Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-11-24
the MAILn n,lL tnnunLr.

TUE NAILR RttE TROUBLE.
The general protest called forth from
the people at the new assessment oil
water rates In Salt Lake CITY bring,
up subject that should receive the
prompt and careful attention Of the
ely Council IL points out that la
the maltof 81 water rates In this mum.
oipalily, the adoption OF close anu
we'll defined rule Of assessment h a
present necresitY, and further that that
rule should be- thc very opposite Of 81.
brilliant In H. charges for tho fogua.
ton Of the water supply. Tue broad
discretionary powers that have been
exercised heretofore by officials who
made the assessment have been we'll
suited 10 the past, % that no complaint
need be made Ia that direction I;
tut the latest Instance OF apply ing
Inst discretion gives overw helmit z
proof Of the necessity OF immediate
change, and perhaps tho event has
come none too soon. Without any
thought or intimation Of blame on any
one, u may be said that II IL Iuo the
people tnal they DO given to under.
stand precisely what they may OK poet
In this business from year TO year, aud
that tho uncertainty suggested In tho
present proceeding be- removed.
On behalf of the officials who have
made tho asiessment, II h set forth
that they have merely c1nformoi 10
the ordinance, and Ia doing 70 have
done only that which was their plain
duty. No doubt this Ia true from
their standpoint, and we have no iu-
oliualion to question tive believe they
are seeking to enforce the law rigidIy
all around, anu fot that are untitluI 10
credit and consideration. We like to
see n man with an upright carriage
aud digniied bearing; but when Ia
tying 10 stand erect he leans over
backward, II makes him look awk.
ward, besides placing him In dagger Of
loaiug his equilibrium. 80 when there
Ia discretionary power given 10 NJ.
tesa la certain class Of business a
water rate OF $50 20 So" whom the
maximum sum is charged against the
smallest Kind Of business Ia that class,
AZ IL the case la somu Instances At least
In the assessment complained VI, 1t IL
lenulng too Tar back, and the
equipoise should DO restored. The
very fact that tho officials are
mahing strict enforcement OF the
ordinance, while II speaks well Tor tho
officer, presents conclusive argument
why tho ordinance should be- mate ~
clear and just In lie terms that II
cannot be- enforced with severity.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
CITY Council has declared against the
sale Oi the wa,erworks, and VIZ believe
honestly aud sincerely 90, there uomes
up Ia the minds Of the people a now
doubt on the subject Ia connection
with the present occasion Of complaint.
IL Is that with rule " oxotDitant
water rates the people will become 90
weary Of the burden that whena pr.
waite company offers 10 take the system
anu tenders a guarantee that only half
rates will prevail, II will be caught Ut
asa very tempting bait.
There IL QUE feature that should be
kept In view IA dealing with the city's
water tuup y. This 10 that IL Is not 10 be-
handled boy Tue corporation ~ "a gigan-
ito monopoly OF trust handles some
article Of rmmerce. The sugar trust
OF coal trust probably have legal
right to charge NJ much a- they can
get Tor sugar " iot coal. But the cor.
pUratiun has no legal or moral right %
conduct water trust on the same
Iiuts. II holds title 10 the control
OF the water supply for the |
uUuon. u the inhabitants OF |
tue city, not tor their oppression |
aud iujury aud We believe that the
CIly Council Will lenl with the matter
Ia that view OF the case. A repre-.
sentative meu In control OF the muuiul,
pal rov,Tumrut they must real 10 tuu.
nr OF the must serious rct,backs Sail
Lake could receive would be 20 have
tue idea 70 forth Ihst 10 the matter Of
rates for waler--that Indispensable
In this regiO uoUuy bur.
leusome to the Investor auu property
holder was being lurued. La view o
lhe situation, lrerrlore, tue NEwssug.
gesls that while u Is desiraOl, Tor the
people 10 present their grievances fully