The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-05
IMPORTANT Law
FOR SALT LAKE
Lower House Unanimously
Passed Park Commission
Measure.
GIVES BOARD ASSURANCE
OF STIPULATED REVENUE
Believed by Friends of Measure
That City VIII Reap Great
Benefit.

One of the most important mes,
ures which has been considered by the
state legislature was passed by unani-
nous vote in the house yesterday
After defeating the bill creating boards
of Park commissioners and specifying
| their authority in cities of the first
class, the house reconsidered its vote
and the bill was given quick passage.
The supporters of this bin were great
ly surprised at its failure 10 pass on
Friday but they succeeded in convinc-
ing the rest of the house who were op-
posed to il that il was a measure which
not only affected salt Lake City, but
also the entire state.
The passage Of this bill means that
the board of park commissioners of Salt
Lake City will be in position to take
active steps towards the beautifviug of
Salt Lake City and its suburbs mas
much as the full control of all public
lands is under It's direct supervision,
according to the friends of this legisla
tion. IT means that Liberty park, Pio
neer park. Federal Heights, the various
street landscapes and all public grounds
throughout the city will be further
beautified. 1t makes it possible for the
board to take steps such as will in
sure beautiful surroundings to the new
state capitol. and by the time of tic
completion of the capitol the main
thoroughfares and surrounding streets
will be a credit TO the building which is
to be erected on the beautiful north
bench.
Provisions of Bill
The provisions of the bill are more
or less the same as were contained in
the original bill for which this present
bill is substitute, presented by the
judiciary committee Of the house. The
/ l. II.
main five in number. as has been here
tofore the case, with the addition of
the mayor, who shall he ex-officio mem
Der OF the board. and the board itself
will elect its president and secretary
from its membership. The board will
in all its duties remain practically the
servant of the city council, as the bill
provides that its appropriations shall
be made by the council. subject. how
ever, to mandatory clause which pro-
vides that the city council shall lew
upon each dollar of taxable property
not less than one-balf of mill and not
more than one mill.
This particular clause was a bone
of contention in the house, hut was
overcome OWING 20 the fact that the
present city council has this year APP
propriated from the general fund of
| the city $4,000 for parking purposes.
| AT the present rate OF NaIuaJlOn-CnaC
is S55 000,000-the levy works out an
proximately at three-fourths of a mill.
and this method Of taxation as pre-
scribed in the present bill simply means
| that the board of park commissioners Is
assured not less than S2T 500 annually
and may secure as much as 100000.
which it is thought will be ample for
several years to come
Power of Assessment.
The most important provision of this
bill, however. is that section which pro-
taxes against curb property after the
city has created parking districts. 1t
will doubtless be a source of great sat
isfaction to the board and to the great
majority Of the property owners
throughout the city TO know that in the
future their efforts to maintain beau
tiful lawns on their curb borders Will
not be in vain. for this provision OF
the bill makes it possible for the board
To compel careless and disinterested
persons TO plant and maintain lawns IN
front of their homes This does not
mean that those who wish to seed and
maintain their curb border lawns may
be taxed, as the bill explicitly pro-
vides that upon meeting the require
ments of the board all such property
owners will be freed from the state
tax.
1t is expected now that the house
has passed upon the bill in this manner
that it will receive hearty support IN
the senate, TO which body it goes upon
the closing days of the Legislature.