The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-16
MORE TAXES.

MORE TAXES.
Just as a matter OF course. the an
nouncement comes from the city adj
ministration that an additional mill viii
be added to the tax rate this year. No
apologies, no explanation no particular
reason FOR the increase is offered: the
administration needs the money. and
that is all the taxpayer need know
about il. At the risk OF being mduly
inquisitive. The Herald would like some
one Of the American" party leaders
i'm the council to reconcile this an
nouncement with the promises made
10 the public when the last bond issue
was submitted for approval.
At that time the voters were assured
that in case the bonds were authorized.
there would be no need for a raise in
the tax rate. that the bond money
would clear I'D all outstanding indebt-
edness on account Of Improvements and
leave an ample balance to cover the
program Of improvements then contem-
plated. There was no suggestion then
that another mill, another 100000 OF
more. would be added to the burden of
taxpayers this year; on the contrary,
the chief argument in favor of the bond
issue was the promise that the cost OF
improvements would thus be distrib-
uted over a series of years instead of
being exacted In a lump sum from the
already overburdened taxpayers.
Instead Of keeping this promise in
good faith, the Americans have raised
taxes i'm every direction Water rates
have been increased, special license
taxes, the most obnoxious of burdens
on business enterprise, have been in
creased and multi9lied AN effort was
made in the legislature TO shift the cost
of the citys share Of Improvements
onto the property owners: and now
comes the flat announcement Of
straight assessment of an additional
mill
Either the responsible heads Of the
administration have deliberately mis-
represented their intentions or else they
have been guilty Of objectionable ig-
norance Of their own financial affairs
Until this week there has been a reg
uiar raid on the treasury by employees
getting their salaries raised. The few
who came late are told now they can
not have an increase, but the Raleighs
and their ilk who were forehanded are
serene in the knowledge that they got
10 the pie counter before the prospect
of a famine was discovered.
A purely decorative feature OF the sit
uation is the failure Of the city auditor
to furnish any information to the public
that will shed light ON the actual con-
clifton Of the treasury. His January
statement, issued this month, tells as
little as blank page would of the truth
I'm the case: and it may well be doubted
whether his books or his Office force
could unfold any better information. II
IL were NOT a grave matter for the pub
lie. the blind cropping Of the admins
tration after knowledge Of its own bust
ness would ne a huge joke: and this.
too, after the city has paid $4,000 to
special auditors for installing a system
that would tell daily just what the city
owed, what it had in assets. and what
its future demands would be.
In the meantime the west side sewer
failure promises a huge expense not
contemplated originally. and the City
creek reservoir which was 10 take care
Of the June foods, has been abandoned
by its contractor and the city will have
10 shoulder another blundor TO get ihe
work done.
IN their anxiety 20 have q modern
city. the people OF salt Lake have ask
for public Improvements and choerfully
voted the money with which To make
them. They have condoned reckless ex-
travagance. stood for the extraordinary
prices paid favored contractors. au-
Ihorizcd large bond issues and other
wise submitted to heavy impositions.
This last announcement. however. is
about the limit II the finances Of the
city had been managed carefully il is
probable the administration might have
kept its promise to hold down the tax
rate; but the management has been
reckless. the administration has Tot
kept faith. and it evidently has no In
tenuen OF keeping faith.