The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-13
THE TAX BURDEN.

I
party "The Thousand Dollars Da,
Parity and goes on to lump togethe
a number of years of American admin
istration in this city, claiming that thu
aggregate Of all the years is a tremon
dous indictment of the American party
If, however. we consider the fact thai
the American party has never reached
the utmost limit of taxation, while the
party of graft and incompetence taxes
to the limit every year in the State
county that it has money to throw tc
the birds and TO squander in personal
graft and in favoritism. and does it to
such an extent that it has to have its
unlawful acts legaliaed by complals-
ant LEGISLATURE. one naturally wonders
at the hardihood of the organization
that invites such comparison In this
county for the past fourteen years.
for instance, the State and county tax
aggregated amounts to something over
90 per cent of the total value Of the
property, even at the high valuation
now carried, and when we consider that
neither county nor State has anything
to show for it. not even q capitol build
ing. but has TO rent offices for It's own
headquarters, onc stands agbast at the
insolcncc of those who invite compari
son between the achievements of the
church party for the money expended
and that of the American party in this
city. The church party has mulcted
of more than onc-fifth of even the high
valuation now assessed, with simply
nothing to show for it. The employees
got away with all the money, much of
it doubtless IN accordance with law, but
a very large fraction has been wasted
in graft, favoritism, needless en-
ployees, and in other personal stealings
and fraudulent expenditures.
On the other hand the American
party has conducted in this city, the
past five years, a straight, clean ad-
II has given the tax
payers splendid evidence Of what has
of street paving, the scores of miles of
tho enlarged extent of sew
cTs. the splendid water service, the in
crease in size of mains and of service
pipes, all arc magnificent testimonials
of the benefits of American control in
this city.
Ou the contrary, what has the State
20 show for the many millions that the
taxpayers have poured into its lap7
Nothing beyond the mere payment of
expenses and salaries. It's hand
ling of the land grants given by Con
srcss has been corrupt and thievish to
the last degree, The school fund that
ought TO have amounted to from So0,-
100000 TO S30000,000, is but nero
fraction of that sum. The administra.
ton Of other grants has been reckless,
partisan and biased almost beyond
The Tribune has shown
he corruptness. inefficicncy and nepot-
sm of this administration and especial.
s. yesterday morning showed the un
leeds from land grants are lent out
Members of the land board dip their
,ands freely into the funds in their custo- !
iy. borrowing them al low rate of inter
,st, paying that interest when they
please or not at all if they are so
minded, aud the principal not when it |
S due but some time in the future, or |
hey let il hang indefinitely with a !
lick and q promise. - Public officials |
ind this source of money supply for |
borrowing purposes at their demand, in
with the banks, and at |
over rate of interest; grating prop |
,Sition pure and simple wherein the poo
'le arc wronged and the public conf
lenec abused. Nothing more scandalous
han the maladministraticn OF the pub |
ic land grants Of this State could pos
IDLY be conceived than is in evidence !
Is printed in detail by The Tribune
rom time To- time.
Not content with keeping the tax
ate up at the highest possible notch, |
heso grafters and maIadmnist.ators
ire planning TO amend the constitution !
% as to give them greater opportunities !
or Sr ft and more ''sugar' for dis
among their friends. The cop-
'ttutlon (article IA, section ~ for
dds the State incurring debt of more
han 100000 cover and above the
mount of Territorial indebtedness u.s.
'umcd by the State This keeps tho
otal indebtedness well within the
y, 900 900 mark. and when Of every the
Territorial debt assumed is paid off. the |
init of debt will be 100000 But that |
S not enough for the church Republican
State officials. They wal more They
want greater liberty to run the State in
debt. And so they propose an amendment |
o this section of the constitution which |
Viii place the State debt limit, not with
Il the definite amount provided by tho
but the proposition is to
lllow the State to be plunged into debt