The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-24
THE REPUBLIcAE PLATFORM.

THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
THE REPUBLICAN county platform
is precisely such an emanation as
might have been expected from such
a convention.
Having no substantial argument to
OFFER why the administration of the
county should again be entrusted TO the
Republican party. the conventions
platform builders resorted 10 tawdry
bombast and the sheerest buncombe.
OF the six paragraphs in the plat
form, five consist OF the platitudes and
cheap sentiment that comprise the
average Republican spellbinder's stock
In trade. Only one paragraph has any
reference to county affairs. Undoubt
ediy Il constitutes the real platform on
which the Republican nominees will
make their campaign In order that
there may be no mistake about this
plank. we quote il:
Furthermore. we endorse the efficient
work OF the several Republican county
officials. and especially the able efforts
81 the Republican county officials In pay
ing the furniture indebtedness OF SdSo00
ielt them as legacy. They have re-
duced taxation on county property hall a
mill and have raised the wages OF the
workmen Of the county
Let US consider this section by sec
ton, and ascertain what truth there is
in H.
1--WE endorse the efficient work of the
several Republican county officials"
gays the platform. Is this true? OF
the present county officers, eleven in
number. six are Republicans. They
are: Anderson and Harker. county
commissioners; James. clerk; Eldredge,
ASSESSOR Christensen. attorney; Fox,
surveyor. All were included in the en-
dorsemeat.
Every man Jack OF the six was a
candidate for denomination. Harker
was defeated for county commissioner.
Christensen for attorney and Fox for
surveyor, while Chairman Anderson OF
the board Of county commissioners,
who claimed the long term as a matter
OF course. only landed short term
nominations convention slap which
he resented so bitterly that he declared
AZ the time he would decline to make
the race. Only James and Eidredge
came through the convention unscathed
-one-third Of the list that The conven-
ton officially endorsed and then Of
tcialy spanked.
I'VE endorse especially the able ef-
forts Of the Republican county Of
ticials In paying the furniture indebt-
edness Of $4,000, left them as a legacy"
says the platform. Here is genuine
humOr. The able efforts" consisted of
the imposition of an extra la-mill tax
for the specified purpose OF meeting the
judgment. The taxpayers footed the
bill. and the Republican party claims
the result as a signal achievement. The
platform. while speaking of the furni-
ture Indebtedness as a legacy" fails
TO mention that it was a legacy from
Republican administration which
had. in great part. been wiped or dur
ing a succeeding Democratic adminis-
tratlon.
They have reduced taxation on
county property = MILL" continues the
platform. Yes, from 1891, during their
own administration. when the county
general fund rate was mills. which
included the y mill levied to pay the
furniture judgment. IN 1900. the last
year OF Democratic administration, this
tax was AZ mills. the amount boosted
Of by the present Anderson board.
But. after all. 1t is not the rate alone
that determines the amount of taxes
paid. 1t Is necessary also TO know the
valuation OF the property. In 1900 the
assessed valuation OF Salt Lake county
was $5S.S6S.099. and the county general
fund tax OF AZ mills brought In 1874
906. By increasing the valuation to
S42. 495. $50. as has been done by order
of the present board, the same levy OF
"a mills viii bring in Sl91. 229 this year.
In other words, the county tax has this
year been increased over $4,000 from
the amount collected in 1900, the year
when last the Democrats were in con-
troll OK the county government.
They have increased the wages of
the workmen of the county" concludes
this truly wonderful plank. The work
men haven't had a cent OF increase. The
road supervisors. who are active politi-
cally. have had their pay raised from
S1.75 to 81 a day. There are thirty-twc
of these supervisors. and they average
from fifteen TO twenty days work each
month. Calling it twenty days. the
total increased wage boosted of is about
81. 900 yearly. a trifie more than one
tenth the amount hlched from the tax
payers pockets by increasing the valu-
alton Of their property while retaining
the last Democratic rate of taxation
for the general fund.
Truly. this Republican county plat
form is a marvel OF Stiffness and insin-
cerity. II viii long remain a monu-
ment 10 the stupidity Of the fool polit-
ical architect who constructed it.