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Show w L,.. BOX SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH Legislature Hits Full Swing, Weighs Tax Reform Measure Utah's 38th Legislature hit However, if the taxpayer borful stride this week with bills rowed money to acquire federal pouring into the hopper, commit- interest or dividends he would tee meetings and floor debates not be allowed to deduct that interest. in full swing. A highlight of the weeks acFrom this adjusted figure he was an introduction of would figure his tax from the tivity bill aligning Utah in- schedules provided by the state come tax reporting with federal which are f per cent highrequirements. The bill was in- er in each bracket to compensate troduced in the Senate along for more generous deductions in with a schedule showing that the federal return. lower income persons would pay A man with a wife and two somewhat less under the 83-pa- ge one-hal- plan. The difference would be made up by those earning $35,000 a year or more in the case of taxpayers with four exemptions and by single individuals with an income of $8,000 or more. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Kendrick Harward, Richfield, and Warren E. Pugh, Salt lake. Under its provisions a taxpayer would simply use the figure from his federal return label taxable income. He would subtract his federal tax computed for the same year and add his Utah income tax. He could also subtract interest or dividends paid to him by the federal government on certain government obligations or children and earning $3,000 pays $6 under present laws. Under SB 108 he would pay nothing. If his income were $5,000 he would pay $32 instead of $45; if it were $6,000, he would pay $57 instead of $72, and $10,000, $188 instead of $229. However, at $35,000, his tax would be higher $1,171 instead of $1,149 and at $90,000, it will be some $500 greater $3,100 as against $2,496 under current laws. In the case of a single taxpayer, the switch from lower to a higher tax would take place at $8,000 where the new tax would bes $237 against $229. The differential would be moderate in all brackets, however, reaching about $400 at the $90,000 level. Supreme Court Upholds Utah's Judicial Retirement Act Constitutionality of the 1969 Judges Retirement Act was upheld this week by the Utah Supreme Court. The court ordered Fourth District Judge Joseph E. Nelson, 74, last November to a six year term, to step out of re-elect- ed office. decision was handed The down by three district judges sitting in lieu of three supreme court justices who had disqualified themselves, two because they would be affected by the outcome, and one because of a close connection with Judge Nel3-- 2 son. Judge Nelson filed suit after he was denied tre right to file last summer by for Secretary of State Clyde L. Miller, Mr. Miller, on the basis of the act which requires district judges to reture at 70 (it also says the Supreme Court justices must retire at 72) refused Judge. Nelsons filing. The judge was then 73. Third District Judge Bryant H. Croft wrote the prevailing opinion, with 3rd District Judge Aldon J. Anderson and 2nd District Judge VeNoy Christoffer-se- n concurring. Justices J. Allan Crockett, A. H. Ellett and R. L. Tuckett had disqualified them re-electi- on selves. Justices E. R. Callister Jr. and F. Henri Henroid dissented with Justice Henriod penning a criticism of the main opinion. Judge Nelson, after the refusal of Mr. Miller to accept his filing, obtained from the Supreme Court an order directing Mr. Miller to accept the filing and to place his name on the November ballot. Judge Nelson was and two weeks ago behis new term. gan Judge Nelson said late Monday he had not read the decision and had made no decision of further action. One alternative open to him would be to file with the high court a petition asking a rehearing. If he vacates the office, Gov. Calvin L. Rampton will have to select a successor from a list of three names to be submitted by a special nominating commission from the 4th Judicial District. Monday's majority decision found age 70 "is not an unreasonable" retirement age and that the legislature, following a voter approval in 1968 of an amendment granting lawmakers power to set judges retirement ages, had not exceeded this power in passing the 1969 act. (Continued on page 8) re-elect- ed ''' rM ? f 4 t f fL..i ("DO W - 25C3 3-- 71 FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1971 County Near $1 Billion Mark In Assessed Value S.L. Bruce Jenkins Explains Scope County Assessor Earl M. Baker his week said Salt Lake County now valued at $927 million, will ecome a billion dollar county this year. He said about $130 million will be added by assesors late this year. Assessors began their annual task of inspecting homes, personal property, industrial works and other property to establish a base for applying the county and local community or district tax levies. Baker said he had not determined whether to ask for additional assessors to his staff, but indicated that new properties 3eing added each year are tax-n- g the present assessor force to the limit. The county will reflect a three to five per cent increase in total property valuation, largely due to new construction. This will cause a $45 to $50 million increase in the total valuation. Baker predicted that Kenne-co- tt Copper Corp.s industrial property worth nearly $80 million this year. Coupled with the other property value increases, the total tax yield of $79 million plus could be increased by approximately $10 million, according to computations of statisti- cians. The taxes are divided among 42 taxing entities, including the cities, the county, school districts and improvement districts, employing more than 80 combination formulas because of overlapping tax levy areas. March of Dimes Auditions Planned Details on auditions for the annual March of Dimes Tele-ramwere announed this week in Salt Lake by Mrs. Charry L. Adams, Telerama Talent chaira man. Auditions for people living in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah Counties will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 5:00 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the KSL studios, 145 Social Hall Avenue, Salt Lake City. Your child could have a vision problem and not know it. Since very young children have no basis for comparison, even if their vision is blured or distorted in some way, they accept it as normal. Some signs of eye disease in children are excessive rubbing of the eyes, unusual irritation at doing close work, Of New Bankruptcy Changes Bruce S. Jenkins, referee in jankruptcy, U.S. District Court or Utah, this week said jurisdiction of the federal bankruptcy court has been enlarged, especially in the area of determination of what obligations can be discharged. Speaking to more than 100 members of the Credit Bureau of Salt Lake City he said several amendments to the bankruptcy Act took effect Dec. 18. He said the changes are fair-- y technical and the effect is to increase work in the federal court and decrease work in the city and district state courts. For example, creditors cannot sue the debtor in other courts once a determination of discharge of obligations has been made. Mr. Jenkins listed four major through these amend- changes ments. Jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court is enlarged. 2. Creditors in certain categories who claim the obligation owed to them by the bankrupt is a special kind of obligation not discharged in the bankruptcy proceeding are told to speak up in the proceeding itself and seek in the proceeding a determination of the status of their particular obligation and are told to do so promptly or to forever hold their peace." 3. "The order of discharge isued by the court is enlarged so as to enjoin creditors from pursuing their obligations after bankruptcy has been discharged. 4. "The required flow of information from the bankruptcy court to creditors is increased. 1. TODAYS .. --- v EDITORIAL v ... - . ft . An Insult to Taxpayers The fact that heavy TVA rate increases are tarnishing the yardstick concept of government owned electric power may have a bearing on the continuing and rising protest against further growth of federal power programs that end by destroying badly needed private sources of tax revenue. But in the case of the proposed Dickey-Lincol- n School hydroelectric project in Maine, there is more to it than that. Congressman Robert N. Giaimo of Connecticut explodes a number of myths about the Maine proposal. Perhaps the foremost misconception is that it would prevent the threat of power shortage in New England and would oiler the cheapest possible electric power for the region. According to Congressman Giaimo, Dickey-Lineol- n would provide no more than 1 per cent of all the power needed in the region. It would cost over $500 million while providing only 830,000 kilowatts. On the other hand, the Northfield Mountain pumped storage project, now underway in Massachusetts, will provide 1 million kilowatts while costing only $92 million to build. This and 15 other power projects slated for competition in the Boston area within the next 0 years will provide 10 million kilowatts for New England. Also, Dickey-Lincowould despoil thousands of acres of one of the few remaining virgin forests in the northeastern United States. has been It is little wonder that Dickey-Lincol- n turned down by Congress time after time and that Rep. Giainio calls it a thoroughly discredited proposal. As a matter of fact, it is more than that. It is an insult to the squinting, frowning excesively, and inflammation and watering of the eyes. If any of these are present in your youngster, the nation's taxpayers. Society advises you take him for a professional eye examination. (Continued on ln Page Four) |