The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-02
TIE WORLDS FAIR APPROPRIATIONS.

The Worlds fair appropriation bill was
the special order in the legislative council
on Tuesday, and the discussion was lively
and general, very nearly all the members
participating. No conclusion was reached,
but the debate indicated that when the vote
snail be taken, the majority will be guided
oy the rules OF economy. Some wanted to
20 to the full length, and with reckless dis
regard of the public finances, vote 800 900
taking chances of the territory finding a
way to pay the bill. Fortunately there
were very few of these, and their argu-
ments had no convincing influence upon
the minds of the conservative gentlemen
PRESENT. who do not rush into box be-
fore learning the way out. Councillor
BAsKIN took the correct view of the
situation, when he said the question was
not one OF sentiment, flowers and poetry,
but of hard facts, Of hard cash. That is
the way TO look at this business. If the
territory were rich and the treasury over
| flowing, it would be well enough TO cut a
dash and make grand splurge at Chicago,
making display which would put other
exhibitors to shame and turn our neighbors
! green with envy. If we had the money
| Utah could be made to appear at the fair as
the most gorgeous and most attractive part
OF the United States. We would all be proud
OF the show which could be made of our
mines, or field and farm products, or wooden
goods and perhaps of some other things
! hereabouts, and we would all like it if
! Utah could keep "open house" on the exhi-
bition grounds, entertaining all Corners and
maintaining d corps Of glib-tongued ladies
and gentlemen to impress upon strangers
the fact that this territory is the section
which best meets all the requirements OF
the laborer the capitalist, the health and
pleasure seekers, and the manufacturer.
But the territory is not rich in so far as
the possession of ready cash is concerned:
the treasury IS not overfowing. On the
contrary every member of the legislature
knows that notwithstanding the increased
revenue, notwithstanding the steadily
growing taxes, Notwithstanding the
fast increasing population and the
consequent increase of wealth, the
expenditures have exceeded the in
come for the past half dozer
years, ana the trifing public debt of {
little while ago has gained proportions anC
is growing right along. Today there is {
bill before the legislature providing for The
issuance of another lot of bonds, amount
ing 10 500, coo, and on Monday the PROPOSE
ton was made 10 increase the sum 10 $500,
COO The lawmakers are now at their wits
end 10 make ends meet, keeping the expen
ditures within the income. On one sidt
they are pressed by the demands of tn
necessary public institutions, almos
everyone of which has asked fer doubl
the sum which it Will be possible TO appro
pirate. and on the other hand the taxpayer
are going before the boards Of equalization
protesting against the assessments and ap
pealing for relief. Let the lawmakers d
the very best they can, and some of the in
stitutions will suffer, and the tax-colIector
notices viii be certain to call forth earnest
protests.
/ With Mr.. BAsRIN we say that thi
Worlds fair question is not matter o
sentiment but of fact. Under the circum
stances the appropriation should be just a
small as will be consistent with the absc
lutte necessities and with 6ecency. Tn
legislators are aware that every dolla
, voted for the purpose will have to be BOZ
| rowed and the Understanding debt will b
increased by Just that sum; and the law
makers also know that the money must q
be paid in time by the taxpayers.
. X is not a question of parsimony or ex
travagance, of stinginess or recklessnesi
, but one of ability. The territory cannc
afford large appropriation, and if it make
such an appropriation it will be at the 81
pense of something more worthy and NOR
, pressing, and oppression Of the taxpayer
I will follow