The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-11-05
VOTE NO ON AMENDMENTS,


tions that are to be voted upon today in
Utah as amendments TO the State Con
stitution. There was nothing in the
summary as made that would indicate
any guidance TO the voter. But we
take occasion this morning of reIterate
ing our advice to all voters that the
best thing they can do is TO vote against
every one Of the proposed amendments.
The first amendment doubles the pay
of legislators. making it $500 per day
would care in particular about this if
we had legislation even worth the four
dollars per day; but our legislative tim
Der has been so poor as to be discour-
aging; and besides, when the legisla-
tors have their pay doubled, they nat
urallv would double the pay of all their
employees and so a carnival Of extrav-
agance would set in. Therefore. the
safest thing to do is to vote "no'' on
this question.
The second question would increase
the debt limit Of certain cities in Utah.
But the limit is now quito liberal, and
the proposition in it's form is involved
and obscure The safe thing 10 do is
TO vote against the raising of this limit.
The third proposition is for tho crea-
ton Of new counties. Ordinarily there
would be no objection TO this, but as
submitted the proposed amendment eS-
iablishes the civic subdivisions through
out the State in their present form
That has nothing in the world to do
with the creation of new counties. and
is non workable proposition. That
matter ought to he left entirely to the
legislature; the constitution fixing all
minor subdivisions in minor State
would be found TO be AN irksome nui
sancc. Vote against it,
The fourth question proposes the dc.
posit Of State moueys-iu the banks, with
interest going 10 the State. This
amendment is OF uncertain tenor, aud
uncertainty; il ought 10 he defeated,
because unqucstionab under the laws
rs they are, the state Treasurer can
deposit the public moneys in the banks
and can got interest on them for the
State. The deposit of public moneys
so that the public may get the interest
from them is unquestionably legal, and
is done in Salt Lake City and may be
done III any city or county, or by the
state Treasurer. This proposition, how
ever, might he mischievous as releasing
the treasurer from his bond whenever
the money is taken out Of his hands. for
il would be unreasonable 10 require the
Treasurer 30 give bonds for the safe
keeping Of money of which the law had
taken the custody away from him; and
in case Of the loss of such money, the
Treasurer could not be held for il, The
consequences Of the adoption Of this
amendment have not been fairly consid.
cred by The people, and clearly the
proper thing to do is TO vote against
its ratification.
The fifth proposition would allow the
legislature TO exempt from taxation n
great deal of property and TO do much
injustice, and under it public officials
might show both favoritism and NAL
evidence. This proposition also does
away with the requirement for the pub
lie debt TO be provided for within a
given time and by sinking fund. Evi.
IDENTIFY it is a mischievous proposition
and should be unanimously defeated
The sixth question appears 10 involve
| the action OF the board of equalization
with the local boards, and ii also gives
! the State board the power TO enter. into
anv county and change an assessment
on any individual. corporation, or firm
The abuses that can easily arise under
the adoption Of this amendment are sc
evident that the danger of ratifyine
this proposition is very great. The vote
against il should be emphatic
The seventh question changes tho
present valuation Of assessments Il
the actual money value, which
would make confusion worse confound
ed, as has been pointed out by former
Governor Cutler and other prominen
citizens Of Utah. The grossest inius
tees could be perpetrated under thi
proposed amendment, and every prop
erty owner would be put in peril upoI
It's adoption. Absolutely no reason ha
been given whv such mischief-mak
ing amendment a. this should be adopt
ed 4 unanimous vote against IL is NJ
more than il deserves.
The eighth question. relating 10 tn
taxation on mines. would provide 20
double taxatiou; a tax on the value o
the mine ard its improvements and
tax also upon the net earnings Thi
double taxation would work a gross in
Justice 10 the mines. and everyone con
nccted with the mining industry vii
naturally vote "no' upon IL. 4 curl
Gus thing j. that auv such amendmcn
rs this could ever have been propose
and favorably acted upon by the legi,la
turs. IL is plausibly drawn, however
aud is liable to deceive any one on tn