Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-20
M0YLE AFTER THE
COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Editor Deseret News,

lUNllnlNSihL NhOD'
Editor Deseret News
Dear sir-l In Wednesdays News
there IS an editorial quoting, with APP
parent approval,. a statement In the re-
rort of the committee OF the CONNER
cial club, wlthreference to the finances
of the board OF education, reading as
follows.
1T appears from the boards own
figures that It has not any need OF more
revenue. but. on the contrary has more
than enough under the law as IL
stands
The same editorial also states that
the report Of the committee was adopt
ed N the Commercial club.
IL may not be out Of place to call the
attention Of the readers Of the News
10 the facts as they appear 10 inef-
her of the board Of education,
In the first place, the reference TO the
adoptlon by the Commercial club OF the
committees report IL incorrecti no such
adoptlon has been made by the Com
mercial club.
II the statement quoted is D fact, we
would like to have the committee oil the
Commercial club, the Deseret News OF
any one else, point to any statement
OF the board which says that we nave
enough or more than enough FUNDS on
hand at this time for the conpleuoh Oh
the present school year. Inc ias1 esu-
mate Of the receipts ana disbursements
made by the clerk Of the board OF euu-
cation OF our finances Tor TINS year
shows:
ESTIMATED receipts (and the most
of It has been already re- ,oo ,-o 20
CeiVed .,.... 'ss's.'ss' sf'''9'oii' ''-S
Necessary disbursements Tor
the present year, including q.
$4,000 debt owing, is..-., S5S'leo.so
To complete the school year ehuihs
June 30 next.
II there are any mistakes in these es'
Inmates that can be foreseen, no mem
Der OF the board Of education is able 70
detect it. and the committees report
does not point it out, II space wouid
permit. the items would be given
As late as Wednesday night last, the
board had a meeting OF committee oil
the whole, and after careful examina-
ton Of ali accounts and estimates ~
the following year, II was the unani-
nous opinion of the board Of education
WHO we're present, including Mr. Geo
ghegan. that il viii take at least seven
mills for maintenance, In order to carry
on the schools for nine months for the
next year.
The statement made by the CONNER
cial club committee. TO those acqualnt-
ed with the facts. is nothing less man
childish. AS we understand II, II Is
taken from the boards estimate OF re-
ceipts and disbursements and not from
the actual receipts and disbursements
For instance, the boards estimate,
which they quote, as the amount 70 be
received from the county levy for the
present year, was 1920 Instead of re-
ceiying that amount, we received S5a-
l5567. Our estimate Of our receipts
from the city school tax was 100000,
and our actual receipts were only $751;
4Si3S These items are referred 10 only
as examples. The committee argue as
II this money was received. while as a
matter Of fact the taxpayers have not
paid and the board has not received
one dollar Of the difference Of over
$50 00O
The committees reoprt implies that
we have large amount OF money on
hand whereas we have a deficiency, as
stated.
II Is impossible TO make an exact es-
innate How could any one foresee
the larg expenditure that would be
necessary for the fitting up and the in
creaslng Of the capacity Of the high
school and Union school buildings.
which properties the board We're com
PEELED to buy on account Of the burning
up OF the old high school. And likewise
with many other expenditures they
could not have been anticipated on
the other hand. how Is It possible for
the board Of education 10 estimate
months IN advance exactly what is GO
ing 20 be received from particular
funds. when the assessment rolls are
not complete, when the levies are sub
ieCt 20 sliding scales and have not been
made, and when the hoard of equallza-
ton and county commissioners have
authority either 10 raise or cut down
assessments or the leyles. IL Is alto
gether unfair. therefore, Tor the Com.
mercial club committee. or any one
else, TO take the estimates and not the
actual facts.
The question before the Legislature
al this time Is, viii Il pass the law for
and thereby keep the schools up 10
their present efficiency, or viii they let
il remain as It is and thereby leave
one Of two things 10 be done by the
board the shortening OF the school
year. which Is now only nine months
while In most parts Of the United
States II Is ten months; or the cutting
down Of the teachers salaries: On either
event the result would be that our best
teachers would leave US. and the efR.
cheney Of the schools be greatly inn
paired, There is no alternative.
Members of the board Of education
are not more DESTROYS Of paying heavy
taxes than other taxpayers OF salt Lake |
city. yet during the year we are now
considering the members Of the board OF
education were a unit as to the neces-
sity OF making the expenditures that
We're made. The assessed valuation Of
the property OF Salt Lake CITY As at this
time eight or nine million dollars less
than II was in 1892 and 1893, yet the
school population from that time has
been constantly Increasing until now
we have over 1900 pupils In the schools
II must be apparent To every taxpayer
that the efficiency Of the schools cannot
be maintained with the increased popu-
lation coming into the schools each
year. without corresponding Increase
In the assessed valuation OF the prop
erty or the tax levy.
Very respectfully
OSCAR ". MoYJE.
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