Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-17

improvements 10 ~ per cent. of the
valuation ~ assessed, except on such
real estate aud improvements ~ have
already been or may hereafter be- IT,.
duced In value by this board for spc-
claI reasons, the valuation OF which 10
be reduced 10 81 per cent. Of the cor.
rec,ed valuation thereof, and that Il
DO the sense OF this board that The city
council Instruct the proper official 10
refund TO nll taxpayers who have here.
tofore paid their taxes ~ per 6. mt. Of
the taxes paid ON real property aud i'u-
provements."
Councilman Lynn was opposed 10
the resolution on the ground that the
council could not afford 10 make a re-.
ductlon. The estimates made by Mayor
Scott and the finance committee, for
tho money needed 10 make certain
improvements, WINS entirely too low.
In case the resolution should 10 l.dopt
cd, the council would not have enough
money In the treasury TO run tile
municipal government IN fnt.clnss
manner. The reductions already made
by the board, In equalizing taxes, had
lowered the general fund In a manner
that the city could not well afford.
Councilman Spaflord moved TO lay
the matter over for one week ia order
10 get the opinion Of the city attorney,
~ 10 whether the city could legally ~.
duce the assessment.
Councilman Young responded that
n former city attorney (Col. 5. a. Mer.
ritz had given II ~ his opinion that The
city could not legally make n reduction
In the assessed valuation Of property.
'Inul NnA 81
was GENERALLY and almost unnni.
mously conceded fact. He had taken
the precaution To consult, on this mat.
ter, several Of the most eminent
students Of law In tho Territory and all
were OF the opinion that u reduction
could legally I've made.
Councilman Hardy favored reduce
lion " the amount mentioned. II was
10 the Interest Of the city la do so.
such action would invite aud not repul
the investment " capital among w..
Acting Mayor Anderson said that
action should he deferred Until all the
members Of the board were present.
Councilman Lynn again protested
against the adoption " the fosolutiou,
saying thst the Council could mol
afford 10 make any more reductions
than thoss already made In c,lualislug
the taxes. The money collected would
prove entirely inadequate TO meet the
expenses Of the city.
Councilman Hyd. said N such were
the case, the best way out Of the difli.
Guilty would be 90 cut down the eN-
pen-es, which could easily be- done In
more ways than one. The bonding
limit was being approached at rapid
rate. Something should be LEFT for the
next administration.
Councilman Lynn moved ~ an
amendment ~ tho motion ~ adopt,
that Il he referred 10 City Attorney
Hall, with Instructions report at the
meeting % the board this evening a. to
the legality Of the proceeding.
Councilman Folland conionded that
the amendment was out of order, but
Mr.. Anderson ruled against him.
Councilman Young protested against
the amendment, saying that the opin.
ion Of the city attorney would make no
material difference 10 that Official was
not court Of last resort. II the matter
should 10 carried 10 the courts aud
there tested, there could he no doubt as
10 the result. II certainly could not he
that city had no right a. reduce the
assessed valuation OF the property with
la Its limits.
Councilman Pendle,on was OF the
opinion that Il would have been better
10 have made the rate OF taxation
higher and thus kept the valuation
down. His property was assessed for
much more than Its market value.
When the city has plenty of money on
hand II should be used for necessary
Improvements. When II has none, lis
Representatives should 10 slow.
Tho amendment referring the matter
to City Attorney Hall was put aud
lost on n vote 0t . TO :. Spanord aud
Lynn voting In favor OF the amend.
ment. Young, Hardy, Hyde, Tuddon.
ham, follAnd, Heath and Pendlcton
voting against
The resolution was then adopted on
u vote OF /. Lynn voting against
II.
The board then adjourned until 1850
this evening.