Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-12
CAN'T AFFORD IT.


To the Editor:
The recent municipal election, while
not reaching prospeotively far enough
along the lines of reform, l am con-
WINGED means reformation and inaug-
uration of n more economic govern
ment for the city. l am now very
much in favor Of our school board re-
ceiving the direct attention of the tax
payers. Let us indulge In the hope that
our approaching election will be con-
Quoted in the interests Of the men and
women who pay the taxes and upon
whom rests the heavy burden of sus-
tanning the free public schools of which
SAT- Lake City boasts SO many excel
lent ones.
But in the past economy does not
seem to have been considered by the
members OF our present school board
The question that seems to have been
paramount in their minds was. Does
the school board deem 1t eXpedient that
new school house should be built I'm
this or that district?" And they seem
TO have asked themselves only
about the proprety OF maintain
ing city free high school
and in knowing that under the law
they could estimate in advance in Il
careless manner the necessary amount
needed for school purposes, which de-
mand upon the treasurer would have
to be met; no amount Of protest from
the individual taxpayer or from the
public generally changes the amount
that they, as the city school board,
feel to levy upon the home owners and
business men. The amount required
from the public treasury for school
purposes for the school year 1897, ! am
informed was three hundred and TWEEN
thnngpn1
showing 1t appears that the gentlemen
comprising the board only carelessly
estimated the amount needed, and
though to the mind of the taxpayers
this vast sum should cover all school
expenses for one year, yet by their
own report the snug little additional
sum of between thirty and fifty thOus-
and dollars has been borrowed from
Treasurer Barnett to exc out the
meager allowance.
Now believe have liberal views on
educational matters. and at the same
time that | and the rest Of the tax
payers are 50 munlhcently paying for
the education not only of our own
children but of our neiEhbors as well,
that there viii need To be a limit some
where: otherwise before the children
complete their education and arrive at
the destined goal through the mad edu-
catlonal whirlpool through which they
are being crowded regardless OF their
physical endurance say, long ere
these fond hopes of the Salt Lake |
school board can be realized. at the /
present rate Of demand, many Of these |
taxpaying parents will be gone whore /.
the woodbne twineth with their toes I
turned up to the daisies: and II truth /
ful inscription Is written on their |
tomb. It must needs be something like /
the following; Here lies the body OF /
one of many who were overwhelmed .
Taxpayers as a remote cause of death; .
Immediate cause, continuance In office .
of the present city school board"
understand there is n movement .
now being started by some Of the .
Of the present school board .
and those OF their sympathizers to
make nominations Of men for members
of the new board who will pledge /
themselves in advance to maintain the
public free high school that has al
rcndy cost the taxpayers such vast
sums Of money If times werr good
and the people Of all classes were not
already grooming under unbenrnhlc as
sesgments from city and county taxes
and assessments Of school boards.
too would he In favor Of extending our
facilities for education. But when
take into consideration the fact that
we have within the city limits focil-
tiles for obtaining n good start for an
our children in educational matters, in
our established free district schools.
also we have a goOdly number NJ high
schools and colleges conducted by
able teachers under tho patronage
Of almost every religious society
known I'm the country, and that
over and above an we have our glorious
state University ] think with all these
facilities for learning, the taxpayers
may be given rest so far rs the free
city high school is concerned. True,
his would only he a drop In the bucket,
but ms It In he las straw that breaks
the camels back give the tired tax
payers the benefit Of the drop-don't
pile on he last straw
When the primaries shall meet or
mass meeting be held In the precincts
)r elsewhere, / urge upon all taxpay-
FRS, male and female 10 be present,
md make their presence felt by nomn-
lting men for the new school board