Show GOVERNOR DEFENDS MINE TAX PROPOSAL Alleges cut ent Is Aimed at It Restoration of Equation to If Where c It If Was IVas as Before Bc Enactment Enact Enact- ment of 1915 Law G GOy GOV JL JL r leader of or tine tile Democratic party pad in came to the tine defense of his mine mint tax amendment to the state constitution yesterday lay when he Inc issued the tho following appeal ul Iii Jn all the tine arguments against the tine proposed mine tax amendment I do o not recall having ing seen cen a n direct assertion that producing mines arc paying their just proportion of the tine taxes tuxes of t tho tue he state stale The rhe complicated and ancl involved I nf nt len length th serve ser only as a n screen creen to fo obscure time the issue S As A a citizen citi taxpayer i interested in real cal estate mines mmes and various industrial indus trial enterprises I t am inclined to consider the tine merits merit of the tue amendment as as it applies to me inc as an individual and as it affects the tine welfare of the thc taxpayers ers of or the thc state as a n whole Before the tax law enacted by hy the I 1913 91 Z le Legislature became operative mines were wele taxed on not net proceeds or profits on land and holdings R nt at the actual purchase o paid to the tilt government antI and on Imp All other property property prop prop- erty was taxed on omi approximately 40 10 per cent of oC Its Us valuation While hilo this s system was as n mn effect there was no complaint that mines unjustly t taxed a x e ii Xo Xu In Method U. The Tho 1915 law mn made madu l no mic chan change e In Inthe Inthe the method of taxing net met proceeds of ot mines that was Wm fixed h by the tion It did however howe Increase th tine the basis for or taxing ta other othol property from rein 40 o per cent to per cent valuation The le levy bevy was lowered to approximately approximate approximate- I I ly lv two fifths of what it was under the tine theoM theold old oM system The Tine result a s iI that mines i arc paying about two fifths of or what would have havo been required under tinder the theold i old law lat while holders of or other than mining miming property are paying approximately approximately tho the same Bame as under tine the former system of ot taxation Incidentally it hn has been nc necessary under tinder the tine new arrangement arrangement ar ar- ar- ar nt to leec keep keel tl tito o tax le levy around the tine maximum to cover cr the deficit created h by tho lo loss lose In revenue from rom rota mine taxes S The Tine difference r nce In the tine operation of ot the old and lu new mew laws is clearly Il Illustrated 11 by comparison of or tho tine ta tax levies bevies in Salt I Lake laks county for or the years ears 1915 and 1917 In t inc old S law Jaw lawin In 1915 tIme the I levy was mills 1 1 1 while hile In 1917 9 1 7 under tho tine new law tine the le levy was wa mills In both Instances p the tine basis for tho th taxation o of mines was WaR Identical hut but the tine basis hasis for fot taxation taxa taxa- S tion o of property other than mines wa was I Increased approximately two and one one- S halt half times by the thc law If rr a J- J mine is not productive to the S stage that profits are realized It Is In I taxed only on land holdings s at It th tho I act actual un I purchase price paid to the tine government got gov and amid on cm improvements The Thc amendment under consideration provides pro vides rides for or no tin In this respect Ite Claim In tho tine ase nse nl of ot mines tho resources resource I of oC tine the state are aro reduced In proportion n to the wealth Tho The produced development develop develop- ment merit of or other property Increases the I value of or tho ho states state's resources from ron rom I year ca cato to year ear The Tine purpose of the amendment Is In Isto I to restore th tho tha tax equation to 10 where i is was prior to the tine enactment of oC the lime 1913 1915 law Furthermore It Is Intended to equalize taxation as It relates to tc nonresidents of ot the tine state who Ire are ar realizing real izing Immense profits from Utah mines mainem I and who vIno do not contribute a Just proportion proportion pro pro- portion toward the maintenance of ot the tin commonwealth which r i their Interests in imn In- In In view of or these conditions I F Ioto vote volo yes CS on the tine amendment As 9 s governor o of ot tine the state I plan t to re re l to 10 the tho 1919 Lc Legislature that final tho the am amendment be inc ma made e operative e to the end that mat mines mIne I shall be tnt taxI sI on the basis of or not to In exceed three thre times the net proceeds or profits plus plug land band holdings s on tin tha valuation of or the tine actual purchase price i paid pall to the government and Improve e ments ments |