Show I i CITIZEN OBJECTS TO TOi i ii KNOCKING AGAINST OGDEN i i 1 i liThe The big city debt was the subject of a recent article pub published by an evening paper and intended to show that the present ad nd administration i ministration is to have a R hard time of it In reply to that article J JC JC 1 C Nye one of leading citizens and business men has writ written i I ten a n letter which contains as much that is worthy of endorsement by b those interested in tie the welfare that it is printed in full fullI I I Now I a citizen and a taxpayer and I take the liberty of answer answerIng nm answering Wr I Ing this article telling how I would do it While I do not intend to enter into any controversy over the time matter I feel that I must criticise er i the article which no doubt doubt is true in fact but in my judgment is mis misleading leading inasmuch as ns the situation is not fairly presented I The rhe increase of is the th bonded indebtedness as lIS every everybody I I body knows was for the time purchase of the city water works and is js con con considered considered BY ALL to have hae been a AVISO wise movement on the part of the ad administration administration i ministration that consummated the deal i This waterworks system is a valuable asset of the city from I which n El revenue is derived sufficient to pay PRY the interest on the i bonds make necessary r repairs and extensions ons and in time create a sinking fund for the payment of the bonds This Th s future of the question was carefully avoided voided in the article referred to which Assumes that time the entire amount of interest must be met by tax levy leAy Je whereas only about of the amount due from the city eHy must TLe 10 c so met Now all nIl there is iti to this question looking at it in its worst feat feature feature ure Ule is that Ogden City has about of a floating debt which is nothing in my opinion to cause caure alarm or get excited over oyer The writer of the article THE BIG CITY Crry DEBT says in sub substance substance stance If the merchants of the city cit would assume this indebtedness they the r could pay it off in two or three years but not wishing to t mis mise misrepresent misrepresent represent anything we will quote just what he did soyA soy ROY ROYl l A merchants license of to for each business house would wipe out this debt in two or three years Now I want to ask in the name of all that is fair and just bc man and man why the merchants of our city eity cit should be asked l to pay p at this debt 1 They pay pat their full fun proportion with all prop I If f erty owners of all aU money raised by tux tax levy besides they are con constantly constantly being called caned upon and daily contributing to various arious benefits most of which arc are calculated to be a public benefit to tb our city a dram drain I upon them which most moat other property holders escape I ask again why try to shift this debt on the shoulders of our ourt merchants 7 t The writer of the article goes on to say that without a high mer merchants merchants merchants chants license there is nothing to do other than tItan an double the time taxes or repudiate the debt This means menns of course to pay pa ay the debt in one year Now No why not be consistent and give gie the taxpayers two or three years to pay this debt as well as the time merchants which in my opinion is the thc very cry 1 thing to do 7 With the increasing value alue in the he property properly erty of the city eity a levy Jevy of 2 or 2 12 mills will this thus I pay ay debt in three years and no noone n o one ono will Avill feel it and ond this is just what I expect to see sec done by the levelheaded business men composing the present administration I And I expect to see them go o about the business cheerfully and n |