Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-30
MOUNTAINEERING AGITAroRs.

II would be worth the troublc-per-
hans. TO make out a list Of the school
TEACHERS In this city, who want 70 make
sueh a stir about taxation, because. the
bill 10 Increase It for school purposes
did not succeed, and to give the
amount IN dollors ana cents that they
contribute to the city treasury We are
Of NE opinion that such Investigation
would show that the majority Of those
who And 40 much fault with the pres-
en-. system Of assessment and taxing OF
property are not taxpapers at all
They gain their living out Of the taxes
that are collected, but put nothing
themselves into the public treasury
The attacks they make, therefore, come
with very III grace
We notice. too that number of indl-
viduals, soma Of them members OF the
Clty Council, who are the most blatant
demanders Of additional bonds. are al
20 non-taxpayors. Yet they are very
loud in their fault-hnding against men
who are regularly taxed for the support
Of the ely government but who do not
think II wise 10 Increase the bonded in.
dch'c1ness az this municipality.
There have been a good many invid-
uols remarks from our city contem.
poralics about some members Of the
Council, who are at least consistent in
then cause, hut we do not recall any
comment on the reoklessness with
which non-taxpnying members try 20
rush the city into further debt, To-
wards which they do not contribute a
cent In either way
There is a loud call for changes IN
tho management OF our municipal az
fairs Some are sadly needed there Is
no doubt We ought TO have real bus
mess administration. 1t should be con-
Quoted by responsible as wen as capa-
bic men, Suppose II is Insisted that all
who are elected In future shall be tax
raycrs, not merely in theory but in ac-
tuol assessment and payment They
should be holders Of real estate II not,
why not
Voilng ordinarily. may not be con-
fined to those who pay n property tax.
Every adult citizen should have some
voice in public affairs But should not
every member elected to the Legisla-
ture, and every officer in the city gov
ernmcnt be freeholder in the state? 1t
locks that way to us, Also every cleo
ton for the leyying OF taxes should be
60 conducted that taxpayers only shall
ial,e part therein and so with every
measure for the expenditure Of the pub.
lie funds.
Il is often the case that the greatest
grumblars about taxation and public
expenditures. and the most vehement
supporters Of debt-making schemes. are
not % BE- found on the list Of taxpayers,
but are ever ready to push to the front
and become conspicuous In such mat
tiers. We do not mean by this that there
are no advocates Of bonding. nor objec-
tors TO insufficient assessments. among
the large taxpayers Of the city. There
are a number Of Them and their Views
are entitled to attention and respect. for
they are backed by evidences Of SINGER
ity. But We merely draw attention TO
the other class aud their pretentions
and self-important sayings and doIngs,
TO show how little importance Is to be
attached to the assumptions.
Let us have such reforms in our pub
lie finances as are needful and right.
Bat let them be based upon fun un-
derstoudng Of what Is proper and me-
cessary, and not on the one-siled and
sensational statements and demands OF
non-taxpaying persons, who have only
In view their private grievances and
personal ends.