Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-09

The paragraph above is copied letter
for letter from the Revised Statutes of
Utah. 1t is plainly labelled II rules
Mainly and positively that mot more
than five mills on the dollar" is the tax
levy for the raising of money to cover
the citys contingent expenses The
Knocking organ has come to the front
with the announcement that the tax
levy MAY BE" II mills. True, the
city tax levy may be II mills; II may
be 80 mills OF any number of mills on
the dollar. The Organ however, has
failed to explain that the city tax levy
includes a number of special tax levies
as we'll as the levy for contingent eN-
penses. The various improvements are
provided for by special tax leves. But
the contingent fund can be supplied
with money raised through the 5-mill-
on-the-d dollar levy, only, as ruled by the
statutes OF Utah. The law is plain;
It Is simple and needs no explanations.
There are no Ifs" and lets say"
about II.
Taxes are for various purposes and
the money raised is placed IN separate
funds. Section 28l of the revised stat
utes in describing the duties of the city
auditor says among other things he
must prepare and publish a statement
showing the amount of cash in the city
treasury and ITS SEVERAL FUNDS"
DEEMED A FELONY.
The constitution of Utah says in sec
ton S of article 10: THE making of
profit out of public monies or using
the same for any purpose not author
ICED by law by any public officer shall
be deemed felony and regarding
IL
revenue, the constitution says in sec
ton of article II: mo debt in excess
of the taxes for the current year shall
be created by any city" qualifca-
ton is made where public vote favors
creating such debt.
There is more than one reason for
applying to the contingent expenses
just the five min tax levy for that
purpose and not a cent more.
CHAMPION JUGGLER.
The Organ has limited that II mills
on the dollar may be levied. and then
gone ahead figuring how much this
would bring in. Then. with slelght-of-
hand work that's simply marvellous, II
has endeavored to show that this
amount more than covers the city's
contingent expenses. In other words,
II has applied over twice the amount
TO contingent expenses that is per-
mitted by law. Then after 1t has
patted It's crooked figures into smooth
ness. 1t shouts, NOW look at the big
balance; see what handsome sur
plus we viii have leftr'
The Organ started this kind OF work
Sunday morning. Here lis Il paragraph
from its deceitful figuring:
The assessed valuation of property
In the city OF Salt Lake Is s45 100000,
The tax levy is ii mills, This Will
a M
Then it punched this $4,000 and u
number of other receipts and applied It
10 the contingent expenses alone. or
course there was balance! But why
didn't it be honest and subtract all ex-
penses. instead OF the monthly ex-
penses alone, and then show the public
what a handsome balance" there
would not have been?
BEATS AROUND BUSH.
The Orgon Is talking all around the
point al Issue. Citizens are beginning
TO see the absurdity OF its statements,
constructed so prettily as to be almost
misleading at first glance. 1t should
be honest with Salt Lakes taxpayers,
II should coniine its arguments TO the
point under discussion II should not
add all taxes, including taxes levied
TO cover special expenses of the city
and cover the contingent expenses with
lhem, when the law provides i've mill
tax FOR the contingent expenses. These
are separate and distinct from the
special expenses ana the money raised
through taxation is kept separate and
district. or should be, but
And with i've mills on the dollar the
tax levy for the contingent fund Will
bring IN about s2l2.oo0, as has been re-
peated in the News" over and over
again without variation. or this amount
an but 1894 has been spent. The city's
income for the next six months from
merchants and saloon licenses Will
amount to sl32.00O. as the News"
has repeated, leaving $4,000 TO pay the
contingent expenses for the next six
months. And the city Is spending s48.
l4S per month. II has not been denied
that the contingent expenses by the end
of the year win amount 10 s25S,Sss.
The formula which has not yet been
shaken is reprinted FOR third time,
25bsss (monthly expense Sd3.lN for
next SIX months).
fl64,ai4 (amount left TO pay for next
SIX months expenses).
1914 414 (denclt certain AT the end of