Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
Dunned for the Dollar.

After the deed had been recorded and
the transaction closed the plans for the
new building were drawn and the work
Of construction was commenced as soon
as possible The building was finished in
due time and is now the architectural
pride of Utah. Although the consdera-
lion was only one dollar, the Secretary
of the Treasury neglected to send the
money, and forgot all about it until
six months later, when he received
Cunning letter from the former owner,
who asked that the money be actually
paid. Secretary Gage promptly wrote
letter Of apology. aYd inSiosed a war ar
order OF NJ II. Walker, which was after
wards framed and hung in the center
of a large plate glass window of ', alker
brothers, bankers. on the main business
thoroughfaTe of Salt Lake City. 1t is
familiar 10 the citizens Of that place,
and is pointed out TO all visitors. The
story that the guides tell is this;
one of the strictest rules of the Nor
mons is tithing, initiated from the GUS
toms of ancient Israel. and every mem
her OF that church, man. woman and
child, Is expected and required to pay
une-tcnth OF his annual increase" into
the treasury for religious purposes. The
rule is loyalty obeyed, for there is no
greater devotion and no stricter disci-
pine in any other organization, civil
political military or religious. 1t IS
well known in Utah that every farmer
and business man. every professional
man. mechanic and laborer contributes
ouc-tenth. of his income TO the church.
Controversy Over Tithing.
The Walker brothers. who are among
tie most prominent and wealthy business
men in Utah, were formerly members OF
The Mormon Church, and were devoted
to its interests until 1895, when a con-
troverSy arose over their tithing. which
caused them TO abandon the faith. Ac-
cording TO the sossips. they sold mine
Tor several millions of dollars, and after
the transaction was concluded sent a
check for $4,000 70 the treasurer of the
church, which was promptly returned
to them by the presidency, with a stern
reprmand. accompanied by a demand
for an accounting and ~ per cent of
the price for which the mine was sold
The demands. Of course, We're refused
and prolonged negotiations followed. Sew
cral compromises were offered by Walk
cr Brothers, but the ,officials of the
cHurch refused to accept anything less
Than 10 per cen. of their income for
that year.
And that is said to be one Of the
reasons why the location for the post
office was sold to the government for
one dollar Otherwise. the Mormon site
would have been selected. Perhaps an
other reason was that the Walker Broth
ers owned considerable property at the
other end of the business section. which
has largely increased in value since the
post Office was built
''Cannonism" Not New.
have read a good many articles in
magazines and newspapers about Can
noni$m." and without exception thew as
sIme that the present occupant OF the
Speakers chair in the national House
of Representatives is the. inventor and
sole advocate and defender of the pres
cnt method of transacting business in
That body. One would think from read
ing these dissertations that he is the
only 'czar' that has enjoyed a monopoly
OF the present rules. whereas a slight
investigation would disclose the fact that
he has inherited them from line of
predecessors since January 20 1890, when
they were first proclaimed and enforced
IN tho Fiftieln Congress by the late
Thomas b. Reed. The latter adopted
them aud expanded them to meet the
conditions in the national legislature
from code prepared by the late David
b. Hill. for use in the legislature of
new ork.
'Cannonism' is no new thing. 1t was
successfully practiced by Mr.. Reed. Mr..