The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-07
WEATHER ron SALT LAKE.
THE METALS.
TWO GREAT EXECUTIVES.

TWO GREAT EXECUTIVES.
Careful observers have noticed
marked resemblance between President
Roosevelt and Governor John &. Cut
Ter of Utah I'm more than one particu-
lar. To begin with both are Republic
cans though possibly the governor is a
better Republican than the president
because he SHES at Democratic doc
trines more readily The president
would cOncede that he knows a good
deal more than most men on any sub
Jcct that might be mentioned. So
would the governor. Roosevelt is de-
termined TO run the government his
way. So is Cutler. Roosevelt is a great
letter writer and conversationaIist. So
is Cutler. Roosevelt is a friend of
Shoots: likewise Cutler Indeed the
more one studies the matter the more
apparent is the parallel i'm the minds
and methods Of these two great men.
The latest instance of similarity is i'm
the letter writing line. Governor Cut
Ter had a thought on taxation and i'm
mediately committed It to writing. adj
dressing II TO the senate. as would
Roosevelt If his senate would let him.
Cutters thought is a big one and ne
proves il by figures as great men fire.
qucntly do. He cites the taxes paid by
various mining and smelling concerns,
varying from $4,000 by the Utah Con-
solidated to SIS by the Utah Apex, and
concludes THAT not all corporations are
paying their just proportions of tax"
Since very few people are as lucid
in their statements and as quick of
comprehension as the governor. they
may be pard0ned for wondering how
the figures cited prove the governors
contention. Some folks will even be
stupid enough to think that the execu-
tive has furnished what is vulgarIy
known as non sequitur, a false alarm
or four flush in logic So far as the
communication TO the senate is evil
dence, the assessments Of these con-
Germs may be perfectly fair and they
may pay their fair proportion of taxes.
And IL the damage suits they pay an
nuaiy as n contribution TO the farmers
proportion assessed against them pub
licly and privately might be regarded
as excessive. That, however. is imma-
terial: the main point is that the data
furnished by the governor justifies no
such conclusion as he reaches-where-
ia he again resembles the illustrious
Theodore.
His suggestion that mail order houses
be taxed by license is a gem of thought
worthy a great mind. OF course, he
cannot well tax the government for
handling the mail of these interstate
commerce concerns, and he might have
difficulty II he attempted to prevent
them from doing business by mail un-
less they first procured a license here;
but that is unimportant to a man of
Cutters power who Is accustomed to
achieving the impossible and surmount-
ing the impossible. Like his plan to
mulct houses represented here by COM
mercial travellers. the suggestion is val
liable if only for its originality. II such
license taxes can be imposed, there
might be a tax on the importation of
shepherd dogs from abroad, or of fine
stock from outside the boundaries Of the
state. Women who are foolish enough to
buy gloves and dresses abroad might be
compelled TO pay license taxes. and
men who import Wheeling perfectos by
mail at $3.50 a ton might be assessed
as common nuisances and compelled
to buy a smoke consumer from a home
manufacturer as penalty.
Come to think about it. the govern
or's thought has great possibilities and
endless ramifications If properly fol-
lowed out.
Meanwhile. If a nero citizen and
Democrat may offer a suggestion. how
would it do for the governor and his
Republican legislature TO figure on
ways OF saving money as well as ways
OF Increasing taxation? Why not con-
slider the necessity for economy due to
Republican maladministration which
lost thousands in wild animal bounties
and has probably cost other thousands
and tens OF thousands in state lands p
These are. OF course, painful subjects.
bat they are not more painful TO the