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Show THE CITIZEN 4 Our county government, under the prevailing system, is no better than that of the State or the nation. It is predicted on jobs for the faithful and its very foundation lies enmeshed in the expediency of keeping the party machine well greased. There is a man in Salt Lake who kept the county records for two years (1900 to 1902) under the fee system, which then obtained, and who cleaned up $44,000 dollars, for himself and the county in those two years. Recently the same county office was conducted for one year at a deficit over the annual budget allowance. And this budget business how about it? It appeals that it is more or less of a stage affair. Under the system of machine government, now in vogue, it stands to reason that the annual budget will always be made big enough to carry the full political load. GASOLINE ALLEY NOTES. ' is With a savior-fair- e at once compelling and reassuring the(1 that controls the destiny of crude oil and its chief p- oduct gj is letting the automobile owners get just a casual shnt at tin ner in which prices may be manipulated in the face of an on duction and the accumulation of the largest oil and gasoline, reported in many years. One does not have to leave the precincts of Salt Lake in close contact with this exceptional display of tact on the the oil magnates. Within the last three weeks gasoline price ascended three cents on the local market, while reports from fields do not indicate any such healthy advance in the crude Under the prevailing system of political government the city of In fact as late as the middle of May press dispatches noted Salt Lake has increased its spending by a matter of two millions in price of crude remained stationary in the big producing field the space of ten years. In 1912, with a population of close. to ninety pite a bold attempt to kite them all along the line, and evenj far as tp say that the larger refining companies were not as j thousand, it cost Salt Lake approximately $1,500,000 to conduct its to see an advance in crude as they were a few months ago, h civic affairs. The year 1921 it cost Salt Lake over $3,500,000 to operof the wider margin of profit to be reported with crude prin ate, and the population had not increased more than 25,000. and refined products advancing. Quite plausible and fully comp It is patent to many that our educational system is also sible from the viewpoint of the big refiner; but rather a hazy and perhaps governed to some extent by the same political machines tion for the man who must buy gasoline or lay up his car. that guide and manipulate all governments. The hordes of Atilla, the Evidently, as in the good old days of the world war, the older the of civilization the from earth who splendid swept savages honored hypothesis of supply and demand governing prices has the that of tenth a inflicted never agonies world, upon humanity taken to the tall trees, there to hide until the gasoline octopus would follow the disruption of our free American school system. it finger off the push-butto- n that always indicates another littl But it is apparent that we are sacrificing the fundamentals of a free sion of making the public pay. and ample education for our children to the maintenance of a system And nothing of great. moment has happened within oil of government predicted upon perpetuation of political machines. The on which to predicate this bold and apparently unwarranted cost of free education, to the taxpayer, is mounting fast. It has bein gasoline price. There have been no extraordinary public come such a burden that many have felt it their duty to call a halt ments by the Rockeyfeller clan, or others of the Standard gm and to insist upon an accounting. It is permissible to take our public be made good, that can be recalled. There are a few pampere schools out of range of the political machine and to dispense with of oil magnates attending school in England, and perhaps a i limit sane would fads and fancies that now incumber them ; but he who the United States, who must be looked after and whose education of his children because of its cost, is either a knave or a money must not be stinted ; also several big producing coiq fool and probably a little of both. have launched financing deals, running into millions, which thtr In Conclusion. will enable them to carry huge unsold stocks when con'iim The remedy for the taxpayers of Salt Lake and all Utah who These financial plans call for immediate cash outlays to swing on the large scale necessary to permit the oil companies to find themselves sorely pressed to make ends meet under existing conand store an of approximately 250,000,000 ban ditions .of high prices and constantly increasing tax levies and valuahence th tions, is to organize. In unity there is strength and also there is crude and another 100,000,000 barrels of refined goods, political power. To successfully fight a political machine that has lie must dig. Here in Salt Lake the burden cast upon motorists forced! dominated the nation, the state, county and the city, for so many amounts! years that the oldest inhabitant has forgotten when it was born, the three cents or four cents more a gallon for gasoline to confiscation of car privileges, when the primary burdens taxpayers must construct a machine of their own. aborts The Citizen is reliably advised that many of the big taxpayers of upon them by the personal property tax hounds and the considei the city and county and also of the state believe that this is the licensing system, now in vogue, are also taken into dost! issue may be met. They pin their Many car owners were running their gas wagons mighty at only way in which the high-ta- x came ragged-edg- e long before these new gasoline prices faith to the common sense of the average man who pays taxes. They believe he can be made to see the direction in which government is further smite them. auto owners know nomofl that the in upon assumption Acting which manner and the political-machin- e under control, drifting which they, the than their ful avocation money up untold and burning new to are overhead heights. soaring expenses government tax hou all it state, often that concerned, inspire, of machines appears childish look and foolish to it is believe upon They very will in exacting all the traffic are combines, justified gasoline be to too as as sacred profaned by holy things, things government Funny, isnt it, that a bunch usually traveling in high? touch or examination. They believe in organizing, in unifying the the time, is so infernally slow in looking after its i wn low and of both and of all actions degree, high taxpayers, thoughts and in this way accomplishing the desired end of keeping the tax inalienable rights as American citizens? burden from eventually confiscating property. There has grown up in the land a species of official arrogance MORE BUSINESS IN GOVERNMENT. and a species of popular subservance, which are both and painful to look upon and both surely fatal to the sovereignty of the 30. 1921, t fiscal the to 1, 1920, June During year July people over their public servants, if not speedily checked. ). Du of cost the was $5,538,040:running government The Citizen invites open discussion of the tax question by large months of this period the administrative agencies o the g and small taxpayers and the advisability of forming a tax payers were wholly in the hands of the Democratic party. association to command the situation. During the current fiscal year, which began July Send in your communications direct to The Citizen. We will not ends June 30, next, it will cost $3,922,372,030 to rur the g0 accept articles previously published, or intended for subsequent pubDuring this period all the executive agencies of the govern been under Republican, control. lication in any of the colorless and spineless daily sheets. n ra - es of la bt i to iy p in r :s pi e th top-hea- 11 ri y b; ic is vy El pi 1 i k aJ e spi b over-producti- on 1 'S inc - top-loftine- ss - M t , IS |