Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-10
THE NEWS WAS RIGHT.

II Is a matter of qualification that
the apologist for graft finally has con-
cluded to admit that the figures given
by the News" as representing the
financial status OF the City under So
called american rule, are correct. 1t
Is a pity that this prosperous COM
munity should be in the hands of in
competent. or reckless. financial man
ayers Under competent and honest
management, there would be money
for all lawful purposes and comfort
able surplus for next year. But, the
truth is the truth, and although the
truth In this matter must be very dis
agreeable to every taxpayer, 1t is
well that 1t is made so plain that even
the habitual falsifer is compelled to
admit it. When the facts are laid
bare, some remedy will be found in
time.
The paid apologist pretends to be
very angry at the News" and. true
to its cuttle-fish tactics to conceal it
self In it's own ink, 1t emits sundry
choice invectlves. which. however,
have no more force as an argument
than the revenge of the small boy who
at safe distance between himself
and his antagonist closes the contro-
versy by putting the thumb OF scoIm
to the nose of contempt 1t is only
necessary to say that the invectlves
on the News are entirely lost. The
matter OF the financial status of the
City was brought up In tho City
Council by u member OF the finance
committee, whose business and duty
II Is to know what that status Is, and
TO let the citizens know, in order that
public opinion may be exerted for a
safe and sane financial policy. The
News" did little more than present
the facts as stated, substantially, in the
Council meeting.
But, the defender Of graft alleges
that the News" shifted ground and
made different statements concerning
the same apparent facts, Referring to
the News Of Tuesday, said defend
en- has e.; This Is the first time that
It has made any reference 10 con-
tngent fund, or minated that it did
not mean the whole revenue" This
falsehood Is perpetrated in the hope
that the readers OF IL viii not take tho
| trouble to look the matter UP for them
selves. In the News" on Saturday.
1t was stated very plainly, that:
There are American party leaders
who assert that there is no deficit and
wll be none, Yet the CONTINGENT
| FUND, which meets all the general eE-
penses, was overdrawn $4,000 July II
"Al receipts for the year from taxes
and licenses WILL BE treferrng To
tho part OF the year that Is still futurel
nowhere nenr as great ms the years ex-
penaes. The receipts for merchant
| licenses. saloon licenses and all other
| licenses for the COMING SIX
| MONTHS, with $4,000 yet remaining
! unspent OF the regular tax funds, mai X
| Ing total of sl6i,iii,
| "And the city Is spending AS,14s eve-
! ny month to cover current expenses.
| This amount (S431isAFOR THE NEXT
/ SIX MONTHS, or at the end OF the
| year, will amount TO S25s. SSs repre-
seuung the expenses OF the city for this
next half year. The Si64,4i4, as has
| been explained, represents the total in
come OF the CITY and necessarily must
meet all expenses"
This is from the "Nowa' on satur~
day. II gives the status Of the contin-
gent fund and shows that with an
the income that can he expected for
the next six months, the expenses are
80 heavy that there will be an onor-
nous deficit az the end Of the year
And yet tho organ has the hhrdihood
TO tell it's readers that the News did