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Show in making a redaction in the valuation valua-tion of the same. After due consideration the commission com-mission reduced the improved farm lands outside corperate limits of cities and towns 10 per cent in valuation val-uation as shown on the assessment roils. . - To offer an amendment to the motion which authorized this reduction re-duction would be useless, as it could get no second, and would, therefore, receive no consideration, so the only way for me to get Into the record and show where I stood on this question was to have a resolution rend into the minutes and ask for a roll call. The accompaning resolution was offered and Chairman Gardner informed in-formed me that since it did not meet with his approval it would not be permitted to go into record. Commissioner Matley further informed in-formed me that henceforth no reso lution on any matter that I offered offer-ed would be permitted to so into the record unless the contents there of met with the approval of him and Commissioner Gardner. Thus, a public servant, charged with the 'responsibility, of passing officially upon all important questions, ques-tions, is denied tb ? right to offer a docrment which woiud make the record complete and clear as to the views of said official. If I could in any way make my position clear, and get my views into the record as I claim the right to do, and where they should be recorded as a matter of public history, his-tory, I would certainly not be bringing this matter to the taxpayers tax-payers attention through your paper pap-er at this time. In the face of the showing made . made by the farmers, and my own knowledge of farm conditions generally, gen-erally, I felt justified in allowing the farmers some kind of relief but I could not be reconciled to n program pro-gram that would single out a small class of farmers and allow them relief re-lief at the expense of their fellows who was in need of as much relief, and in some cases more, than the favored few covered by the board's action. The act of the board as it stands is, in my opinion, discrimattory, and, therefore, I could not agree with my fellow commissioners in this case. I regret the necessity of having to appeal to the press in order to RESOLUTION OT A, 0.SI0I GIVEL PRESS County Commissioner Asks Newspaper to Publish Resolution. Editor Springville Beacon Dear Mr. Editor: Contrary to all precedent in the making of public pub-lic records, the wrriter, who in this case has the honor of serving the good people of this county at present in the capacity of county commissioner, has been denied the privilege of making clear his position posi-tion on certain public policies in the records of the county. The only way open for me to let the public know my views on matters mat-ters of importance upon which I am expected to pass is through the press. Let me make clear, please, the fact that I prefer to go into the record rec-ord where my official acts should be recorded, but being denied this right by the other members of the commission, I respectfully ask you to allow me space enough to inform the public of my views on the all important tax question that was acted upon recently by the county commission, and whici is covered more fully in tiie accompaning resolution, reso-lution, Which I ask you print for the benefit of your readers and in justice to myself. j By way of explanation I might state that the farmers arid fruit , growers of the county asked the, commission to make" a 25 per cent cut in their assessments for ( 1924, owing to the depreciation in all their land values. j The commissioners were convinced convinc-ed that agricultural lands had so depreciated that they were justified make my official acts known to my constitutors when they do not agree with my colleagues, but in this case I have no choice and the taxpayers of the county have a right to know where I stnnd on all these questions whether I agree with the other commissioners or not. If you will, Mr. Editor, give this item to your readers, I will deem it a favor, and, in advance, I thank you. Very Truly Yours, A. 0. SMOOT THE REJEClitD RESOLUTION Whereas, - all the agricultural lands in Utah county have greatly depreciated during the last year or two, and it appears that such lands are over assessed, And, whereas, a motion has been passed by the county board of equalization, w-hich offers a 10 per cent reduction on improved farm lands within the district outside out-side coperate limits of cities and towns within Utah county, and by reason of such -Act it does not give corresponding relief to all agricultural agricul-tural lands within the county, And, whereas, the term "improved "improv-ed farm lands" does not include fruit lands, grazing lauds, or un-! un-! cultivated lands, Now, therefore, be it resolved, j and is hereby ordered by the board of equalization of Utah county, Utah, that a reduction of 10 per cent be made in the assessed valuations valua-tions of all lands used for farming and fruit raising within that district within- the coperate limits of all cities and towns within Utah county, coun-ty, Utah, and, also, all agricultural agricul-tural and fruit lands outside said district within Utah county by the assessor for the year 1924, ' and thusequalize the assessment on all agricultural lands within Utah county. 'The auditor is herewith ordered to -make this reduction on assess-ments assess-ments rolls for 1924 immediately. -, BOLL CALL (Yes)'..'. (No) ...I....... (Yes) (No) (Yes) A. O. SMOOT. (No) , |