Salt Lake Telegram | 1916-11-05 | Page 19 | Real Estate Man Opposes It

REAL ESTATE MAN OPPOSES IT Editor Telegram 0 I w was s asked the other day by a prominent politician why we opposed the constitutional amendment on taxation which is to be voted on at the coming election when we are taxed more this year than last on the same property Without any just reason f for r s tt-s enormous increase and when we were promIsed promised promised prom prom- that if the amendment carried our taxes would be decreased Inasmuch as that then mining property could be taxed on the same basis as real estate making the taxes tuxes uniform on real estate and and mining property which is not possible under the present taxing system the real estate being taxed about three times higher than mining I. I My answer was that the amendment if carried would give too much power to the legislature and state board of equalization which Is very dangerous to the taxpayers and would result we had better bear our Ills a little longer until we can correct them right than to make malce another blunder which will be worse than the one our legislature has made for us in the past What assurance have the real estate owners that their taxes would be reduced If this amendment is carried even even if it does enable the legislature and tax assessors to increase the taxes on mining minin property I fail fall to see that we have an any other than what some ome irresponsible politician may personally promise us and my experience is that promises from politicians are absolutely absolutely worthless How can we afford to give such enormous power to the legislature and take the protection we now have out of our hands when the past has proven that the legislature cannot be trusted This may sound like a strong statement but I never make malce a a statement of this kind unless I am prepared to prove it and in proof of this assertion I quote article 9 section 2 of the constitution of the state of oC Utah which reads as follows The legislature shall provide by law for an enumeration of the inhabitants of the state A A. D. D 1905 and every tenth year thereafter and at the session next following an enumeration made b by the authority of the United States shall revise and adjust the apportionment for senators an and representatives on the basis of such enumeration according to ratio to be fixed by law The legislature has never acted upon the matter thereby refusing the citizens citizens citi citi- zens zeris and taxpayers a protection which the constitution guarantees them How Howin in the name of common sense can we the taxpayers afford to give the legislature legislature legis- legis lature such enormous powers as the amendment to the constitution does Inthe In Inthe the face of such evidence as this The citizens should demand that the legislature legislature legis legis- lature act upon article 9 section 2 of the constitution as it is Very important that the people have the representation to which they are entitled and which Is now being withheld from them It Is my opinion that the present unjust and unfair system of taxation where real estate has been taxed in many cases double what it was last year and mining property reduced about one hat was as put through m mainly for forthe forthe forthe the purpose of giving the politicians a club to hold over the taxpayers to force them to vote for this amendment on the promise that If the amendment carried they would be able to equalize the ta taxes es on on- mining property r and re reduce reduce reduce re- re duce it on real estate and unless it carries taxes on real will be still sUIl higher next year While myself and associates are hurt very much by the present unjust and unequal system of taxation still we are willing to bear it ita ita ita a little longer until we can get it adjusted In a proper manner rather than in haste do something which will put us in a worse position than we are now In The thing In our opinion to do Is to vote yote no no on the amendment and then if there are any laws on the statute books which cause the present unjust and unequal system of taxation have them repealed at the next legislature and goback goback go goback back to where we were last year until some means meas can be devised which is just equitable and proper Therefore we propose to vote and work to this end O. O F. F PETERSON President Peterson Real Estate and Investment Co Zilpha Realty Co