Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-09
THE ONE GRAVE QUESTION

oThe city Council says the taxpay-
or may take his choice Of a sz1OoVO
bond issue or a i-mill special tax
That's the Kindness Of the eXecutioner
who says his victim may be shot or
hung, as he pleases'
That paragraph is from our esteemed
morning contemporary, the Herald. We
copy 1t because, apart from the In
tended reflection upon the City Council.
II puts the question OF choice TO the
taxpayers In a pertinent way A
great deal is being said, for the pur-
pose Of blocking the way Of the bond
issue, which is very misleading, and
some Of It Is entirely partisan and
outside Of the real question, But that
paragraph presents the issue as It Is
Bonds. or an extra special tax.
That overshadows all the queries and
objections and doubts and accusations
which are made to figure In the con-
tention. IT bolls the whole aggrega-
tion down to the essence Of the dues-
ton, which IS, shall we authorize the
bonds. or shall we shoulder the burden
OF a big extra tax?
The figure OF the executioner does
not At IN very well In this case. The
exeeutioner does not ask the victim"
as to his preference. II Is the law that
gives him this choice, II Is the Judge
who declares It and puts to him the
option. SO II viii not do 10 liken the
City Council In this case to the "execu-
TONER" But even II the comparison
used by our contemporary holds good,
what would be the use for a person on
whom sentence Is about to be passed,
10 raise questions as TO the validity
Of the law. the value OF the evidence
and the failure OF the pleadlngs Of
counsel in his behalf2 The simple
question would be- Shall Il be hanging
or shooting?
In this case the people are not asked
TO pass on the power OF the city to IS
sue bonds FOR increasing and improv-
ing the distribution Of the water sup
ply They are not required to give
their opinion as 10 the wisdom or 9TH
erwise Of the City Council, ia IT'S fnan-
cial policy, They are not requested to
show their partisan feelings at the polls.
They are not expected to endorse or
condemn the course Of the present or
past civic authorities on the water
question.
They are simply TO decide whether
they viii authorize bonds TO be issued
for purposes already decided upon, or
would rather have a heavy extra tax
levy which they will have 10 pay with
their regular taxes Call It hang or
shoot, Il you please, Il Is a very sharp
issue, and all the rest Of the talk that
Is made Ia outside Of the one thing to
be decided
Contracts have been let for much OF
the work 70 be done. A great deal Of
It is under way. The projects IN view
for Increasing the water supply Will
be carried into effect Money win have
to be raised to pay for 1t ALL II the
people Will not agree 20 the issuing OF
the bonds for this purpose, the Council
has the power TO levy the special tax.
The Herald places Il at seven mills.
The only question then, IS which shall
Il be bonds or heavy extra taxes? Rail-
ing at the City Council. deserved or
undeserved, win not alter the
situation. Raising party cry win not
do a particle Of good II Is below the
standard OF good citizenship and only
betogs the object TO be kept In view. 1t
is not a party question II is water
question. II concerns the whole people
The council has taken legal opinion on
It's power 20 issue the bonds and It's
authority to levy the tax. All that Is
settled. so far as Il relates TO present
affairs.
LII Altf AAAlA9 fIN AAlNNl STU NA hiAi"f
A vote against the bonds. means vir-
tually a vote IN favor Of "A big extra
special tax The rich may afford 20 vote
that way FOR personal party or other
reasons The poor cannot afford 10 DO
81. FOR IL would mean TO most Of them a
burden they could not bear. They win
have 20 scratch FOR very lie 20 rake
up enough cash 20 pay their regular
taxes FOR this year. and an extra seven
or even I've mills would swamp them
entirely Bonds or special taxes? that
Is the question and IL ought not TO be
obscured by party cries or queries that
are Irrelevant 10 the one definite and
easily understood propositlon-Bonds or
extra special taXes2