The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-14
THE ROAD TO RUIN:

I
| the bounty question. That was prac-
tically settled on Thursday. 1t is true
that the anti-bounty principle was re-
| introduced by Delegate Richards, but
it was in a modified form and was
voted down with but little difficulty.
! The Republican majority had the
power to do this without any of the
bravery" and "gallantry' which are
credited to them by our morning con-
temporary. They prevailed, not by
the force of argument, but by the
force of numbers.
The confusion and trouble arose
apart from the blunder of the Presi-
| dent-over Mr.. Varian's endeavor to
bring his party colleagues to little
sense of propriety and prudence. A
! few Republicans had sense enough to
see that his proposition was not in
reference to bounties, but 10 the loan
! ing of the credit of the state and the
! investment Of state money in private
enterprises. The Tribune calls this
"the re-opening OF the bounty fight, -
evidently being in the. same confused
state of mind as the rest of the Re
publicans who opposed Variants prop
osition.
The Herald, while regarding the
/ Richards substitute as the proper
measure, embodying a principle so
! clearly correct that it cannot be con-
troverted as politically automatic, yet
looks upon the Varian proposition as
a step in the right direction, though
| It is not distinctly Democratic, and
leaves open the loophole by which pub
lie funds may be poured out for boun-
ties. But the Tribune assails it as "a
clear abandonment of the Republican
position and an indefensible attitude
to take before the party" Let us see.
Here is the Richards substitute:
NO appropriation shall be made by
this state, or any political subdivision
thereof, to any person, corporation,
association or institution not under the
absolute control of the state; nor shall
the state, or any political subdivision
thereof, lend or pledge its credit for
any such person, corporation, associa-
ton or institution"
And here is the Varian proposition:
1.-The legislature shall not authorize
the state, nor any county, town, town
ship. district. or other political sub
division of the state, to lend its credit
or security to stock or bonds in aid of
any railroad, telegraph or other private
individual or corporate enterprise or
undertaking..
The essential difference between the
two ought to be seen at a glance. The
first forbids any appropriation by the
state or any political subdivision
thereof by way of a bounty, and any
loaning of their credit for private pur-
poses. The second leaves out the
bounty prohibition and retains the no
credit clause. sit
Is that "an abandonment OF the Re-
publican position?" If so, then nearly
every Republican state in the Union
has abandoned it, and the ultra par
tisan Republicans of Utah stand al
most alone. We have already quoted
from the constitutions of a couple OF
score of Republican constitutions, and
could produce many other similar pro-
visions from organic laws of other
states, showing that it is a generally
recognized principle, that the credit of
the state or of any county, city or
town, should not be loaned or pledged
for any private corporation or asso-
citation.
The taxpayers Of Utah ought to we'll
weigh this important question. The
Republicans in the convention stand
ready to open the fioodgates. so that
not only the money taken from the
people as taxes for the expenses Of
government may be given away, to
any amount, to companies and individ-
uals 10 promote their private bust
ness, but that the state and every
city, county and town in the state
may run into debt by bonding or go
ing security for the bonds of organized
capital. thus endangering the solvency
of the state and opening the way to
oppressive taxation. Also that the
state and It's cities and counties and
towns may invest the public funds in
stocks and shares OF private companies
and corporations, which is worse than
the rest and gives evidence Of a craze
which is as remarkable as it is de-
plorable.
That governments are not instituted
to engage in business enterprises, nor
to support private speculations and
ventures. but to protect the citizens in
equal rights and privileges before the
law. seems so elementary a principle in
politics that it needs no calculation.
The taxing power extends to the
line of the governments necessities in
the proper exercise of it's legitimate
authority. Win taxes are collected for
that purpose and the money is diverted
to promote some private concern under
whatever pretext. it is prostitution of
power and a robbery of the taxpayers.
That is bad enough. Republican though
it is. But when that misuse Of power
extends to running the state in debt
and pledginG it's credit in support Of
schemes devised for the further en-
richment of the wealthy. 1t goes be-
yond even Republican political heresy
and is recklessness to the verge OF
ruin
Let it be understood by Republicans
an1 Democrats alike that the PROPOSE
ton voted against by nearly all the
Republicans in the convention is not
an anti-bounty provision. 1t is an anti
credit proposition, TO protect the state
and its cities and counties from being
swamped in debt for the benefit of
private corporations, and to prevent the
investment of money, drained from the
taxpayers to pay public expenses, in
stocks and shares to bolster UP private