Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-20
HE FAVORS A PUBLIC LIBRARY


The Ladies' Literary club Of this
city has been very active in It's canvass
among the candidates of the various
political parties in order to obtain an
expression Of views on the public Ii
brary question. Among those who
have sent explicit replies to the club
through one OF It's committees Is Hon.
John Clark, candidate for Mayor on
the Non Partisan Reform party's tick
ct. Mr.. Clarks reply is as follows:
Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Dart, Mrs. Igleheart,
Committee Of the Ladies' Literary
Club, Salt Lake CITY, Utah:
Ladies-The following question has
been prupOunded by your committee,
in writing, coupled with Il request for
reply from me, also In writing. |
quote the question: "Wlll you, III
elected, use every effort in your power
to secure the immediate establishment
OF the public llbrary2"
Permit me to assure you that / am
heartily In favor of a public library
and would further 1t by all means in
my power did the state OF the city's
finances justify it. But at present 1
am not in favor of an Increase of tax
alton for any purpose. Every one adj
mits the usefulness of such an institu-
ton, and no one more than 1 regrets
the absence OF library. II is an edu-
cational adjunct of great Importance,
and Just as soon as the city Is able
steps should be taken to provide a IL
brary commensurate in size and quail
ity with salt Lakes greatness in other
directions
a consideration of all that your ques-
ton implies demands a careful re-
view Of existing conditions. The city
Is burdened with n large debt, the tax
payers are grooming under the load
placed upon them, while there seems
TO be no limit to the amount Of money
which can be spert by the city author
tiles under present methods. While the
ability Of the people to pay the taxes
now demanded Is sorely strained, many
citizens having to borrow money to
give TO the taX-gatherer, while the as
sessed value of property is excessive
and in many cases largely above
what the property would bring today
In the open market; while the tax
levy of the city is already UP 70 or
near the legal limit and tributes are
being wrung in every conceivable way
from an unwilling people; and while
the citizens are Contributing over $500
900 per annum to the support of the
city government; still we are con-
fronted with an annual deficit in the
treasury: we see the city government
running behind and borrowing money
every year to tide 1t over until the
next tax money comes in, and behold
the authorities using in advance each
year money that properly belongs to
the revenue of the succeeding year.
In spite OF this eNtravagant use Of
public funds ana the power of taxation,
there are many things which the city
wants ana needs but which II is next
to impossible to obtain on account Of
the Strengthened condition of its fl
nauces.We need a new jail. The present
Jail is a disgrace to the city and ought
to be RACED to the ground. our schools
are oVerCrowdcd and we need new
school houses in parts of the city to
accommodate the growing school pop
ulatlon. Then there is the admitted
need of free library. Every one sees
its usefulness and regrets its absence.
But all these things require money.
Where is 1t to come from? Certainly
not from people whose lfe-blood Is
already being Slapped by the legalized
eXtortion now going on under the name
of taxation. There Is In my opinion.
only one way in which the library and
other improvements can be reached,
and that Is by the exercise of the
strlctest economy on the part of those
entrusted with the governing power
Once let the expenses of the city be
brought within its income and the
margin, IL there be any. can then be
safely and wisely devoted to city i'm
provements. Until then. nothing not
absolutely necessary should be at
tempted.
Under present circumstances. am
against any increase in taxation for
any purpose, and could not pledge my
self TO any Improvement which means
the placing Of additional burdens upon
n people already overtaxed.
AZ before stated. l am in favor of
public library, and just as soon as the
city can afford It, I shall take pleas
ure In furthering the project by all
means within my power
am, ladies, very respectfully yours,
JOHN CLARK