two days the girls are turned loose again. However, there are certain forfeits they must put up, such as attorney fees, bonds, etc., and their cases never appear in court, which is the most ridiculous part of their arrest. The police know where to go and get these girls, but be it known that all the girls are not arrested, and many of the reported dives are entirely passed up, and it appears to be the opinion that by stirring things up in the underworld the police are really making a record; so are the crooks. While all this is going on, the crooks are busy in all parts of the city robbing and pilfering the citizens. If some of the crooks are caught, and at times the officers must jeopardize their lives in making arrests, the leniency of the courts and outside protection given the crooks, they are held for very short periods. The public is getting very little protection for the high taxes charged to live in the city. Commissioner Burton wants to be to office. He is spending much more money in the public safety department than any of his predecessors and he is not getting results. We never expected him to get results because he has never had the experience of a police officer and he is absolutely lost in the department. All his men must work according to his orders, whether right or wrong, and the result is nil. There are some mighty good officers on our police force and if handled properly and given the backing of the courts they would soon clean up the city. Chief of Police Burbidge is a good chief and knows his business but with his hands and feet tied he becomes a dummy in the department. It is about time the people of this city demanded that the town be cleaned up of all crooks. In the coming election the people also ought to remember that if they want good service in the public safety department they must select a commissioner who has had some experience along these lines. A shoemaker cant make a suit of clothes any more than a lawyer can prescribe medicine for the sick. Commissioner Burton may know how to make good roads, but he is sure a misfit in his present position. No doubt the crooks are greatly pleased with present conditions and they are reaping a rich harvest. re-elect- ed 1 AUDITING. For what purpose are auditors elected? The general iim pression among the taxpayers is that the work of the auditor is keeping strict account of the taxpayers money, but evidently this is not so. According to the audit in the county, discrepancies have oc-curved for several years, and no one was the wiser for them until Lincoln Kelly was called in to make a special audit. Why then have a city, a county, or a state auditor? If it is the work of the auditor to only check receipts and disbursements as they are passed to him by the various departments, then the taxpayers are paying for an office that we would be better without. In big business an auditor may step into the office at any time and look over the books, and they better he right. In the postoffice department, no one knows when an auditor appears, and if there are any errors they are quickly discovered. But in our political departments : Does the auditor ever step into the treasurers office and audit the accounts?. If not, why not? Several months ago The Citizen stated that there should he an audit of the city and the county. At that time there was a great deal of talk on the streets regarding certain departments. Kelly will no doubt close the county audit today. The city should also be audited. Do special auditors ever check the supplies purchased, sold or held over and in stock? We have heard some funny stories on supply stocks. You cannot always give credence to rumors, and an investigation will straighten out the rumors. It will also be interesting to investigate the amount of money spent on certain jobs. We predict some big surprises if they are. But by all means dont try to audit the city books for $300, for you cant get an audit, and the money had better be turned over to some poor widow, even if she is getting almony from two or three divorced husbands. . UTAH COPPER PRODUCER. Utah jumps into second place in the production of copper in the United States. Arizona leads, with a production of 729,324,-53- 7 pounds ; Utah follows with 259,649,158 pounds, and Montana is a close third with 257,271,936 pounds. Montana was in second states producing copper in place in 1925. There are twenty-on- e the United States, with a total production this year of 1,239,622,-09- 4 pounds. The Utah Copper company of Bingham is the largest producer of the state. REGULATION Regulation of the people by law seldom brings the desired results. The law says one must not rob a bank, but we have bank robberies; the law says that one must not take a drink or make liquor in this country, yet there are hundreds of thoui sands of people who take their daily drink and each city has its numerous booteggers. In the next two or three years we may expect the most radical legislation regarding the automobile. The recklessness of many drivers makes it imperative that certain regulations must be lived up to, but if we only pass laws as an excuse to protect the reckless, with a handicap on the law abiding, we will get nowhere. It is quite true that everybody should not be allowed to drive a car, and it is also tme that a reckless driver should be barred from our highways. Eliminate the reckless driver by prohibition and accidents will be reduced at least 75 per cent. But remeni& her this: A reckless driver can pass an examination as easily as can a sane driver, and probably with higher credits, and if the law stops at the examination, such a law would be valueless as far as reducing accidents or getting results. The only change made would be the lawful licensing of reckless drivers who are able to pass examinations. If such a driver got into an accident |