Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-07-19
AWAY OUT OF THE DIFFICULTY.

A MEETING OF the school trustees
of this city is called by the county
superintendent for this evening at
S O'Clock in the Thirteenth District
schoolhouse. The object of the
meeting is laudsble. 1t is to unite
upon some plan to settle the serious
difficulty which has arisen in rela-
ton to the special school taxes as
sesseG FOR the present year.
The trouble arises from these
facts: That when the special school
taxes were assessed in the different
school districts of this city, it was no
known that a law would be enacted
amalggmating all the districts, and
turning over toa Board Of Educa-
ton all the property Of the several
districts. That when tine law
was passed, these varied As
sessments were not apparent
~ taken into account, or the
law was not made sufficiently plain
in regard to their disposition.
That the very high valuation placed
upon property by the Assessor was
not anticipated when the special
school taxes Were levied, and that
much more money than is necessary
will oe squeezed from tine taxpayers
if the taxes are collected. That
while the amount obtained in some
districts viii Toe enormous, in others
they viii amount 10 comparatively
little, and if they are turned into a
common fund, great injustice will
result to different taxpayers. That
the Collector does not feel justified
10y the law in turning over the re-
suits Of these several Ievies to the
Board Of Education, and will prob
ably decline to do so. That if the
money should be collected and
turned over, K will be much more
than is required for educational
purposes in the city for the current
year.
The great question il, what can he
done to settle the difficulty The
law requires the special taxes levied
70 be collected as other taxes are.
This We have already explained and |
proven. But may there not be some
judicial discretion which, in q court |
Of equity, can be exercised for the |
correction OF the evil that every
body can see is arising? We think |
such power exists, AM believe that |
ifprogrrly invoked it viii lie used |
in the required direction.
Courts Of equity may inteTpose by
way Of Injunction 10 correct mis-
takes or prevent fraud. There Is no
allegation Of fraud in this case. But
There Is evidently a grave mistake. |
And the mistake "a MT one % law.
whith the court will no: perhaps |
correct, but one or fact which the |
court may correct.
The mistake arose through the ex-
pectatiou on the rart Of the trustees |
ia certain districts. that levy of a |
one per cent. CT a one AMI a quarter |
PEI cent. tax would only secure |
the amount necessary IA the |
district for educational pur-
Poses, and the superstition that
i would be expended in the district |
for district school purposes. The
passage Of the new school law
changed all the conditions, and the |
difficulties arising are the conse-
quenCe.
An injunction against the Col
legtoT restraining the collection Of |
these special school taxes would cor
rect the mistake, prevent the con-
fiiCt arising between school trustees
and the Board q Education, and |
accomplish a public good in secur-
ing peace aud harmony in school |
affairs. Anu as all taxation must be |
uniform in order to be legal. a court
OF equity would probably interpose |
10 prevent the wrong which would |
na the consequence Of the enforce
meEt Of these unequal asse ssments.
It's believed that the increased
valuation of property will cause n |
sufficient revenue to be raised for
school purposes under the Board Of |
Education, until that body can
make a new estimate Of expenses
for another year. In that case the
enormous amount 10 come from |
these unequal special taxes can he
dispensed with, the public mind
willbequieteI,the public pocket will
be much relieved aud the trouble
will hc dissipated. y friendly
suit against the Collector to epioin
the collection of the special taxes, if
successful, would calm the troubled
7yaters.''
We believe that if the trustees
and the Board Of Education will |
come to a common understanding
ami mutual agreement on this point.
the difficulty will go no further.
We hope this agreement will be !
reached. \ combination Of forces
viii he cheaper, wiser and more
effective than any individual effort.
The trustees should endeavor to
settle the matter amicably. Iii
not a party question. All party
feeling shuHld be banished in the
discussion OF this issue. The old
trustees and the new board should
have only the public interest and
tine cause OF education in view. Let
us have peace, equity, harmony and
irre ami competent education.
THE STRIKERS AND SPOUS-
MEN"