The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-15
THE TAXATION INCREASES.


siderable increase 1t is projected that
/ the county will impose an additional
mill of taxation which Will amount for
the county TO nearly seventy thousand
dollars. II has been held by the
friends of the present county admins
tration that the county affairs were
in excellent condition, and that moth.
ing better could be desired than the
way the commissioners have handled
| the countv's finances, That this clalm
/ has been an absolutely fraudulent ono
is well known TO those who keep posted
on public affairs. There has been
graft all along thc line In the matter
of county printing this graft amounted
to some five thousand dollars in one
item. received by the Eorgan of the
party And that was but a begin
ming. Graft In county road making.
graft in the illegal employment of off
Gals unknown to the law, graft in
purchases. graft in accounting, graft
in perqusites, in mileage, and graft
all along the line, has been the rule in
county affairs
Of course, il would be impossible to
conduct public affairs on this graft
basis without increasing the taxes. But
in order 10 cover up the evidences Of
graft and 10 keep from the public
knowledge this state of affairs 10 as
great an extent as possible, the un-
necessary proposition for new
county jail was sprung, without any
reason, the old county Jail being am
pie and commodious enough for all
for new Jail was sprung in order to
mislead the people and get away with
the increase IN taxation without max
ing necessary any awkward eXplana-
tions. 1t was figured that it would
be enough to say that the old county
jail was not sufficient for county pur-
poses. and that a new Jail would he
necessary, thereby requiring an in
crease in the taxes. when, in fact, no
necessity for a new county Jail exists.
The new county Jail could be paid for
with the proceeds Of the sale of the
old county Jail, if the new jail were
in fact needed and if necessary to
make the deal, short time bonds or
interest bearing warrants could he is
sued so as 10 give time to make the
realty deal.
1t has been known for a long time
that the county commi ssioners, in spite
Of their protests that everything was
going we'll with them, have been in
meant an increased tax levy. The in
crease in the tax levy that is proposed
by the county commissioners will prob
ably not be used 10 build a new county
Jail They will either have to apply
the proceeds of the sale of the old
county jail corner, Second West and
Second South streets, to pay for the
new structure. or else they will have
to leave its cost as an unfinished OBJ
legation, to be dragged along for sew
Of taxation TO be explained as paying
for the new jail, continued right along.
The corrupt and incompetent manage
ment Of county affairs has been a
scandal for a long time, from the time
the county commissioners made a Sc
cret deal in the acceptance Of bid
on the bonds some four years ago of
the lowest in place of the highest bid,
and thereby wasted some S21 900 of
the public money in that transaction.
1t appears that the city Board of
Education is also asking a large raise
in its requirements for this year, its
estimate jumping from S650,O0O 10
| $135 900, or an increase of 900,
There will, therefore, be imposed on
these accounts upon the people of this
city, the Ss5.00O increase for the Board
Of Education and about $4,000 on
county account. total increase of
S125,000.
In contrast TO this hold-up Of the
people by the Church parties, the Amer
lean city administration is endeayoring
by every means in its power to avoid
any increase in taxation. The county
has. in fact nothing TO show by way
Of reason, why tho taxes should be
increased The county Jail is a mere
pretext The old jail is good for many
years yet and with proper financieriug,
even supposing that change Of site
were necessary, the old jail should pay
for the new, as there is a very large
and fine corner owned by the county
adjoining the Jail site, that ought a.
bring a large sum.
The Board of Education s demands
will throw more than double the in
crease made by the county upon the
city. The Board has some reason TO ask
for an increase to be sure because
there is constant gain in school pop
ulation, and expenses are increasing all
the time. but the Board had very sub
stantial surplus remaining at the end
,, of the year, that ought to have helped
, it through without any increase of tax
alton. And then. the investigation OF
the Board s building inspector, showing
corrnution the duDlicate payrOllS and