Show I PJ I IJ S. S J Here Is Statement As Desert Deserret Evening News Nova 2 1918 I I I IIa have e been rel requested t est ed to write some of my i views on t the lIe inich mooted hooted subject of the pr proposed posed aIne amendment dIlle t to the Slate State Constitution ution regarding g taxation of mines I respond ul on my own responsibility solely as a a. citizen and a u. taxpayer I do not wish vish to waste aste space in b assertions of proponents of the amendment which are arc wide ide of the mark and should have little if any I weight upon aIon the minds of intelligent persons I regard the determination n of the question as of the highest importance 1 It t cannot be rationally disputed that the main proposition is put before the public in a very y ambiguous form Its precise meaning is understood b by distinguished Titers writers writ Tit writer ers er and readers in in different t ways One class of critics understand understand understand under under- stand it to mean that the extraordinary power of taxation that it sets forth is clearly to be he vested in the tho Board of J Equalization IOther Other able minds int interpret it as to tobe be one of the functions of the legislature These hese opposite opinions inions 1 may filly laT possibly be taken without implying b any any improper motive ye on the part of the disputants disputants dis dis- on ell cither either side but the very fact that thai the they exist appears to me Ine to be a strong g argument against b bg the adoption of the amendment It is of so much consequence that eve every voter upon it should know of a surety what it really means It matters little whether the proposition is agreeable or unacceptable to the wealthy mine owner If it is right equitable equit equit- equitable able ahle and nd consistent with that uniformity and equal bearing g which should characterize taxation in all an its forms it should prevail even even if unpleasant to some people and desirable to others if otherwise it ought to be rejected It may r be as cla claimed by lJ many people that certain in mining g properties I are not taxed at their full value DId and therefore sonie some means should be adopted and acid put in hI force to require J justice and fair dealing no matter who may be he displeased or disposed to object The rhe idea of fixing values on property to favor or oppress one particular particular particular par par- class of ot property owners is inherently wrong and should d not be continued no matter how long it maS have haye be bee i 1 per per- per per- flitted The rhe difficulty of finding g the real value of a metal mine must be admitted by minded fair investigators but it does docs not follow folIo that this is an impossibility nor can it be bo placed beS beyond ond the power ver and ability of wise and persistently thought thoughtful ful fur brains to achieve It play may be a matter of time deep thought and i practical experience But Lut this should surely r bo v within thin the scope as well as the capacity r and amid authority of a n. carefully selected se selected selected se- se legislative assembly To put unlimited I power and authority of taxation in the hands of an appointed p pointed board or committee or even a dul duly elected legislature b by 3 constitutional authority strikes minded fair people and those acquainted with constitutional power as something outrageous and ble The proposed amendment selects elects one particular class of industries to wi t mining out of all other working g properties to be taxed on the basis of some sonde multiple or sub sub- multiple of the thle net net proceeds thereof This is so indefinite conveying g no limitation tat on and suggesting g no method of arriving b at real value vahle that it ought not to the support of thou thoughtful citizens The plea is offered that unless this mea measure sole is adopted I at once we will lose for two years the revenue fr from m the valuable nines mines which it is alleged ought to be he paying b vast amounts of taxes more than that at present exacted and therefore no t time should be bo used in opposing discussing g and arranging g a a. better system than this amendment contemplates and for that reason it should he be rushed through in a n. similar ar kind of haste as th that at in which il it t v was as concocted J 1 It t appears to me llIe that if the vote voters 1 fall faU in with this notion they will be very much disappointed pointed b by th the e result for while the C courts coutis of the state would p 1 n 1 I probably Y I lUlU it out or of Ulel power lover to 10 pass pas on the tue questions that would certainly be rais raised d as to the thc validity i ty of the amendment in all aU l probability the whole whale matter would be taken up uI p to the lie Supreme Court of the United States and anything g like immediate financial financial finan finan- cial vial results could not be reasonably expected DELUDING VOTERS The ll e repeated declaration of its proponents that t tale amendment amend ment is the only way also that opposition to it means the substitution of an au income tax tat is scarcely worthy y of consider consider- 1 at on The flaming g headlines of articles scattered throughout the State Mine Tax Tat Amendment or State Income Tax Which is merely something g to delude the ordinary r voter and c ate a false issue There is no proposition before the tite I people as to the adoption of an income tax tax measure or any other substitute the people are not required to put t forward forwar d sonic some I Iother other 1 plan tan than that I proposed they are only to vote yes lyes y es' es or of orno I no on the hie one proposition It is is true that lint in ai arguing 0 against the amendment ment Mr l Jesse T. T esse Knight b to show th that at there are other ways than the one proposed to meet Incel the situ situation mentioned th the I power already in the Legislature b by th tho tho o Constitution Constitution to tax incomes but he did not say as the thc scholastic Scholasti c proponents proponents pro pro- avow that we prefer to pay I an all income tax No T TI Tsuch such expression is to be found in his straightforward doc document 1 c T This brings b the e ma matter hater to lh the e real point Join nt tat at issue issue fie and el all an the roundabout irrelevant arguments b e ifs that 11 ha have ve lve bey b e I into he the discussion of the d question wl which It ch is is sha shall shat 1 this I mont ont be ado adopted I ted with all its improper pet authority 1 3 a mini t discord against the bener general al fundamental fundament al principles 1 s of just jg or of shall we 1 e vote ote No a and and nd le leave leav ve e the matter to b ba I be-I erly adjusted J by competent legislation anon after thorough I p orough tion I 1 II b r rI I have been asked 1 by y many frien friends s to te o express mylon on this vexed but hut im important p of tant question and ami I do so as i M Mas brit as s I T can with the the little time tinIe and space eat at 1 ill my com command i had longer time I T would have made this article shorter am aUl opposed to to the amendment not because I fail to si need of a a. revision reVISion of our tax laws or that I I- dl dispute sp ut a the tha theft I Q set forth by respected and valued frien friends ds as ns to th the e In in ties complained of or would oppose 1 the tile striking n out fib frol Constitution and nud laws the scheme of ta taxation of mines assessment of their heir c net c net proceeds and th the e a adoption option of j provision to bring b all classes of property l under ales 1 taxation at att atO Q REAL VALUE to be estimated and det determined ned by bV law law- Because I am utterly opposed p to the intrusion int into our S Constitution of the remarkable provision that is now t i m r di discussion and which I regard as a distin distinct ct the opening words of the amendment offer offered and classes class j No 1 namely A AThe j 1 Tine The legislature shall provide by law Ja a uniform and equal tall ril t assessment and taxation on all property in the state according t value alue to in mone money etc l UNFAIR AIR AND MISLEADING I IThe I I The she alleged e motives of the opponents of tho tiro am amendment should figure figuro in the sum of their arguments It is not either cither fair or de deco charge chargo or insinuate that they arc are paid agents of the minin mining in e It is is certainly false in most instances and possibly so EO in all I Land and d dare are arc not greatly concerned in the mere mero effects upon tho the ri rich h mining corns cerns by tho the number of multiples or that may be used is in doubling or trebling or sextupling pling or of their n net t proceed we are concerned in the disfigurement of or tho the body of our State c coal tion by this excrescence of undefined nn and unlimited taxing power authority should not bo be given Cn to any board or body in the State I II IE T I not the slightest reference to the tine ability or of the Pe persons none composing those official organizations Tine Tho attempt to intimate is intended springs from malevolence or ignorance and are re used to d the tho min minds s of or the reading public from the tine only real issue today The blunder of using the Clue term net net profits as ns synonymous proceeds when their meaning is greatly different as applied f fear ear earnings ings of the mines to be taxed is scarcely worth worthy of notice erthe ex er the i e evident ent intent to misrepresent the case n ao against tho the mine O owners mine the amounts at nt which they should be taxed But for arguments argument's uk tali pose pose we wo admit all nIl tho the extravagant estimates of what they should ja ti what the they ought to have paid into State treasury what reason is there then for tho the adoption of such a malformed mass of cono that denominated Amen Amendment ment No 3 37 The biggest part o ot of the that have ha been published has occurred over o the exact m me ii Amendment No 3 Tho The language used is to trio tho effect that OTHER mining properties but tine the mines the the comes o of which are arc marked for multiplied taxation shall be fu PROVIDED BY DY LA LAW V but the exceptions are arc to bo ho assessed ed an anby and by tho the board of equalization This clearly intimates that tha thou those arc NOT to be taxed as provided provide by bJ y law and most of ti I of the document argue arguo vehemently and repeatedly legislature and not the board of equalization must attend t to that The e editorial advice of The Deseret D News of 19 18 is to Io right here that I will take the liberty of quoting it tc The The voter is called to accept or reject these am amend amenta what they arc are and for what they say not say not for what somebody a ar arthey they mean If they da not say what they mean they ought t to be to if they do not menu mean w what hat they Ea say sag v i it is is superfluous to go into J 1 on ou possible further meanings that oil only bewilder and e Mn or ordinary inar reader I Two Twe years ago an amendment aiming at the same mark but to accuracy that ordinary people could easily casily arrive at its a me e cogently commented upon upen by tho the Deseret News and I here i nSe If lines of th that at editorial because they meet the same specious p. p P. r L the far farming wing folks that is now offered with flaming capitals in la di tt VOTE YES TO THE AMENDMENT AND THEREBY 1 TAXES The News said But what assurance is there that even if the mines a are re more molt taxed the farmers will get off more lightly Not Nothing h. h mg in the at IBS an J la holds out any such promise Perhaps t there h eIa are I inequalities 1 taxation methods offer a sure suro care C cur me for f but does this amendment d without Certainly if there is injustice it can cnn be he corrected tl the fundamental fundament al principles of taxation and without destroy destro and equitable proposition of uniformity and equality of uxa taxation o 7 I editorial in The Th Deser Des Desy end close with the last words of the two y yc years cars s a ago go with my hearty indorsement of its a a fla c advice which was a accepted th then n a. a and d is of far o greater apr apP F The The framers of the States State's s charter did dd I no not t do their Rork worA about or blunderingly and it behooves us uis today to b be e c cautious thoo pro u With Wita tinker too too much much with their excellent han handiwork d' d k 1 sho show should uld 1 be time timo changes but Jut these may be bo found necessary ost moat only ondY with the most mature consideration and tit with th the tho i in ink str care The constitution is the basis oasis of our laws JawS not an m Above all its au sJ l which to engraft laws or to try experiments oi of fur o 0 elu s J should hould be preserved inviolable for it is th the e anchor 0 and d' d go Boy security Legislatures a may como and legIs legislatures I a tures Lay v Boythe The stands lis stan n s with statutes and enactments enactments but but tho rho con constitution and taxa on amendment of article 13 13 relating to to revenue voted down n CHARLES OHARLES W Iq PI pE O N November ber 2 5 |