The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-24

government. 1t is business matter
which the stronger members of the party
give personal attention to. And this is
why capital is invested here more liberal
ly than ever before
1t is not only jealous of the welfare of
the property holders, but it has constant
~ kept in mind the fact that the laborer
is worthy of his hire. 1t has increased
the wage scale of the city in face of
savage criticism of the opposition, ard
this increase has amounted in less than
two years TO more than $4,000.
Taking the paragraphs in order, Salt
Lake needed no particular administra-
ton to instill confidence in its future.
Its geographical position, the enormous
sums being spent in and contiguous to
il. the natural development of the
region compelled confidence. It's prog
ress and advancement had begun be-
fore the Americans seeded from the
Republican party and progress was
given its first great impetus by the
Morris administration when it began
the era of public improvements. Start
ing with the construction of the Clark
road to Los Angeles, continuing with
the enormous mining and agricultural
growth of this and adjoining states.
maintained by the Western Pacific and
Hartman expenditures. Salt Lake has
had every factor in its favor. 1t would
have grown if the Americans" had
never been heard of. aud it would have
had its public improvements if Morris
had remained i'm office
Local and foreign investors needed
no American" administration to give
them confidence in the future of Salt
Lake. Mr.. Phipps. who is probably the
heaviest owner of Salt Lake realty be-
gan buying here ten years ago and
has kept on buying and selling as his
judgment dictated. He is one of the
shrewdest financiers in the country,
and he bought because he knew the
city was bound to be great CONNER
cial and financial railroad center. Mr..
Newhouse, a Democrat and supporter
of Morris made the largest single pur-
chases of realty ever recorded here.
The acquisition of the Big Cottonwood
water supply by Morris was one of the
determining factors in his decision TO
invest here. Similar cases disprove
fatty the claim that the American"
administrations existence had any
part in the activity of investments,
any more than it had to do with the
rise or fall of copper.
4 X
: PaSV that 4 mAricanS'
pay 20 per cent of the taxes here be-
cause there is no way of disproving it.
They might as easily claim to pay 80
per cent-and probably would if any
body could be induced to believe it.
Whether they pay 20 or per cent, the
real burden of taxation falls on the
small householder, and he is being
made to pay dearly for the "Ameri-
can" administration. He is confronted
with a certain increase in taxes next
year, after having two successive in
creases in the past two years, and that
is enough for him to know about the
tax question
The assertion that the increase in the
wage scale of the city in two years has
amounted TO $4,000 is fiat invention.
The city has few day laborers. The
contractors who do public work pay
the scale the market compels The
chief, almost the only increase in the
city's own wage scale" has been in
the salaries of officeholders and Office
employees. and even that does not ac-
count for any 5000 extenuation of
s400, 600 overdraft in the general funds |
X X x
The one issue which is not covered |
by the American" circular is the chief |
issue before the voter; the financial |
question of the city No reference is |
made to that directly or indirectly, be- |
cause the Americans" dare not dis
cuss it frankly. They dare not publish |
the expert auditors report, nor do they |
dare tell the people exactly what they |
owe. The one vital, essential truth of |
the whole city administrations record |
is concealed, Obscured by other ques- |
tons. befOgged in the hope that the |
voters will not discern the hopelessness
Of the situation so far as this present |
is concerned.
If ever there was a time when mu-
nicipal extravaganza should be dis |
cussed and checked it is right now
And it will be discussed-and checked |
the Americans" want to talk /
about it or not. The people will at
tend to that