Salt Lake Tribune | 1905-08-26 | Page 4 | It Makes a Difference

IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. In discussing tho proposed sale by Dr. Seymour B. Young to the city, of land nnd alleged water rights, Mayor Morris lays down the rule that the city should not discuss the amount to be paid "until after the water rights of Dr. Young aro positively determined, If he has no water rights, ho has nothing to sell that the'clty needs." That Is an excellenlTule; It Is a pity that the Mayor didn't think of it before he signed the robbing franchise granted to the Smith Light and Railway company. com-pany. In that case, also, there was an alleged water right In question; the city wanted the water, the company claimed It. But did the Mayor lay down the rule that the price to be paid by the city could not be discussed "until "un-til after the water rights of tho company com-pany are positively determined; if it has no water rights, It has nothing to sell that the city .needs?" By no means. On tho contrary, he Insisted on paying the price without even a test of the rights of the company; hot only on paying, pay-ing, but on paying a price so enormous that the public stands aghast at the enormity of the deal. Now, what makes the difference? Undoubtedly. Joseph F. Smith is the difference. Ho Is president of the Mormon Mor-mon church; also, president of the Light and Railway company, which was the beneficiary of the Mayor's complaisance; and whatever Joseph F. Smith wanted for his company, Mayor Morris felt obliged to grant. The lesson les-son to Dij. Seymour B. Young Is plain: let him transfer his land and claims of water right to Joseph F. Smith, and then the city will be glad to buy the land and tho water, without Investigation; Investiga-tion; and Instead of the paltry ten thousand dollars which tho doctor asks, the city will be glad to pay Smith for the same, as much as fifty thousand dollars, and Indulge in a loud cackle over the fine bargain It has made.