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Show Published Every Saturday BY GOODWIN8 WEEKLY PUBLISHING C0 INC. A. W. RAYBOULD, BUSINES8 MANAGER PRICE: Including postage In the United 8tatea Canada and Mexico, $2.50 per year, $1.50 for six months. Subscriptions to all foreign countries, within the Postal . SUBSCRIPTION Union, $4.50 per year. 8lngle copies, 10 cents. Payments should be made by Check, Money Order or Registered Letter, payable to The Citizen. Address all communications to The Citizen. Entered as second-clas- s matter, June 21, 1919, at the postoffice' at 8alt Lake City, Utah, under the Act of Marph 3, 1879. 5409 . Ness Bidg. 8alt Lake City, Utah Phone Wasatch . . . 311-12-- . 13 . : . ; REAL ESTA TE MEN FOR ASSESSORS We read a great deal about taxation and the complaints of the thereby creating a uniform taxing assessment of all real estate in people, yet when the people have an opportunity to elect imen who this city, and a new set of books be opened up at; the City and would devote their time to a reduction of taxes, the people seem County Assessors office. Some of the old books in the office are to have little concern about the matter. If the average citizen knew hard to figure.. The bookkeeping system should be such that the. desired information, and not be com' how propery is assessed in this city, some high, some low, and ordinary citizens could get any some property jbarely paying any tax, their blood would boil and pelled to work in circles as has been done. The real estate men are familiar with prices and their asthere would be an insurrection. There is no uniform method in asis unjust to assess property for $1,000 sessing throughout the city. Uniformity may be found in spots. sessment would be just. It If property was assessed in a uniform manner throughout the city, when it is only worth ($500, pr vice versa, and that is just what the increase, would be enormous and the- present rates, could be we are getting at present. The real estate firms have hundreds of homes for sale that can be purchased for a great deal less than vastly reduced.' doubles in populaA great many people are checking the records and the moie they are wbrth, or will be worth unless this city tion. However, there are many homes in the city upon which the they check the more they are convinced that our present system estate committee is all wrong and they find that a great injustice is being heaped tax is much lower than it ought to be. The real and under-taxe- d would discover all such over-taxe- d property, and it allowed to others are while of the a taxpayers, upon great many It is found that there is a great deal of vacant is a business that should be attended to at the earliest possible moment. property which is not being taxed in proportion to improved ; - escape-entirely- . property. In the face of the denials by some of the politicians that taxes have increased, we do find that this year the taxes have increased by $884,375, as the official records show. Just what the game is to tell the people that taxes are lower when in fact they are higher is a mystery. Heretofore the people have paid too little attention to their taxes, and while the people were sleeping on the job they awoke to find themselves confronted with rates out of all reason. The time has come to make the correction, regardless of whose political job it hurts. The axe must be used Nobody wishes to escape a just taxation, but when our neighbor pays so much less, then we have a kick coming. Some of the heavier taxpayers have concluded to organize for the purpose of making a check upon tax expenditures. In other lObrds, the taxpayers elect officials to do the work and then appoint men and committees to watch them. If our officials are not competent to do their work, we ought to get men that can do the work, and avoid this extra cost. Of course it is good to have some of our people anxious and willing to organize to check up .our present system and a great good no doubt will result from their work, but it is an unnecessary expenditure When that' work is. already being paid for. We elect men to office, what for? Are they not placed there to look after the welfare of the people ? Is it not their duty to give the taxpayer a just and business administration? It would appear cm the face of it that imost of our politicians have the idea that tney are elected because of their- popularity, good looks, and the good will of the people to provide a favored few with political jobs in order to make them better- citizens. The Citizen would suggest that a committee of three or five of the best informed real estate men be employed as a special tax committee, and that they subdivide this city into taxing plats; - - SAVING EUROPE. Senator William H. King of Utah comes out openly and says that if the American people fail to support the work of the Near East Relief by private philanthropy, that he would support a congressional measure for an appropriation. Just how far European relief should be supported by America is a great problem. Since the war, millions of dollars have been sent over so much sent to Europe for charity. In fact, money that many believe we have established a chain of paupers who will refuse to go to work as long as they can secure American relief. The constant drain upon the people here is beginning to tell. America has settled down to business and the government is daily wrestling with the tax problem. We have cut down our army and navy expenses, and are trying in every way to bring back normalcy. We cannot depend upon some one else to support us and we must work out our own salvation. Many of the European powers, however, have the idea that America should furnish, not only the money, but food as well to themselves. As long as such ideas prevail in help Europe just so long will there be a demand made upon this country for help. Europe can do what we can, but the foreign politicians must eliminate militarism and throw their energies into industry and agriculture. Charity in a great many instances is criminal. It tends to encourage dependent people who refuse to work as long as they can we-(hav- e re-establ- ish secure aid, and as long as such people can secure a free living we will always have them to provide for. There is certainly something wrong with a government that can raise millions for military purposes and ask another government to support its people through charity. |