Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-22
POINTERS FOR rlxPArrRs.

1iiE hkraycrH OF thlA city Hhoulh
take particular notice Of the proceed.
ings Of the City Council In relation 10
the tax question. There IL not the
slightest doubt that tho general public
have grievance against the CITY A.
SCISSOR. Ho has placed too high a valu.
alton upon real osiaie,all round. This,
we believe, Il universally conceded.
That being the fact there ought to be
n remedy.
II IL provided In the CITY Charter
which coniers powers upon the Council
10 correct the assessment roll, 90 M 10
make II Just and fair aud equal. The
Council has passed an ordinance
providing for Board of Equalization,
composed Of the entire Council, 10 carry
into effect the purpose set forth In the
charter. a majority Of the Board have
decided that reduction Of twenty per
cent. shall be made upon tho whole
assessment On real estate.
An attempt wa made by the minor
ity, led by the Mayor. to reconsider
this resolution, hut II failed. The CITY
Attorney, following the Wishes VI the
Mayor, has given an opinion that the
board has not the lawful power 10 make
the wholesale reduction. Hut other
aud more experienced attorneys dls-
agree with him entirely, and the plain
language ami evident intent Of the
charter and ordinance are also against
him.
He now says the proper way 10 make
a reduction l. for the Council 10 reduce
the rate instead OF tho Board reducing
the assessment. The City Attorney
who preceded him gave u legal opln.
ion, to the ciicc, that the Council had
no power to reduce the rate after II had
once been fixed. Both Of them, we
believe, were In error, and each OF
them studied more to please the Mayor
aud his "Libcral" associates, than 10
deal out straight law aud Justice to'the
taxpayen.
Last night the Board Of Equalization
took up the reduction question again.
The vote TO reconsider having
failed, tho Mayor was great.
ly chagrined, and suffered his
vexason 10 get the better Of his
judgment and his usual courtesy. a
resolution, introduced by Councillor
II. w. Young, which torsely aud con-
ri-toutly placed before tho public the
,.aauu e. fh. a.tln,, 90 a.. Hal A..
making the reduction, was decided
"out OF order" although II was o er-
talnly In order, having been offered be-
fore the motion to adjourn was put by
the Mayor. And whhn the motion to
adjourn was actually voted down, the
Mayor declared IL carried, Ignored the
call for sdivlslon, seized his hat aud,
followed by tao minority, left the
chamber. Il Is 10 be regretted that
the gentleman took such high
handed or pettl.h course. lilo WIS
either no angry that he forgot
His duty as chairman, or was dcte-
mined to play the autocrat--a role for
which ho Ia not adapted--ind 80 vio-
lated the rules Of order aud broke up
the meeting.
The Mayor believes, no doubt, that
all the funds expected from tho taxes
will DO required for Intended expcndl.
lures, and for u balance on hand when
the present Council goes out OF Office.
There was handsome sum In the
treasury when II laid hold OF NUM-
cipai affairs That ia all gone
and vast amounts besides. There
Is little 10 show for 1t by way
OF 'puhllo improvements. And Ia
leave an empty treasury, after all, would
be rather m1rtifylng 10 the Mayor aud
very poor certificate for the Glib.
eral" party. His zeal In support Of the
Assessors valuations, and indifference
Ms to the wishes Of the taxpayers, can
thus be easily accounted for. But II
does not Justify tho course no has
pursued and viii not add To hls popu.
lariiy.
This majority have done well In hold
ing to their position after once taking
stand In favor OF economy and jus
tico To the taxpayers. W. do not set
how the wrong that exists eau br
righted In any other way that will be-
satisfactory and consistent, Real estate
has been listed too high, considering the
state Of the market. Values have de-
preciated, yet In many Instances the
assessment has been raised. Personal
property, while perhaps over valued ns
: regards household effects, has been
placed In the main at It's cash value ~
to merchandise, stocks, bonds, money,
etc. Tho wrong is rs to realty, and
the reduction h to spply to realty.
This ought 10 be done, 1t clearly
eau be done, aud unless some new
movement TO obslruct shall be made, Il
may be said that Il hos been done. We
do not see on what ground II can be-
prevented, and hope tho City Council.
ors who have stood their ground for II
thus far will not permit themselves to