The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-13

who have to pay the bill: in other
words, there is q widespread feeling
that the council has taken snap judg-
ment and forced costly obligations
upon the people without their consent
or knowledge.
Henry w Lawrence was asked for
his views on the subject, and in his re-
SpOnse went deeOer into the. matter
than those who have heretofore spoken.
He said:
Mr. Lawrence's Views.
Bonding cities for public improve
mentS is the modern rule Many cities
have been made great through this
plan
so says one of our daily papers. Ii
is the modern plan that is objection
able We have been trying the modern
plan in this city and state to the tune
of nearly $5.000.000. The property of
Salt Lake City is now subject to an
interest tax of 81, $3.50 600 city bonds, /
100000 school bonds, $4,000 county
bonds and 100000 state bonds. The
most of these bonds have been issued
without consulting the people by direct
vote, but on the plea of their represent
ative agents that debts had been con-
tracted that needed payment, and pub
lie improvements were needed TO meet
a ".
No doubt a large proportion of the
money raised on the issue of bonds has
been expended wisely. while not small
amount has gone into the general fund,
TO swell the current expenses. Of NUM-
cipal and state government The queS-
ton arises. how long is the modern
rule to continue? Are the peoples pub
lie servants to go ahead contracting
debts and planning extraordinary pub
lie improvements without consulting
the people and then forcing them. at
the last moment, into the position of
either voting to issue more bonds or
submit 10 increased taxation? When
our public savants are elected TO office
they have the means of finding out the
probable amount of revenue that has
formerly been raised to meet the cur
rent expenses and CITY improvements,
and this should be their guide, withou:
mourning further Indebtedness.
When extraordinary improvements !
are TO be made the people should be
consulted before there are any obliga-
tiOns contracted. For many years in
San Francisco there has been an un-
written law (which has been adhered
tO). between both political parties, that
whichever party got into office, the city
and cOuntS tax should not exceed
cent on the dollar In this city, as a
rule, the taxpayers may expect TO have
their taxes raised every year. without
asking anv questions.
An Eye To business.
I'm every community there are men
working fO- contracts and others for
the issue of interest bonds There is
mone.- TO be made out of contracts, |
and in bonds there is an investment for
idle capital free of taxation. Bonds are
a good thing for the few who own
them, but they are a private debt and
mortgage against every mans home
and property in the community, and
the mortgage will surely take the
homes of those persons who have not a
fixed income over necessary wants, If
our modern rule" of bonding and in
creased taxation IS continued for the |
next ten years.
Interest bonds is a relic of slavery, !
and we have no right to bond the pres
ent and future generations to concen- (
trated wealth for public improvements |
that we cannot afford without sacrific- !
our homes and independence. The fore !
ing of public improvements on bOr- |
rowed ca9ital and excessive TAXATION |
throughout the cities of our country, !
where one-third of the population |
now reside-have been made at fear /
full cost of home ownership, patriotism !
and good government.
New York City. has her public inn |
provementS, parks, bOulevardS and /
costly buildings, but in 1880 only S per |
cent of her population owned their |
homes. Boston, whose public and pri-
Vate improvements compare fayorably !
with other cities. has only Is per cent |
hOme-owners. Brooklyn, 10 per cent; |
Jersey City, 10 per cent home-owners; |
Al nrla
q per cent hOme-Owners, and out of a !
list of twenty-one large cities in 1890 |
the hon,e-owners ranged from per |
cent TO So and many of these homes |
at that time were encumbered with !
debt, and no doubt have since passed /
from their former owners,
THE effect of bonding cities for pub |
lie improvements on the modern rule !
is to make it impossible for good sub |
stantial citizens of moderate means |
to own their own homes with the ever |
increasing taxes. With the loss OF /
home ownership goes the political and /
social independence of the people, the |
result of which is our cities are filed 1
with a large voting class who have /
no permanent residence or interests, |
who. under political bosses, have a cor
rupting influence in shaping the social /
and political affairs of city and state.
Should Have Improvements.
Our city should have public and
private improvements as speedily asst
can be done with safety. and protect
the people in the ownership of homes.
which gives stability to society and
good government. With the increase of
population and wealth in our city. the
usual revenue should be sufficient for
making all ordinary improvements and
expense of an economical city govern
ment, and for extraordinary improve
ments, such as water. gas. electric light I
plants, and other public utilities, funds
can be raised-until our government
adopts proper financial system in the
interests of the people-by the people
voting to issue low rate interest bonds,
the proceeds of which should go into
special fund for which the bonds are
issued. and the revenues arising from
such special source should go into said
fund. and after the interest on the
bonds is paid. with constructing and
operating expenses of 7said pubiic +
utility the residue of PROFITS lsff6nFd be
placed in a fund for the payment OF
the bonds at maturity.
I'm this way the people can own their
public utilities and receive the benefits
of same at nominal cost. This is in
the power OF the people TO do, and is
being done in other cities. and can be
done here by the people amending the