The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-29
CITY TAX LEVY REDUCED.

The American party officials pledged
in the city tax levy. That pledge is
now redeemed. The Board of Estimates
has agreed, and the council undoubtod-
ly will confirm it., that the city tax
levy this year shall be thirteen mills,
whereas last year it was fifteen mills.
This reduction Of two mills will be ap
preciated by the taxpayers; and 1T
shows also good and faithful municipal
management on the part Of the Amer
lean party officials.
We think that the action of Salt
Lake City in reducing the tax levy will
be found to be unique among all the
taxing entities that we have. The
county commissioners have already
made the same old levy as heretofore,
although there ought TO have been
reduction, since the claim is made that
the Jail and hospital were paid ont of
the current revenues heretofore. There
would appear to be no call, therefore,
to keep up the heavy county taxation
that has prevailed hitherto while the
Jail and hospital were being con-
structed
The Board of Education of this city
shows no indication of reducing it's tax
levies, although it has large resources;
on the contrary, it is claiming that it
has not money enough to build the
schoolhousc which it promised to build
on the north bench.
The State, so far from lowering the
taxation, is making efforts to increase
it, This increase cannot be made by
a raise in the rate Of tax levy, and so
the effort is making TO pad the valua~
that the revenues of the State may be
In spite of the fact that
the inheritance tax is yielding ever
revenues TO the State, that
the corporation tax is yielding to the
State more than ever before. that the
throughout the State are
higher than ever before, there is a de-
mand for more taxes, more money to
meet the State IS obligations. The |
Board of Equalization is invading the
counties with a demand for Increased |
valuations therein. 1t is engaged IN g |
controversy just now with Weber coun-
~ for the purpose of increasing the |
assessed valuation in that large county, |
evidently with the purpose Of getting
1t Ogden more than anything else.
Utah county, so far as we have noticed,
las thus far escaped, and probably will
escape this Importantly, because it IS
Apostle. Senator Smoot IS home county,
md perhaps he might resent any in
.asion of it for the purpose Of increas-
ng the already enormously swelled
State revenues. The estimate is, that
t will cost much more to run the State
han even the extraordinary revenues
hat have been added amount to; that
he increased valuation is absolutely
necessary: But would it be necessary,
f the State administration were con-
ucted on economic instead of extrava
ant principles' If there were fewer
avorites to take care of, and less ef-
ort to divert the public money into
artisan channels, and for the purpose
f building up and strengthening per
onal and partisan machines?'
Perhaps the people of Utah may get
ired after while of supporting this
lose ring of political jobbers, who deal
o extravagantly with public affairs,
nd with such an eye to favoriug GER
ain persons and families and will kick
he whole bunch out of power, Ger
ainly that kick has long been due.
The only question is, when will it be