The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-23
THE TAX REDUCTION.

feel grateful to the gentlemen Of the city
council who voted to reduce the assessors
valuation 20 per cent. That action will not
bring the taxes down as low as they should
be; the reduction should have been so per
cent, and then the taxes would have still
been so high as to be oppressive. However,
a saving to the people of say S40,0 600 will be
something of relief in these times of
money scarcity and trade dullness. 1t will
help out good deal, and, what is more,
will inspire in the people the suggestion
that the entire city hall crowd are not de-
iberately determined upon "cinching'
everybody for the last cent possible to
squeeze. Property owners will begin to
feel that after all there are some officials
connected with the municipal government
who occasionally think of the people aud
their rights.
The talk about the assessment being just
and fair is all rot. In scores of cases lot
owners offered to sell their hold
ings at the price put upon them
by the assessor. There is not
member of the council who doesn't know
that it would be impossible to get any
thing like the prizes for land at which the
owner has valued it. Nor is it an argu-
ment, which has been advanced in some
cases, to say that because man will not
accept the assessors valuation the prop
erty is worth more. The houses and lots
are largely owned by the occupants who
attach q sentimental value in excess of the
cash value, to the premises.
1t is said, and the mayo and the minority
Of the council used the thrust in an effort
to bulldoze the majority into reversal of
their action, that banks, merchants and
others will refuse to pay the taxes levied
against them, and the city, as consequence
will be involved in litigation, and, until
the questions raised shsll be de-
termined in court, will be with
out money. If the bankers and
merchants have been too heavily taxed it
IS not only their privilege but their duty to
resist payment and appeal to the law for
relief, and if the city shall in the meantime
run short of cash the council and not the
taxpayers will be responsible for the re-
sulting inconvenience and evils. THE
HERALD knows nothing of the intentions
of the merchants and others who are said
to have grievance, but if they are threat
ened with wrong it is their right to go into
tue courts for protection. We hope the
councilmen would not assume the power to
stop them.
We are also informed that the 20 per
cent. reduction will greatly cripple the
corporation and require the Immediate
cutting down of the municipal expenses.
A few weeks ago, before the tax rate
had been fixed. some member of the council
requested the mayor to submit an esti-
mate of the probable expenses of the city
in order that the rate might be fixed at
such a percentage as would produce the
sum required. The estimate was given,
and readers of THE HERALD will recall that
some Of the figures called forth the criticism
of well known accountant and heavy tax
payer. 1t will also be remembered that after
ward, in explanation, the mayor said the
estimates were for next year, not this.
Now, we are going to take the mayor at his
word, and to suggest that there is no oc-
casion for any exhibition of anger on his
part over the tax reduction. His admins
tration will close in four months, and mas
much as the taxes to be col
lected in October have been levied
for the purpose Of making provision
for 1892, we must assume that funds have
have already been secured for 1891; hence
the predicted disaster must come, if at all,
after the present administration has termi-
mated
But it is childish to talk about disasters
and Gripping the corporation by reason OF
failure to collect outrageously high taxes
The sum saved to the taxpayers can be
saved by the city without in the least I'M
pairing the public service in any depart
ment. The small army of hangers-on an6
sunernumeraries drawing pay from the
municipal treasury can be cut down with
out injury to anybody except to the fellows
who seem to have been given salaries fol-
the political work they have been doing
Then much money can be saved by stopping
this vandalism miscalled Improvement" o.
running good streets. We believe if two OF
three of the council committees will get to
gether and intelligently consider the pay
rolls and the work that is being done they
can save twice $40, 900 year without clog
ging, in the least degree, the so-callet
wheels of progress" or lmpairing the ser.
vice in the slightest.
And after all, no matter what may be the
outcome, no matter how much or how little
the public service shall be interfered with
no matter whether or not improvements
shall be delayed, after the reduction ha.
been made the taxes are too high: the PEG
pie will be paying too much to the govern
ment, will be paying more thar
should be required of them-more thar
the residents of pretty nearly every city il
the west are required to pay. After all i
is better that this slight relief shall come Il
the heavily burdened taxpayers than tina
the money should be expended for real i'm
provements, which the experience of tn,
past eighteen months has convinced every
body would not have been done.
THE HERALD appiauds the act of the ma
jority in the council. What they have don,
is in the interest of the people and no
against the corporation. The taxpayers
without regard to party. also applaud, ant
will smile at the rantings of the minori ty
LET Us enter protest against the expen,
diture OF dollar for patching up any oil
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