Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-12
IMPORTANT TO TAXPAYERS.


THE reasons given by the County
Court why bonds for 100000 should
be issued have no doubt been consid-
cred by the taxpayers. II not they
can read before Monday the address
published In this paper, and all who
are interested should give II due a,ten'
ton. Every taxpayer In the county Is
pecunlstily Interested and the votes on
Monday should represent the views Of
all.
AZ we have already explained, the
law provides TINT the res dent tnxpay
ers may vote on this question. That is
reasonable and everybody can sec its
Justice. The people who own
the property tina, Ia to be taxed
10 pay the interest on the
bonds ought 10 decide whether they
want the bonds issued or not. In the
first place they should determine Ms to
the need OF the improvements pro-
Jected, and In the next place whether
they would prefer paying for them by
heavy present taxes, or by money
borrowed which will have TO be paid
by the taxpayers twenty years hence.
Under the law ~ II stands, women
who reside and own property In
the county have the right to vote on
this question. II may be Objected that
the Edmunis.ruckor law takes away
from women the right 10 vote. That
H. true. hut II also provides that male
voters shall take a certain oath. This
would shut out quite number
OF resident taxpayers, II the
term "any election In Utah"
means such AN election as thu, OF Mon
day next. The language OF the act IL,
however, q little more specific Ms to
women, providing; "rhat It shall not
10 lawful for any female to vote Mt any
election hereafter held In the Territory
OF Utah for any public pu'pose whaf'
oCor." The Utah statute, therefore,
1t seems TO ", will not stand 10 this
particular II II Intends TO allow women
who are resident taxpayers 10 vote on
the bonding question.
There IL another provision Of the law
that IL at least of doubtful validity. II
says, "but the manner OF conducting
special election shall be as provided
by law for til. election OF county
officers" The statute was fra ed, no
doubt, with tho purpose Of = a'ing the
conduct OF special elections for county
bonds under the control Of the
county courts. hut we are doubtful
whether that can DO effected under the
provision we have quoted.
We do not agree with morning CON.
temporary that the provision latiects
the qualifications ofyo.er., uoh'as citi'
zenship, registration and 40 on. 1t
only relates TO tho manner Of conduct.
ing the election. But at an election
for county officers there are certain
duties TO be performed aud the bond
ing act Is silent ms TO the porsOns to
perform them. II says the county
court may "cail a special election"
but does not empower that body to
appoint judges or CANVASS the votes. 1
the manner Of conducting n bond
u .ctivn h 10 be the same as ut an
90 ton for county office r., Is II not a
far inference that the election oil.
GERS must bs the same?
Calling an election and conducting
1t aspresoribed by law are two different
things. 1t does not follow that becaus,
the county court may call the election,
Il mAy conduct II or appoint others Il
do so. A county clerk or registration
officer may be authorized TO call at
election and yet have no authority al
to conducting 1t.
In the matter Of bonding q schoo
district, specific authority ia given I,
the trustees and the manner OF con
Quoting the election and the oiilcer
who are to conduct II are designated
But IN the present case there II doub
as to the meaning OF the law, and W,
fear II Ia big enough TO cast doubt OF
tho validity Of the election. At an!
rate we do not believe the bonds woulI
be readily negotiable II Issued unde
these circumstances.
rnvro IL little Inns now to settle thi
question. But II tue county authorize
iutend 10 proceed under the doubtful
authority OF tho bonding act, ever.
taxpayer should be- on hand ON Mon
day aud vote according to his indiviu
ual wishes. II he wants the bonds /
is,ue he should vote "yes," II not h
should vote "no." AMI II he does nc
vote at all, he should never complai
ai1ut the result, because his negle,
may be the cause OF that when he fee
to DO u grievance,
THOUGHTS ON Tux hOMESIEil