The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-18
SCHOOL TAXATION.
Representative Bennion Gives His
Views on the Subject.

SAT- Lake City, Feb. II.
To the Editor of The Herald:
Dear Sir:-Your editorial this morn
ing championing the cause of cities of
the first and second class as against
the ''alfalfas' in the matter of school
tax, prompts the Indictment of these
few lines in their defense. If the sup
port of your paper were confined to
these cities we would hardly deem a
defense worth while. But as il has
a deservedly extended circulation in
the country we feel that both sides
should have a representation. AS al
falfas we feel that our chief argu-
ments are eliminated from your report
of the discussion. We maintain that
If under the free school system Salt
Lake City, with its superior wealth
may separate itself from the poorer
portion of the county, then the richer
districts of the country should be per-
mitted to withdraw their support from
the poorer districts around them.
Carry this principle to its ultimate
results and it would take the support
of the rich man in the district from the
poor man with his large family of
school children and thus destroy the
whole free school system.
There is a line OF school districts
running south through the center of
this county, favored with the pres
ence of two railroads, with the accom-
panying smelters, Sampling mills, lead
works. etc. yet these railroads are
supported by outlying districts as well
as by those through which they run.
These latter districts have the advan-
tage in the local special tax. Is not that
sufficient without giving them the
tuition tax? Would you advocate such
a wide difference of educational oppor-
hot let
cause of their geographical differences?
Were the country school districts of
this county 80 miles from Salt Lake City
they would have their stores whole
sale and retail, farm implement houses,
banks, in fact all their commercial in
terests with them for both general
and special taxation. but as il is all
their commercial interests are conferred
here in this city, which fact, together
with the free school principle, consti-
tutes a double reason for county sup
port from the city.
The proposition of one of the city
members to favor this county school
tax if the country would consent to
a general city tax only indicates the
weakness of his cause. He thus pro-
poses TO exalt the advantages of city
iuxuries, such as waterworks, sewers,
police and fire protection, etc, to the
same level as education. You speak
of Salt Lake and Weber counties as
being the only ones affected by this
legislation. Utah and Cache counties
are affected similarly. the difference
being only in degree and the princi-
pie is a matter of state controversy as
is evident from the vote. 1t is evident
to the alfalfa mind that if cities of the
third and fourth class should be taxed
fer county school support that cities
of the first and second class should be
treated likewise. Under this regime
all the districts of each county fare
alike and if any district, city or county.
chooses TO make its schools superior
TO others they may do so by special
tax.
equity of the state school tax as
general state school fund win bear
with equal weight in favor of the