Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-03
A BELATED REPORT.

Tho Auditors report, made public
Ave months after the date prescribed by
law--but what is "A little thing like
the law between frIends?-is a peculiar
document 1t Is not specially enlighten-
Ing on the financial operations of last
year. But this seems clear. At the end
OF December the city was very nearly
100000 in the hole. The debt was
possibly much larger but that much
seems to peep forth from under mass
OF figures.
This IS gathered from the balance
sheet. Among the assets we find uncol-
leclcd taxes and water rates TO the
amount OF s2940l2. 4s--ln round num-
bers. 100000. But we learn from other
sources that this asset has proved to
be worth 10 the city, up to date only
sls5,1 That is to say, the City has
been able to collect only that amount
of the so-called uucollected taxes and
water rates. or the uncollected water
rates. given I'm the balance sheet ms
saa, $685. only s3S,l1S7O We understand,
has been collected. So the asset OF
s30O.000--in round numbers-has prac-
tically shrunk to about slS5,000 with
the inflated figure tho revenue surplus
IS made to read s2e,gIl.4b, but, when
the facts only are counted, that figure
Is wiped out and deficit of at least
sS66s4.4s remains.
The city fathers must have known
the real situation long ago. but they
have shown no desire to economize,
though the necessity OF economy has
been evident The reckless extrava-
gance has continued, and now the def
cit is nearing the half-a-million mark,
it is said.
The question naturally arises wheth-
or the act of creating the Indebtedness
existing at the end of last year was
not Illegal. The city authorities can
not legally go beyond the limits OF in
debtedness prescribed by law. They
cannot issue warrants beyond the act
ual amount of taxes for the year, SINCE
that would be to contract Indebtedness
without the necessary authorization by
the taxpayers. The fact seems to be
that the city at the end of last year
found itself plunged into debt Illegally
by the manipulators of the City couh-
ell No wonder tho Auditor has been
Withholding the financial report!
The citizens are now asked TO vote
loan of 100000, at a time "heh
the interest rate on money IS hish'
They are promised number OF I'M
movements i'm return for their vote
They are even promised an aaue-
duct that cannot legally, be con-
structed with money borrowed ior
the purpose of increasing the water
supply and extending the sewer sys-
tenn. That shows their honesty ana
sincerity in promising. We are not
mistaken In venturing the opinion that
at least half of the 100000 is need
ed to pay off the indebtedness now
existing and part of which has been
contracted without authority. some
OF the remaining half will be need
ed for campaign purposes. Very NJ
lie will be spent on improvements
1t is perfectly clear that the city
Is IN n bad way financially and that
money is needed, but first OF all the
CITY fathers should free themselves
from the influence of the gang that
has brought about the present state
Of affairs and become the servants
of the people who elected them As
long as they permit the self-coTstl-
tuted junta to rule them they can
not expect n confidence vote by bona
fide Taxpayers. In any other city
the parties responsible for iaw-deh-
anco In the matter of Issuing Illegal
warrants and refusing to publish the
financial reports prescribed by law
would be made TO give an account
ing before the proper tribunal.