Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-18
THE Guys FINANCES.

THE ClTYs FINANCES.
The taxpayers OF Salt Lake city are
very much exercised over the financial
condition Of The municipality. The sub
,.ct has been discussed In the morning
nansrs and political bias with partisan
dlspptes has obscared IL SO much that
me people are somewhat bewIIdered'
The Deserst News has been a. consld-
atabls mains to obtain correct lnfoma-
tsp as to this important matter ana
the result Of investigation appears IN
another part OF this evenings issue
From the compilation made, with the
assistance OF the auditor who has been
courteous enough to afford ample facll-
tiles for the work and from ex9lana-
lions made By the city treasurer il APP
pears NAT the financial status OF the
city Is not entirely satisfactory from a
safe business standpoint There IS no
occasion for the great alarm which
some people appear to feel, but az the
same time there Is need Of serious re-
Fiction and some prompt measures to
meet the conditions that win confront
the city on the opening Of the year
1901.
From the figures now furnished, II IS
evident tha. there win be a serious de-
hclency 10 the city funds, and the prob
abllty Is that this win occasion much
Inconvenience. even though the receipts
from taxes should be fully up 10 the
amounts usually received during the
closing months Of the year. In c0n'ld-
erlng this part Of the question lt must
not be forgotten that there Is always a
per centage OF uncolIected taxes az the
end Of each year, IN addition to larg-
er sum that IS unsolicited but which
may come IN later The entire amount
" the assessment Is never fully avail
able at the years termination.
There Is another thing to be consld-
cred Under the law money received
for special purposes and Improvements
cannot be diverted to any other object.
AT first sight e might appear that all
the funds received or on hand could be
used, as occasion might require Tor any
liabilities that the city had incurred.
But here Is a provision which seems to
stand sQuarely In the way Of such dis
burements:
All moneys on any special assess
ment shall be held by the treasurer as a
special fund 90 De applied 10 the pay
ment Of the Improvement for which the
assessment was made. and said money
SHAH be used Tor no other purpose
whateyer'-Revlsed Statutes Of Utah,
SEC, 23S.
In view Of that provision the treasurer
Is under obligations that may conflict
with pressing emergencies But there
ought TO be complete harmony between
all the departments Of the city service.
and mutual accommodation within the
lines Of the law In the light OF the
figures furnished by the treasurer It
appears that instead Of S43.sO6.56 in
hand as unexpended funds az the close
OF 1900. there win be a deficiency in
the fund for general expenditures. after
all the years income has gone OF $780,
5000 which Is the difference between
'he auditors balance, and the treas
urers summary Of special moneys
Which must be reserved, under the law.
This is not a partisan question. It Is
a matter Of business. It should be
viewed IN that light II the clty's ex-
pendituresare beyond It's incomepresent
and prospective Tor the year. there
must be halt or some measure 10 meet
the Inevitable deficiency.
To live within ones income is a prln-
cple Of domestic economy, as necessary
10 corporation, public or private as
10 an individual. II any business
nm In the city were to find that lbs
expenses were greater than lts recelpts
th'Ee would be either imme.
date reuenchmnt In expepdj-
ta'e or some means devised 10
increase Its revenue This Is what
SANDS now In the face Of the munich.
panty The city is not bankruut INIT II
APPEARS to be In financial strait Tina,
may be only temporary But either by
the sale Of city property or sons otbe,
means Of income, or by cutting on OK.
p'nses' which does not ct present an.
Pear feasible to any large avts,, a..
o1neulIy must be met and overcome
ne aireet attention to me figures va,
PUBLISH in another column and ash an,
readers to con them carefully ana max
'he'r own conclusions It ls not r,eh
70 eAaggerate TO cast bloro 49,
il does not belong nor to bevan an,
enpniy conditions Tor party or n,iyat.
purposes The only proper question \.
what ought to be done ~ ~,
lhe city on an nrr,,..-,..r,.
nm financial footing ,v, t.-
relieve the public mind from no.5,a-.
apprehension. and preserve our crs5l,
~ nome and abroad. as fins, cias
which Il Is at present was
ror lhere is no discount on the c,,,.
paper and we hope and bolisyo ,b. ,,' ,
VIA continue and remain N n. ,'a' ". =
1.Nays as good as is shown IN m
premium paid for the water bona. ,ns
nsued. Take hold Of the question 90, -,
VEN Yemen. and show yourselves canal 'o,i ~, !.
-. oS'a'l'n' aud to the succession In, MAJ,
s s.n,eni Of the finances Of ibis ryo ',,'I,
>Aa pfoEressIye city. ''"'"