The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-20
A z cLARK's MESSAGE.

necessity OF the ease II Is lCtlSli4L ~
the very outset he plunges into the
midst of things. His statement as to
the condition of the city's finances is
one thai Will make all citizens pause
and reflect. The suggestion that the
bond issue of September, 1888, 1920
years, be refunded. is a very good one.
and it could undoubtedly be done at
the rate he names4 per cent-thereby
efecting an annual saving of 5000.
The mayors suggestion Is to the Gre
alton of a sinking fund is one OF the
most important he makes. He very
properly remarks that THE credit of
the city, its ability to make improve
ments in the future, and our duty to
the city's creditors, all demand that
our obligations shall be cancelled with
consistent promptness.' To do this the
need for a sinking fund is imperative.
At the present time the debt of the city
is 81, 54S, 900. And this does not include
the school debt. Now, if this debt is
discharged at the rate of $780, 600 a year
it viii take ffty-one years to wipe it
out. That will be 1919. To look at the
city's deot in this way is the only n
by Which any adequate idea of its size
can be had. To know how much the
people owe just think that if they dis
charge their municipal debt at the rate
of a thousand dollars a week it will
take them half a century to get rid of it.
What the mayor says about the col
lecting of licenses is proper. If part of
those who are compelled to take out
licenses are made to pay them prompt
ly while others are not, it works a d.
rect injury TO those who do pay Fur
thermore, the city itself loses more or
less revenue, for when licenses remain
unpaid for n considerable time a
large portion of them will never be col
leeted. And there is no excuse for let
ting licenses become delinquent.
What is said about the salaries of the
heads of departments being charged to
the departments the same as the sala-
rles of other employees in them, is a
common sense, business proposition.
Reference is made to the revenue de-
rived from the water assessments, but
his honor expresses no opinion as to
using this department as a source of
revenue 1t is a question that has been
discussed considerably, and there is by
no means a general sentiment tina it
should be used as a revenue source.
When it is it puts an excessively heavy
burden upon those who use city water.
The mayor concurs with the city en-
gineer that sewer pipe should be pur-
chased by the city and not by the con-
tractor. This should. and most prob
ably would, lessen the cost of W
construction very considerably.
What is said about the poll tax will
meet with public approval. No one
ever has been able TO understand why
the amount collected from poll tax is
so u-naccountably low. AS the mayor
says, Taxpayers have a right to de-
mand, and the interests of the people
require. that this tax shall be uni
formly collected from all who are la
BILE" It is about the most unjust tax
and the most unevenly collected of any
Considerable space is devoted to the
police department. Reference is made
to the fact that the fire and police COM
mission has ceased to exist. The fact
is recognized thatthe experiment of
such a board was 2 decided failure in
this city, while the hope is expressed
that under. a wise and judicious policy
greater harmony and efficiency will OBJ
tain in the police and fire departments.
tirely with the mayor, and he need End
no difficulty in bringing about the very
condition ne desires if so minded.
What is said about the board of pub
lie works is very good indeed. 1t is
the creature of a state law, and it
would be we'll for the city if it were
abolished. It is a relic of boom times,
when everybody thought there wouldn't
be room enough between the Wasatch
and Oquirrh ranges to accommodate
the people who were going to rush here.
Experience has taught all a different
lesson.
What the mayor says about the pur-
chase of supplies and inventoring city
property is right and proper, and in
accordance with business principles.
On the whole the message is a very
good one The peroratlon is perhaps
needlessly exhortatory. After all,
what the citizens want is better and
more economical government. In all his
efforts in this direction Mayor Clark
ear rely upon the hearty and active
support of the council to further them.
The Herald wishes the new city admin
istration every success.