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

The problem OF ii ping the schools
open for the full period OF ten months
next year and IN the years to come,
promises to be the liyeliest kind Of a
live question. 1--WE favor schools we
favor good schools, we want to keep
them open just as long as we can with
out plunging hopelessly into debt Is
the burden OF the cry Of the heaviest
taxpayers OF the city 1t is the senii-
ment Of all the classes without regard
to politics, religion OF anything else.
During the DAY News man called
upon many Of the leading business men
Of the community and almost without
exception their Views are as given
above. The outlook for the schools was
particularly discussed and the declara'
ton made that the city board of edu-
cation would simply have to confne It's
needs to the capability Of the taXpay-
ers. Few cared TO say outright that
the county board should not give the
board Of education more money than II
received las year. But there were
those who commended the county COM
mission for keeping the taxes down as
low as II did and hopes that II Will
do the same next year As stated in
Saturdays News" the board Of edu-
cation asked for levy from the coun-
" Of 1925 mills, which would have
given It sum total OF 100000 from
that source The county commission
ers made levy Of but 2-5 mills, which
netted something over $4,000, leaving a
shortage OF over $4,000 In response to
the boards request the commission
made dental IN the following letter I'M
der date Of May q;
TO the Honorable Board OF Educa-
ton. Salt Lake city. Utah.-Gentlemen
With regard to your request made or
the board OF county commissioners Tor
an increase In the county school tax
rate from 30 mills In 1901 to "a mills
In 1902, in order to give the salt Lake
city school district an additional
amount OF funds for the maintenance OF
the city schools. the following report
was adopted, and Is respectfully called
TO your attentions
"l-That a close examination OF the
statutes empowering the board OF com
mlssoners to levy a tax Tor county
school purposes makes It clear that
there Is no warrant In law for the ex-
ercise OF the power invoked by the petit
TONERS. BY chapter lSi u he session
laws OF 1901. the county commissioners
are confined 90 making the levy neces.
sary for county school purposes, and
there is nothing IN the statutes permit
ting them 10 go beyond. Indeed. II Is
the clear intent and expression OF the
law that the levy for city school pur-
poses shall be made by other
officers. as set out In chap
ter 121 sessions laws Of 1901.
"2-It was plainly the Intent OF theLeg
in cities OF the first class. In which salt
In cities Of the first class, IN which salt
Lake city is listed, such powers as the
aw-making body Of the state deemed
proper to have exercised in this direc-
| lion. and that body has placed certain
restrictions thereto. II would be pre-
sumptuous, to say the least for the
board OF county commissioners TO at
| tempt to set aside those restrictions by
a doubtful Interpretation OF the letter
Of the law. and against the clear intent
OF the Legislature.
%. Further. We cannot consider as
wei taken the point sought 10 De ilaut
by the city board OF education, that un-
| less the board OF county commissioner
increases the tax rate az requested, the
| city schools will suffer. From the his
| tory Of Utah's lawmakers. we do not
find warrant for the assumption that
the Legislature viii be unjust IN this re.
spect: and the way is open for the Pc
titloners TO apply directly and in ample
time TO avert anticipated injury e
that body which can exercise
legitimate powers in giving the relief
sought. The next Legislature viii meet
when the coming school year Is barely
half over and will have completed us
| labors before the period OF the alleged
deficit will have been reached A fun
and frank statement Of the situation 10
the Legislature--the only body that can
give the desired relief legitlmately-
would not fail 10 cause permanent re-
moyal OF the restrictions complained OF
as being a hardship on the great and
| important public interest now In the
| case Of your petitioners