The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-26
TIE NoN-PARTIsAN COMMIT
TEES ADDRESS.

is nlled very largely with those plati-
tudes and common truths that most
men accept and few. if any, reject
Like well preserved fruits and meats
and export beer, the address may be
said to be warranted TO keep in any
climate It is well to go over it in de-
tail.
1t starts out by scying that every
taxpayer Is an investor. shareholder,
in the government Of his city. That is
true. but not startling, and will be de-
MED by no one, partisan or non-par-
tisan.
Following this the statement is made
that desperate is the condition OF any
municipality where ,cnques or rings or
Incompetence or partisanship control
in official affairs. and business meth
eds become subordinate to personal or
political advancement" That likewise
is true, but not startling, while those
who viii deny st are few indeed. The
statement might have been made more
complete by saying that even where
non craftsmanship controls in official af-
fairs and business methods become
subordinate to personal or political ad-
yancement. desperate indeed is the
condition Of that city.
The committee makes the statement
chat heavy debts, increase of office.
large salaries and consequent ex-
cessiye taxation have made the
burdens upon the people unbear-
able, In 1890 the aggregate. tax
alton in Salt Lake City was II
mills; in 1897 il is 271a mills. Even this
enormous figure will not cover current
expenses at their present volume; and
when to this is added that the valua-
ton on which this assessment is made
is in many instances greater than the
property is actually worth, there will
be none to dispute that Salt Lake City
bears a burden heavier than almost
any other city in the land"
That is true, generally speaking. but
it conveys decidedly erroneous i'm
preston, whether intended to or not.
1t conveys the impression that the rate
of taxation in Salt Lake City for mu-
nieipal purposes solely is 271z mills on
the dollar, while that rate includes
state, county, school and city taxes.
The statement is anything but ingen-
ious. and the committee that makes it
cannot but be aware Of that fact. The
city government has nothing to do with
the rate Of taxation for the state,
! county or schools. but only for the city.
The committee. declaring that party
! politics has nc necessary connection
With city government. Itself drags in
the whole rate Of taxation for all pur-
poses, in its address, which has nc
| connection with the local rate
The address then goes on TO state
that for the present year the city's in
come has been partially anticipated
and used-a deficit exists, in the pay
ment of which a large portion of the
! current years taxes will be needed thai
should properly so only for next year
necessary expenditures; that in adj
ton to ordinary expenses, $4,000 pei
year, commencing with 1885, must be
raised as a sinking fund for the pay
ment of our municipal debt, which, as
a fitting climax to these financial woes
may be announced as reaching The
enormous sum of over 81, 500 600, and
that besides all other evils which come
from this condition Of public affairs
the city is prevented from doing nee
essary work in preserving and adding
to municipal Improvements. the conse
quence of which is that the city's prog
ress is stopped
Gloomy as the committee finds IN,
picture, it yet sees a light in the dark
ness. This is to take the city govern
ment out of politics and put it's at
fairs on business basis. decIarin:
that party government in municipal at
fairs should be forever abolished Thi
position is attempted to be fortified
with this statement: This is no ex
pertinent, no new doctrine. The beg
governed cities of the Old World hav,
made it triumphant, the largest am
most progressive of American cite
are struggling successfully with tn
same problem
The statement is totally misleading
on a par With Ghat absut t.;a rate Q
taxation, and dlsingea61us to DEGREES
We defy any member of the c5mmitte
whose names are s.ensd to this cd
dress TO the people to name q siEgl
city of Europe where tiney nave eve
had partisan government as 1t is under
stood in this country, or to name
single European city whose goveratnen
is non-part..san in the sense ;gaat 5ae.
propose 10 make the government o
this city uon-paGt-fsan. Can they p0ta
to single city in Europe where liner
Is universal suffrage and the p5opI
eject their city Officials, either on parll
san CT non partisan tickets? VIVA
largest ana most progressive Ameri
can cit;es are struggling sue
cessfuNy wish rcn-Dattisan gov
errmoat? 1t is true thai NeJ
York has d Citizens Union NL.5-,l Ia
nominated Seth LOW for mayor .
Greater New York, but he IS rot els',te.
yet. II is also true tlaat in various cite
there are organizations whose ann i
, the betteTmere Of municipal govern
ment, some of tAsm partisan, some 0
them r-u-parus2m; but u-a cities wner
nl1n-rart.zeGcaip Is making a SUCCESS
) full struggle are 50 few tsut we do no
believe q single RlSnber CT ule non
partisan committee can name one.
The committees platform is as fol
iows:
Therefore we. VITO have signed soa
names TO this address. affirm a1d hoh
TO these principles and d5clarat1-ns:
That party pcultieS laVe To neceg
, s,aly connection vita murlclpa! man
aSegnent.
That only such persons should be sc
! lected fn1, ulnyliniElal offices as ana raln