Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-16

rate.
Now, let us emphasize the statement.
we have not complained and are not
complaining about this. We do not
say Il is wrong. We do not assert that
anybodys property has been over as
sessed II there is any objection on
that score, a remedy is provided by law
for rs consideration, There should be
an Increase In the aggregate value OF
property as the years 30 on, because OF
increased improvements and tha intro
ductlon OF new industries and estab-
lishments. So much for that, and IL
is repeated because OF the crazy ana
malevolent attempts that have been
made to mlsrepresent both our state
ments and our Intentions.
The fact we have mentioned as 10
the total valuation being ineontestiole'
what is the obvious reasoning that
arises from It? Is II not that probably
the county commissioners may see the
way clear TO make a little reduction OF
the tax levy? II has stood almost
steadily for seven years at four ana
flvo-tenths mills; once It was four and
two -tenths; and once at i've tenths. II
there is any good reason why there
cannot be any reduction, for consist
ency's sake let us know what II is In
stead OF setting up a lot OF rawlings
against imaginary criticism" that has
not been made. and an array Of figures
that have not the slightest bearing
upon the question presented.
We must again make explanation
There is nothing partisan or political In
this simple suggestion Of ours, II Is
purely financial and economic. II is
In the interest Of the taxpayers, and
we have particularly IN mind the prop
erty-owners who are not wealthy In
pocket Is It a crime 10 suggest some
thing that would be little relief to
them? Is II abuse OF anybody under
the sun to merely spring the question OF
the propriety Of reducing a taS-rate'
We do not intend to be slenced on this
question. either by the rash inslnua-
lions OF malice or the patent untruths
Of ignorance These have been hurled
at us without the shadow Of reason
because we offered a suggestion in the
public interest Nor viii that old, stu
pid and petty trick Of a morning paper
to make Il appear that our purpose Is
partisan. have the desired effect OF
muzzling the News" or making capt.
tai for irrational partisans When we
know we are right, we propose to go
ahead.
But the question IL asked, why we
did not ask the Mayor and City Coun-
oll the state Board Of Equalization
and the school Board to make reduc-
tons. Well, the answer is that we
were treating simply on the question
Of the county valuation and tax-rate.
The querist jumplng to the conclusion
that we were abusing the county
board In asking a mild question, acts
like the urchin who cries, why didn't
you slap Billy and Johnny and Sammy
as well as me2" But replying seriously
to a silly question. we say The bur-
den Of debt upon the city with the
current expenses, render It unlikely that
there will be a lower tax-rate at pres
ent. The rate for the State tax is fixed
by law, and the uniformed interrogator
shows his ignorance In his question,
as the State Board has no more au-
thorlty to change The rate than he has
AS to the Board OF Education. every
body who knows anything about the
matter is aware that, Notwithstanding
the false statements Of the querist the
amount obtained from the last levy was
insufficient, and private contributions
were necessary to provide funds TO
finish the school term, Our contem-
porary had better get somebody who
knows something 10 write up the raw
ings OF disgruntled partisan next time,
IL It wants that kind Of padding for its
columns.
Now, let there be no mistake. We
have uttered no words but those OF
eulogy of the present county commls-
sioners. We have not attempted to
find any fault with them; We have on
ly presented simple suggestion for
them 10 consider and, as we previous
ly stated the figures for the valuations
and tax-levies for the past ten years
were shown to U.S. without solicitation
on our part directly or indirectly, by
a prominent Republican who certainly
had no desire TO criticize the board,
and they were published without
thought that any sane person or paper
would so into a 1T OF partisan Mysteries,
or exhibit rage, at a question Of purely
public interest, to which no one in a
state OF ordinary mental balance would
take exception. But coming down once
more to the real issue, cannot the coun-
ty board take little off the old rate IN
the tax-levy for 1902 That is the whole