Show TAXING THE MINES at the forthcoming election in november Nov emler the citizens of utah will be called aponto upon to vote upon the proposed amendment to section 4 article 13 of the constitution of the 61 state relating to the taxation of 0 mines ani and mining property at the last session of the utah legislature legislate the joint resolution calling for the ami amend ment was passed through both houses un der undue pressure inasmuch as it hadnot had not been referred to the committee on mines mine sand ani mining without a hearing and practically practical ll without debate thus showing the hostility of the legislature to the mining industry indus 0 the state by the terms of this amendment the ming m companies of our commonwealth are now assessed on their net proceeds proceed soi a their surface ground and on their impre ments to say nothing of the occupation tu of 3 per cent oll on their net proceeds W milts be at the mercy of the state board of equalia tion which will have power to tax the mines mind at a value based on some multiple or 01 sub sia multiple of their net annual proceed which would mean that the power of taxation would pass from the control of lit at of the P regularly elected representatives of lale men t pie and become lodged in a body suppo independent of those who are to rule in utah amendment amendee nt is as follon foll the proposed oft 01 be it enacted by the legislature two thirds of all the state of utah cone bers elected to the two houses therein j to 10 ameni section 1 that it is proposed prop section 4 article 13 of the the state of utah so that the as follows s ct section 4 all in rock id mining claims both placer and id shall be assessed at per acre ac 00 base based d u upon addition thereto at a value god the 11 et of alit multiple or 0 r thereof all other wine milies dt proceeds iDi ing claims and other valuable jl coal or it posits including lands containing ahelf dro carbons shall be ass assessed e sed at a in in used value all machinery all property or surface im CIA cl or appurtenant to mines luines or wl use ya ade and the value of ay any surface wining mining claims or mining property for other than mining purposes shall be assessed at full value the state board of equalization shall assess and tax all property herein enumerated me ine rated provided that the assessment of per acre and the assessment of the value of any use other than for mining purposes shall be made as provided by law section 2 the secretary of state is hereby directed to submit this proposed amendment to the electors of the state at the next general election in the manner prescribed by law section 3 if adopted by the electors of the state this amendment shall take effect january 1 1919 the injustice of the proposed amendment should lead to its defeat at the polls and we believe it will be the real crux of the proposition however is in the fact that its adoption would inflict still another hardship upon the mining industry at a time when every ounce of effort should be directed in increasing the supply of the precious and baser metals in order to carry on the great war to a complete and successful issue already the government is taking steps to stimulate mining and to bolster up mining activities and yet the rulers of our state in an ill advised and foolish action and with a lack of patriotism that is most noticeable have planned to still further undermine the most important industry of the state so 80 essential in aiding the government in its war measure during the civil war it was the mines of the great comstock that enabled the government to gain its victory and it is just as important now that the production of the metals should not be restricted strict tri eted ed by unnecessary regulations and unhampered by unwise legislation vote against the amendment |