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Show THE STATE VALUATION. We notice that there is considerable discussion at the present time over the inadequacy of the assessment roll to carry tho actual total values of tho proporty within tho State. The bureau of statistics gives the value- of the property in the State as over half a billion dollars, or practically three times as much valuo as the assessment roll carries. But whilo tho assessment roll may err ou the bear side in values, we think that tho bureau's estimate err3 quite as much on the bull sido. And we do not think that tho valuation is as wrong in its totality as it is in its discrimination as between property in different localities. First of all, we think that the great discrimination is against Salt Lake City, The values on the assessment roll in this city are far and away nearer to the actual values than they are ou the assessment lolls in other parts of the State. We have rcconth directed attentiou to the increase of tho valuations valua-tions in this city and the decrease of tho valuations in tho county ' outside of the city, showing an unfairness that is ovident upon tho mere inontion of the case. It is also true that tho discrimination discrim-ination against Salt Lake county as a whole is very manifest when contrasted with tho valuations in other counties throughout the State. The discrepancy between the number and value of sheep as between the assessment as-sessment roll and the sheep commissioners commission-ers is very marked. The sheep commis sioners report a total of 2,001.152 sheep, of a. valuo of $7,500,000. The compiled assessment rolls of the various counties coun-ties show but 1,219,211 head of sheep, of a valuation of $3,465,151 these figures fig-ures showing a decrease of over one-third one-third in tho number of sheep and of over oue-haf in value, as botween the ! report of thpsheop commissioners and I. the assessment rolls. Iu like manner similar compilations could be made on other articles of value throughout tho State. And right there is whore tho shoe pinches in the matter1 of tho assessment assess-ment and tho paying of taxes. It would make no difference so far as tho inhabitants in-habitants of this Slate aro concerned whether the property is put high or low, provided there wore a fair, equitable, thorough, and consistent basis of as sessment, values being placed reasonably reason-ably alike on like pieces of realty or on like items of personal property. But , right there is where the injustice comes in. In this city, as wo pointed out when tho assessment roll was being compiled, there is a marked discrimination against the non-Mormon population in tho matter of assessments, their proporty prop-orty being placed al au excossivo valuation valua-tion as compared with Mormon-owned property. And throughout the State thoro is unquestiouably a disposition to decreaso valuations of property, both real and personal, iu order to compel Salt Lake City to pa' as much as possible pos-sible above her just share of the general gen-eral taxation. This is a condition that has existed in Utah for a great many years past, and it has frequently been a subject of rightful complaint. We notice, how- ; ever, in recent years, a disposition to ! accentuate this discrimination against ( Salt Lake, and to bring this city more and liioro into the vortex of taxation so that moro and more wo shall bo paying pay-ing a larger aud yet larger proportion I of the State taxes. In years gone by, the assessors of this county have resisted re-sisted to some extent this tendency to impose unjust burdens of taxation upon Salt Lake City. But since the church control has become more and more fixed, the disposition has beeu more and more to discriminate agaiust Salt Lake, and to make tho non-Mormon populatiou horo bear an unjust burden of the State's expenses, by discriminations in j valuations right hero. We do uot,see any wa; of relief from this, except to elect iu this county officials of-ficials not under the swaj' of tho church, so that we may havo a fair and squaro business assessment hero that will put i the values us botween different ptor- I tious of the city and as botween the city and the county at largo on a proper basis. If wo could havo a State Board of Equalization not devoted to the church interest, with that board having power to actually equalize as between the counties, and the nerve to enforce its work, there would be some hope that the eity would not bo yet further oppressed by the church for refusing to slay under ecclesiastical control. It is possible that tho Governor-elect may see his way to consider this as a matter mat-ter worthy of his attentiou, and appoint a competent, stiff-backed, fair, independent inde-pendent board; but from past oxpori-euco oxpori-euco we could hardly oxpect this. There is no indication that we know of to lead ono to hopo that tho new Governor Gov-ernor will be any better than the old in the way of requiring that the public pub-lic interests shall come first, aud that ! uoithcr tho Mormon church interest nor ; au3 other church interest shall take the place of a straight, clean, impartial civic administration. |