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Show DESERET EVENING NEW Part Two TRUTH FOUNDED 1830 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 AD 13 to 26 IJBKHTY. 1917 SALT LAKE CITY UTAH SIXTYKIGIITII YEAR Economy in City Tax Reduction I sl Advocated As a War Measure by Affairs Will be Closely Studied To Conserve Alt Commi s sioners Of City, Board. War, Resources will be the watchword Jft Salt Late City djring the coming oar and the administration promise a reduction i.f the tax rate by curtailing expenses e in "every hrnd. An Important of the coming ear's work, next conservation (of every frhP t reliable resource m..(le necessary by he war will be the lnlt.al step toward of a city plan a he1 preparation the development of zones business- - enterprises, Indhfttrial and diufacturing section and residen-- 1 districts, doUed with public parks id p!i ground. The city, commission will lie and the plans for the year ,ken up on the first Monday in Jan-jr- y when two member of the presit board will complete their term office and two hew commissioner Into the duties of it be Initiated mbers of the municipal board of r. The outgoing commissioner e Heber M. Wells and Stephen B, smart, and the Incoming commis-r.e- r are C. Clarence Neslen and s orrt H. Crab be. E. A. Bock himself a auditor. has The assignment of department it been determined beyond th unhanding that Mr. Neslen will euc-M-r. Newman as bead of the of water suppljrand water-k- r and Mr. Crabbe will succeed nmiasioner Wells a head of the .xrtment of streets and public The new board will be W. posed of at Ferry and Commissioners Her-Green, Karl A. Beheld, C. Claris Neslen and A. H. Crabbe Newman, who was defeated for lust completing the d lection, term of W. H. Shearman, who & as S member of the commie- busl-n last March to enter private Ogden, X'tah. Investigate Cily Plan, 1 now being preliminary survey Kessler, of St. le by George is, a landscape architect of of a city plan. He i brought here by the city commia-- i through the effort of the civic ad-- y vung and art commission, an board. le of the Important things by Mr. Kessler and city dal is the Question oLximing tbs the ilcipallty. Last summer In the direction were taken a the city commission passed an once declaring that portion of jily between Seventh West street, the Jordan river and Second South t and the sooth city limits nn The jsively residential section. became necessary by reason of sestablishment of a foundry on th West street, which the west a are seeking to keep free from Industries. Question as to the a right to enact such a law Is pending In the court. .th a view of proceeding with plan of sontng the city to sngt-an- d sections, th city the city law department already gone over the field In a way. Tentative plans have reached which Indicate that an ..rtioa-w- BI ha established ten Seventh West street and The street. West Second West and East will be zoned as a ees section, and that east of as a residential district, y ate business and industrial be established elsewhere as ivtance Sugar House, which has ne a business center. planning of future park also eoelVo attention from Mr. improvements in this diin can not be considered during erlod of the war. a preliminary will bo of value m the future in lng a systematic scheme of Considerable data along line have been gathered by the planning and art commission. Mayor Ergen Economy. lowing are expressions of the commissioners and the in relation to thg outlook: W. Mont Ferry! valt Lake City faces the year With courage and with e. The financial situation excellent. The revenues for past year have been ample to t the running expeneee of the rnment and also to provide umber of much needed CONOMY 35.000 in revenues e 26.-00- to' y uc-d- J un-ae- at doMXssiame-JfecrCGItEc- z? mlsalonem 'Hint ovary resource of men, money and foodstuffs should, be used to win this war. This polity regarding public expenditures will permit our individual citizens to continue to respond most patriotically to all government requirements. "The duties and respnnsiblll-tle- a of municipal and state governments are becoming more and or. ore important by reason of war conditiona , , "It has been my privilege, through Th Deseret News, twice before to say what I now desire Let the people of this community keep in closer --touch with the officers that represent . them, for In that way, and in that way only, will It- - be possible for the officers to know the special desires of the people whom they , serve. Plan Great City. Commissioner-eleC. Clarence Nes-ic- , -- -- - 1 watercan ter cen-na- le - . ct con-nc- he city comm lesion, reallx-h- e lose of revenue which the t ibltion law made, has exer-- i proper economy In expense with satisfactory results. S fact that the cost per capl-- "t municipal government In Lake City Is among the la the United States, lie coming year will doubt- the sama care excrrtsed city commission, not only ll'ipcnditures for improve-l- it but also in the I fiet of the , city's ordinary affairs." ur country is engaged in went titanic world ' SH I which It is fulfilling an ifieVofk. I hcresslngly important part, bike city will make no for improvements that Imperatively needed. It toimcUon of the city com- - p w- -'T ex-'ir- te - n: . wrlll never bo cheaper than new. Just as a man makes a mistake In building' a home by not anticipating future needs, and then later has to add on a room here and there so many citlee ar built without proper regard for tho future. Proper archltec- - . hire In city planning is even more vital than In house plan- -. ning. In our plans, which should Include anticipated annexations, w should keep In mind health, beaotr, transportation, economy and oher correlated elements. Two things which might be men- tloned in this connection are. first, the estobtl unmeet, when funds will permit, of a municipal market, poperly located, constructed and maintained; second."' the establishment of municipal baths, using as a nucleus the preserf warm springs. Because of the war, our conditions as a city are different tban they have ever been before. Our flroT" ifforts should be to stand by the government In this crisis We must conserve individually and save aa a muncipslity. All expenditures should be made having la mind national conditiona At the eame time me must keep up with necessary maintenance and Improvements to insure our business life. As economic aa the past administrations have been, It is to be hoped that a re- -' Auction In our rate of taxation can be effected througn a business-ltke handling of our- civic i affairs. While .everything possible should " and will b done by the city officials to put down vice and corruption, and while nothing will be left undone to protect the moral life of our citizens generally and our young people in particular, let me make an earnest appeal to the parents of the city. It absolutely necessary for them to realize that their parenthood re- spot Ibility I theirs first, last and all ths time, and cannot be delegated to rational, state nor city - Sec-Ea- st -r Wa- 1 question of most Vital Importance during tbe period of the war. In this connection two things are to be kept in mind. It is necessary for America to produce as much food as possible that the armies ln Europe may be properly nourished. It is also necessary that tbe cost of food be kept within reasonable bounds. Salt Lake City can help to accomplish both of these things by ths cultivation-o- f its lands, and the sale of the products at cost. 'Plans a (ready-ar- c well under way for the planting of 10 acres at the old isolation hospital sits on tbe east beoch, tbe old Totmir' farm in Mountain Dell, the city's farm In Parley's -- canyon, and about 1.000 acres of land nn what Is known as the Ensign flat wilt bs planted to wheat next fall. A part of the Rtverstd park sit also will be farmed. "Another way in which th city must help is the furnishing of water free to consumers wishing to irrigate thrift gardens. The plant- - - ing of every available vacant lot is to he encouraged, and back yard gardens will help the situation immensely. It is, therefore, a duty of the city commission to help this movement by offering, the necessary water without additional cost. The city has reoently expended several hundred thousands of dollars improving its waterworks system. Large storage reservoirs have been built, and tbe time has come when there is little fear of a water shortage. Not a drop of this water which can bo carried through the distribution system should be allowed to run to waste, and arrangements must be made to give it to the people for this most worthy cause. "The tax bate must be lowered. In thotgtitoTThe many burdens which. the war has imposed and the many more which it will, of a necessity impose, the burden of taxation for city needs must be reduced to the minimum. People have not ths money with which to pay high taxes and buy Liberty bonda This year's tax must be for maintenance only. All ex- penditures must be curtailed to tbe last limit, and by so doing the commission is in duty bound to make the burden of taxation as light as possible. Need More Revenue. Commiesioner Karl A. 8cheid: "At a time when the limit of endurance ha been reached in the way of direct taxation; when costs of materials and labor are higher than ever before; and when. In view of international affairs, Issuance of bonds is not even to be thought of, the board of. city commissioner finds itself. face to face with an unprece-dented financial problem, and tbe budget session to determine apportionments to meet expense of the various departments for the coming year will be of unusual Importance and difficulty. "Thin financial problem predominates over alt other in our civic affair, for the reason that it la obviously impossible to keep street cleaned and repaired; to maintain adequate police and fire to safeguard protection-,- ! and properly the general welfare of the citizens without sufficient funds, and just where these funds are to come from without serious hardship to a community that Is valiautiy and uncompromisingly responding to federal war tax requirements, Is not clear. " when One thing is certain ' taxes on business property absorb 25 per cent of gross rentals, they now do ln many case the ' time has rome to call a halt or further advance ln the tax rate, and yet it has become apparent that In view of materially reduced revenues during the year, that this wilt require closest figuring. That prohibition is proving n blessing to this community cannot doubted, but, nevertheless. It .be Is depriving .the city of the reveTbe nue of 225 000 annually. abrogation of merchants' licenses on Jan. 1 wiB likewise out off - busedttr'Tsroauce power, lighting, heating, etc. prob-Seco- Kese-Whi- et A a newly chosen member of the board of city commissioners of Salt Lake and facing what I realize to be a great responsibility, I welcome this opportunity to make a statement of my personal views on a few matters of vital importance. It seems to me that to be permanently successful, a city must have ideals the same as a man. And with this thought In mind I believe that the measure of success of ary city lies In accomplishing the greatest gopd for the greatest number of it citizens. No city is larger than ita water supply. I therefore favor the immediate acquirement of every available eource of water supply within a radius of 50 miles to serve the needs of a city of 600.000 or l.OvO.OOO people. The methods of distribution of this water can be planned as it la needed. In additkn to Its use for culinary purposes, an abundant supply of lni-ge- -- new- - tures of expense feu-ir- 1 On the other and extraordinary feahave become unavoidable. The workmen's compensation measure will require from 115,000 to. 20.000 annually to meet It requirements. The necessity for guarding the waterworks system in these times is an extra expense involving 0 a year. Owing to the failure , of the state to make legislature an amendment to the statutes, the public library continues to receive 129.000 a year in excess of its needs. "It follows, therefore, tlat the policy and Improvement programs of all city departments for 1917 will be vitally affected by the budget session early in January, and It is clear that the practice of strictest economy and even retrenchment must be insisted upon. It may even become necessary to abandon certain of the less essential activitiea Moreover, new sources of revenue in the shape of a tax directed against luxuries and special privileges must, be . found, it possible. "In general,- - a policy with no new public improvements beyond those of absolute necessity, would appear to be a safe, sane and I patriotic course to be pursued during the period of the war, with a dollar's worth of service for every dollar expended, and a' reduction of the tax levy, if possible, to the lowest possible figure. Expenses Increase. Financially the city will labor un-- ' der a decided handicap during ths next year especially if the tax rate is reduced, which the members of the eoremiasioit regard as not only desirable but. necessary. To wbat extent a reduction in the tax levy may become possible depends largely upon ' reductions to be made ln department expenses heaty reductions are to be made is reflected By board and commisstoners-elec- t. There was a decided increase In expenditures this year over those of 1014. and about 150,004 worth t liabilities will be carried over into ths new year. Added to this there 0 wilt he in th neighborhood of less in revenue next year if ths tax levy remains the same as that of 1017. A reduction of of a mill in tbe tax levy would reduce the revenue an additional 27.000 approximately. Such a reduction would make the tax rate the same as that of 11 4. It has been suggested that if possible the rate shbuld he cut to ( mills Id view of the demands which of a necessity tbs war makes upon the taxpayer. ' A report of th city auditor shows ' that at the close of business for th first ten months the expenditures this year exceeded those of last year by lit. 769 46. The total expenditures amounted to 1,674,469 12 as against 1.447,700.M for ths sama period of 1916. Th surplus unappropriated 1 Nov. to amounted 11,979.66. Against this, however, stood liabilities which must be taken into th new year. The heaviest Increase In expen fi- tures was fonnd hi the departments of streets and publio improvements and publio safety. In the latter salaries and additional employees in the police and health -- depaiuiieutBac counted, largely, for the increase. Ths street department was put to added expenses last winter by the heavy snow storms, the cleaning of the streets costing more than ever before in tbe city's history. Also increased , wages for laborers resulted in an add-- , d expense. Liabilities to tie carried over Into 191 include 50,004 for completion . of tbe trunk outlet sewer, 25,044 for tbe cost of collecting tbe school districts share of taxes for th past three years, 528.209 borrowed from the ws- - . ter bend fund in 1916 for the construction of , the Seventeenth East street supply main. 12.000 for this year's premium for workmen's compensation insurance and 10.000 to cover th deficit on a number of special improvements. Win Lose licenses; The city wUhjo 124.000 this from saloon license. Isist year year the Iona waa about IIOT.OOO, a part of which was made up from an Increased tax- levy. Merchants' licenses have been abolished effective Jan. 1, 1919, and this will mean a loan of nearly 40,000. An additional 11,214 must be written off sine it will not be collected owing to the decision of the county commission not to assess In- u ranee companies a heavily as ths county assessor had planned. From the foregoing figures. It will be seen that a reduction in th tax rate means intrenchment to th last limit. It has been declared that a saving of 100.000 can be made in . departmental expenses and when meets to prepare the budget an effort will be made to accomplish this. Members of the commission to th fact that this year the citypoint has labored under peculiar circumstances Reduction of revenue as a result of the prohibition law together with neV burdens such a the workmen compensation, the defeat of the proposed bond issue last summer together with Increased cost of labor, material and equipment, has brought about a condition which means thatithe sew year must be one ef extreme curtailment. Thr will be approximately 24- .000 taken over Into tbe new year. It i estimated, offsetting he liabilities to that extent. There Was 13.004 carried over into this year from 1914. against which there were preferred . liabilities amounting to nearly 54,- - Li 000. consisting largely of the citys share of ths oot of paving lm ments undertakes in 1916. hand, 0.7W5SJOm vcartffs'0ie, ffr&nr? rt. Tbess political organization are only auxiliary, as I view it, sod the first responsibility belong to the parents, r'-- Let us have complete cooperation between the citizens and the men chosen temporarily to preside over ita several d.c partments. , . Reduce Tax lory. Commissioner-elect, A. H. Crabbe: Honored by the citizens' of Salt Lake City to the extent of.hav-- t ln been chosen aa a member of their board of directors, it . is with a keen senee of the responsibility that I am about to enter upon the duties of city commissioner. At no time in the history of this coimnonweatn wers the responsibilities of the city governing board greater than now. It is, therefore, essential the city commission should that do everything within Its power for the city, the nation end the cause for which the United State Is at war. should be done, on the other hand, which might impede the success of America in . any way, no matter how remote or Indirect. The city commission should strive to reduce burdens of taxpayers that may be In a better condition they to respond to - the governments call for assist Officials. g ance. It ' a patriotic duty which every member of the commission must observe. Fhe city commission- - must take an unc stand for strict eco-- i my. A determined effort should be made to bring , about a reduction in tbe tax levy. We most curtail expenses wuer ever possible, even to tbe extent of w hten foregoing improvements under ordinary circumstances might be desirable. The undertaking, however, la no small one. and it will require the moat earnest thought and careful consideration. The employment by the city of a man more than is necesnot be tolerated, and sary snould every - employee shouts he appointed solely pn the basis of his efficiency. The city's business should be conducted as ones own private business, and this Will bis m policy regardless of or any other influence. politics Everything possible should be done for the moral welfare of the community and city ordinances should be rigidly enforced. If there are ordinances In effect which it is not wise' to en- -, force, then they should be repealed. For the beautification of the city and- - th welfare of its citizens s more strict enforcement of the ordinance against . noxious weeds., especially on vacant lots, is needed. Burning cf 'eaves and impr-ommin- ' ' rubbish In the city hiao should be stoppoJ. Iu Ctin Turion I desire to In vite tbe aarice and of tho taxpayers Realizing that the commissioners are their employees their servants so to speak. I believe that the board should be guided by tbe will of the majority. Moat Ca t Expenses. Commissioner Herman H. Green: For reasons which are perfectly dbt toils the next year is one ln which the kevnote must be the most stringent economy. By rea- son of the war conservation of every resource is made imperative and the city administration must confine its activities to absolute necessities, reduced revenue and a constantly increasing cost of labor and materials, the commission finds u self race to face with a situation which means but one thing, and that is intrenchment. City de-- 1 partmental expenses must be and creased, savings made ever possible, even to sacrifice if needs be. As the matter now appears the city's activities must be devoted in the main to actual maintenance. "It is essential that the city should cultivate every available acre of land which it owns. The production of foodstuffs is a it-- iey 3 , Despite reduced revenue and the increased cost Of labor and materials PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, In Balt Lake City. public "improvement work ha been carried on by the city daring oh T0.07 Mile Pjvved Street Prt yvar loan extent, which be- Curb-an- d Miles Guttef.-'.lll.lf speak well for ths administration. ... .275.20 Miles Sewer Distributed over the city as far as Water Mains . . . . . . 26 57 Miles possible the improvements have given 415 MUes Grads Streets benefits to all sections. The major 1,535 part of the year's work has been that Street Lights of completing unfinished contracts, While the amount of public imand the new undertakings were designed to fit into the general scheme provement work actually initiated thi of physical betterment, which I fast year was not nearly so great as In 1114. but nevertheless the work setu-all- y giving Balt Lake an enviable reputadona this year has cost about one- tion. -- -- ........ ......... ... h 1. half million dollars. The tolal cost of work begun prior to Jan 1. 1S17. but completed since together with that begun nines 1 and yet remaining to be completed, anout one million dollars. It had been planned undertake a program of public improvements this year which would have eclipsed any year in the city's history, but the defeat of a 1.600,000 proposed bond issue- - by the tax - payers made this impossible. The plan to heavily bond Ihe city was first considered last winter, but assume conthe proposition did, crete shape until, early in the turn- - nt Continued on page fifteen). u That--ome" 150,-09- -4 , that - ern- 200 . n s i - |