Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-22
CONSIDER THE FIGURES.


Everyone Interested IN the proposed
bond issue should read carefully tho
statement issued by Councilmen r. $
Fernstrom, John HoIley. l.. u, Hall
James d. Murdoch, Oliver Hodgson
and IL. +. Cowburn The so-called
American majority OF the council, ut
terly dlsregarding the right of the MI
notity to be heard and fearing, no
doubt, to face the truth, forced an adj
journment before the statement coulr
be read in the meeting, but 1t found
its way to the press and IS nov before
the Taxpayers for consideration.
The statement demonstrates that the
city has enough revenue to pay all eN-
penses OF the various departments ana
to carry on all necessary improvements
From the figures presented IT IS clear
that II the taxes OF this year are not
souandered, there is surplus of over
s1o5 5000 that can be used for enlarging
watermalns. and other purposes.
The statement shows that the allega-
ton of bond orators that there can be
no improvements this year without
bond ISSUE Is absolutely false. II shows
that public improvements are now go
ing on: that work ON contracts Is pro-
crossing; and that this work will be
finished without borrowed money. How
then, explain the feverish thirst for
bonds that suddenly manifested itself
this Spring In certain patriotic camps?
The statement shows that certain
purposes for which the bond issue Is
asked are Illegal 1t shows that S2OO,-
600 Is demanded for the enlarging OF
East Jordan canal. while the city has
no right, as yet, to enter on the work
of such enlargement.
The voters cannot ignore these repre-
sensations. The constitute the minority
report on the question that is to be de-
cided at the election on the Goth of July.
And minority reports are not infre-
quently found to be true.
There is a wide difference between
the position of the City Council on
the bond question at this time and in
1904. when the citizens We're asked
to authorize a loan of million dol
lars. In 1904 the council unanimous
Nv decided to submit the question to
the voters. Every member OF the
council urged the necessity of a loan
for the purpose of securing an added
water supply and extending the sewer
system. In 1904 there was absolute
~ no doubt as to the course to pursue
for the furtherance of the best inter-
ests of the community. 1t is different
now. The loan is asked for by one
side of the council only, while the
other side appeals to the people not
to authorize it, because it is not need
ed.
1t happens that the members who
are in favor of bonds are known to
be under the influence of party poll
ticians who have manifested consid-
cradle selfshness, as we'll as bitterness
and fanaticism. on the other side are
men who are under no obligation TO
party bosses. and who have studied
the affairs of the City for many years
and therefore know what they are
talking about. This being the case,
why should the citizens rush headlong
into the deeper water, against the
warning voice of men whom they can
trust, merely 10 please the represent
tahves of a political faction? Why
not postpone another bond issue until
the council IS united on the need OF
IL, as in 1904?