Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-25

money an extra general tax Of two
mills would have to be levied, which
would be highly Objectionable to the
great majority Of the Taxpayers. who
find regular assessments hard enough
10 meet without increasing their bur
den. That Is one obstacle In the way
at present
There Is another and more serious
obstacle It must be conceded, We
think. that the city would have to en-
ter into contract with a paving COM
pany or firm for the entire work, even
n II could be arranged that payments
should be made by instruments The
obligation would be a debt Of about a
quarter OF a million dollars. Neither
by the issue OF bonds nor IN any other
,ray can the cit, enter into such an
obligation. because 1t has reached the
fun limit Of Indebtedness for such
purposes, II Il has not actually gone be-
ycnd II. There Is no use in arguing
about tho properly owners being the
real debtors, because they would be
liable To- the city and the city would
be liable to the contractor aud there
fore would be the real and responsible
debto, in the transaction We have
already cited the sections Of the state
Constitution and statutes fixing the
debt limit Of cities, and they need not
be now repeated. II is beyond dispute
that the city Is barred from contract
ing further Indebtedness for paving
purposes unless II provides for pay
ment by special tax in the same year
in which the debt is contracted.
II the property owners along the
street are willing to be assessed thia
year for the large amount Of the cost
Of the work the City Council might
perhaps. consider the proprlety OF max
lng the contract, II the way was clear
To pay It's own proportion Of the ex-
pense But MS neither Of these lis APP
pears probable, why should not the
plan be postponed for a year at least
as already recommended
OF what avail Is It to charge the
conservative and thoughtful members
Of the council with being opposed to
public improvements, because they
stand by their lawful powers and viii
not agree to evade plain legal pro-
visions? who will be materially in
iured, II the paving project under CON
slderation is postponed for one Year,
what scheme is behind this urgent
haste to rush the city into unlawful
obligation? Could the work be done In
year. anyhow We understand that
only about two blocks OF It could be
completed In that time, If the contract
was entered into, unless some extra
ordinary means were adopted requiring
a big mass Of laborers and the payment
Of large sums for the work. Is that
what Is really wanted after an?
Now, suppose all parties agree 70 lhe
construction, this year, Of pavement for
two blocks eastward from the point OF
present completion. Could not the city
then pay It's part Of the work, and the
property owners along that section pay
the 2, and then next year and so on,
further portions of the work be done
according 10 means lawfully obtana-
bic? We suggest that this plan be con-
sidered. 50 that the city authorities be
not required by anybody, no matter how
great they may feel, or rich they may
be, or learned In the law they may pre-
tend. to plunge the city nto unlawful
indebtedness IN violation OF their ON
clal obligations Let us not 50 Wild
over any pet scheme for any object
but let US act as sober citizens hay-
ing in view the general welfare above
ali nrivate prouOgitiOns and purposesl