The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-26
A QUEER BUTT-TN.

There has existed in this city from
the long ago, n system of assessing spe.
cial taxes for local improvements, as
estimates prepared by the City Enei-
neer. This has been done in accord
ance with ordinance and practice. it
has from time to time been protested
against by taxpayers. and unQuestion-
ably has worked annoyance and in some
cases, overcharge, the overcharge, how
ever, properly returnable when ascer-
tanned. The practice has been com
planned of for years.
In the last year of Mayor Morris g
term, large amount of money was col
lected from realty owners on this ac-
count, and held for months with no i'm
provements made; notably was this the
case with regard to sidewalks; and
when The Tribune uttered public pro-
test against it, the remarkable expla-
nation was made that the city officials
could not repay the money TO the prop
erty owners who had paid it in, because
the books did not show the details of
the amounts due. This added outrage
to the previous annoyance and in.
Justice.
The American administration on com
ing into power did not change this old
practice, as it should have done. 1t
ought to have made the special assess.
ment for the local improvement pay
able when the contract was let and the
money needed to make payments on the
work. But the fact that il did not
make this change is no reason whatever
for the intrusion into this matter of the
State Board of Equalization. For, there
Is not bit more reason 10 complain
now than there was under the Mormon
Peoples party control. the Democratic
party control, or the Republican party
control For. all pursued precisely the
same methods
Yet now the State Board OF Eouali-
zation seizes on this practice 10 make
a raid upon the American party admin.
istration. That raid is based upon es-
sentially false premises, and the infer.
ences, suggestions, imputations. and de-
ductions are wholly partisan. 1t is con.
tended that because the American party
makes collection of these special levies
before the contracts are let and the
work done or. in process OF doing, that
therefore there is graft by the Ameri-
,an party. The reasoning wholly fails.
anything against the American party
any more than can be charged for the
same reason upon the exclusive Nor
non control, upon the Liberal control.
lLon the Citizens control, upon the Re-
publican control, or upon the Demo
ratio control, each Of which in success.
sion has carried on the local improve.
nents in this same way.
The State Board of Equalization.
however, has never heretofore con-
,crned itself with this matter But
now, in order TO curry favor with the
.nurch Republican control, and in view
u the expiration of terms and to fawn |
lpon the appointive power. licking the |
land that may smite, the Board cring. |
ngly goes out of the way of it's lawful |
iuties, attempts to curry church and po- !
itical favor by ''butting in where il |
las no legal or rightful functions, and !
,roceeds to make a sneak report to the |
Governor calling servile attention 10 |
he enormities practiced by the Ameri. |
'an administration, ignoring the |
Board s silence of years on the same |
STATE Of facts, that have existed all the |
.ime. 1t ls as nasty, contemplate q |
oicce of political buncombe as ever in.
suited the intelligence of the people Of |
his State.