| Show Taxation and Liquor Legislation Will Occupy Spotlight When 1935 a Legislature Convenes Convene Next Month 1 Many New Laws Will Be Asked to Enforce Old Measures j- j S I When len Utah's lawmaking n machinery machiner resumes resumes Us its biennial gr grind nd on January January January Janu Janu- ary 14 two subjects of or statewide interest in in- terest t are cx expected to command the attention of ot members of the twenty twenty- first legisla legislature ture Measures affecting liquor and taxation taxation taxa taxa- tion in all probability w will ll be given the right right- way right over all other proposals proposals pro pro- which ma may be dump dumped cd int into the legislative hopper Legalization of hard liquor under some form of or state control and an attempt to shift the tax burden from property loom in the light o of public demand for tor a solution of or the states state's liquor problem and widespread les resentment over Increased increased increased in In- creased taxes on homes and real es es- es- es tate To these proposals will be added more nore than the usual number of recommendations recommendations rec rec- from heads of state slate departments departments de and institutions for new I saws laws Jaws revisions of or present statutes constitutional chan changes es and other le legislative leg legislative legI j I enactments enactment to strengthen j clarify and make easier of or adminis t trat n the existing laws I Committee Proposals Proposal I Also looming lar large e on the le legislative legislative legisla- legisla isla- isla tive live calendar will be recommendations of oC the state stale committee of or nine Appointed by Governor Henry H H. H Blood last year to study state government govern government o ern ment and suggest chan changes es for lor more economical l and cC efficient operation the the committees committee's s report in itself itsel contains con contains enough material to keep the legislators busy for weeks Unless the sifting committees of both both houses do an heroic job of prun- prun inga special session may may be necessary necessary sar sary before the lawmakers can send their traditional messa message e to the governor gov gov- We Wo are ready r to adjourn ov 1 The Telegrams Telegram's poll of oC the legisla legisla- ture-on ture ure on the liquor qu question stion disclosed I overwhelming sentiment in both houses for legal 1 liquor quor under strict control The fight light if any n on op this i issue ue is expected to to center on the Hie type tp of or control plan to be embodied in the legal liquor la law la The Thc stat slate liquor store plan proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed b by the drafting draWn subcommittee ee e o of the governor governors governor's adv advisory ory committee on liquor control ha hat has provoked critic criticism criticism c cism m from merchants drug druggists and industry generally with these interests inter inter- ests ur urging ing adoption of or the state li licensing Ii- Ii censing ceasing system of or control state state- State Liquor Stores Under the thc state liquor store system the state would own own and arid operate l liquor quor stores where bulk liquor would be sold to permit holders while under the licensing system the state stale would retain control privately owned and operated would handle retail sales Both Bolh plans plant would allow sale of or liquor by drink in bona fide tide clubs restaurants and hotel dining rooms Local option also is a feature of both systems which h abound with teeth leeth to prevent liquor sales to minors and other unlawful pra practices tices Impersonal observers ers pre predict the adoption of ot a plan em embodying best features of or both systems and one which w will ll vest supreme control in inthe inthe inthe the slate state but bt will permit business to share in the profits The acceptable plan l lo o. o will divide revenue from liquor sales licenses b between tween the state and its municipalities on Cm a amor amore amore more mor equitable basis than thau provided in that proposed by the subcommittee tee it il is believed No tax revision measures can ean be c considered ns veteran legislators agree without considering the revenue the state may realize from a legal liquor law nor can the possibility of ot U tlc tho a sales lles tax if iI retained in Its present form contributing revenue revenue to offset the he property levy for Cor school purposes be overlooked The present sales tax law provides that nil all revenue shall be used for relief relief re re- re lie lief of or destitution but in the event of the annual yield exceeding 2000 the surplus must go to offset the property tax for school purposes Substantial Reduction If Ie monthly returns from the sales levy for lor the last half halt of ot the current I- I S 1 rj k c T I I la Governor Blood fiscal year ear con continue jnue at the high level reached durin during the first six months Utah property properly owners can look took forward forward for for- ward to a substantial r reduction in 1935 tax bills Unofficial al predictions place the 1935 revenue from this tax taxat taxat taxat at between and and with allotted to schools a 2 mill 2 nill reduction in state stat property taxes axes cs would result This prospect might be changed however if it the legislature revises the sales tax as IS suggested in some cirdes cir cir cir- cles des Anticipating some attempt to emend mend this law the state tax commission com corn mission in its us recent biennial report warned against exempting foodstuffs sales of or service and other tangibles and intang intangibles from the ta tax Administrative Administrative Admin Admin- difficulties would be ini in- in i to a point h where rc the tax tax might become the commission com corn mission declared The commission sion conceded that the sales tax has liac no part partin in the permanent perma nent rient tax structure of the state but defended the Ihs new levy as an emergency emer gency enc measure for lor relief relic purposes Th The beer control law will be repealed repealed re re- pealed or amended in a the event of the enactment nt of a legal liquor bill but in an any case the tax commission urged it should be revised to make efficient administration possible The tax body cited several loopholes in inthe inthe inthe the present law through which revenue reve reve- nue nueLs nucia is escaping Various recommendations for tor the relief of or the property taxpayer were recommended in the commissions commission's report re re- re- re port port headed he-ade b by the su suggestion that the office o of county assessor be removed re reo mo e moved from Crom politics Strikes s at ya Favoritism Striking at favoritism shown in assessing assessing as as- tS se sing proper property by assessors with political debts to p the commission commission commis commis- sion asserted gross gro gros s inequalities in assessments constituted one of or of the larg largest t ra factors tol's underlying growing rowing di dissatisfaction with the states state's tax setup By fair and impartial assessment ment plugging of or loopholes in the tax laws which make possible evasion of f justly justly just just- ly imposed levies by taking awa away the authority of or local taxing officers to compromise and abate taxes and in iri other ways th the commission declared property tax relief can be accomplished Discussing a proposal to exempt homes up to 1000 of their assessed valuation or altogether from the property tax the commission pointed out such a move would deprive small communities s of or almost their entire means o of support This proposal offered of or ered by one ono of or several tax reform organizations is ex expected ted to meet with the commissions commission's opposition it if presented to the lawmakers The commission commissi n r recommended commended adoption of or the flat rate method of taxing motor vehicles instead ld of or basing bas bas- in ing license fees on horsepower rat rat- A i I Property Owners Seek Reduction Reduction Reduction Re Re- of Present Levies I lings tags ings as at present In California I where the flat Hat rate rale base is used license plates cost for any type hpe o of passenger vehicle A A higher fee fee for Utah cars probably will be be provided provided pro pro- vided It ir the le legislature adopts this suggestion Should the trend toward special levies lev ics ies to relieve th the property tax tax- cause revision re of the income tax hi higher her rates and nd lower exemptions may be proposed The tax commission advised the legislature to either repeal the 1 filing Ice fee or appropriate enough money to make possible enforcement of gt this feature of ot the income tax act Fee Boost Urged B Boosting of oI the fee lec for lor drivers driver's license from 25 to 50 cents revision o or of the inheritance tax law changes in inthe inthe inthe the ton mile tax the produce dealers denIers law which was declared unconstitutional unconstitutional in district court several months ago ao and amendments to numerous other special levies also were recommended recommended recommended mended to the legislature by the com corn mission U Attorney General Joseph Chez will vill lay several se proposals before beCore the lawmakers lawmakers lawmakers law law- makers including a bill to outlaw gambling in all forms He Ire also will propose a law to transform the state stale highway patrol into a state constabulary constabulary lary with authority to enforce all laws a bill to strengthen the juvenile court system and other measures The water storage comm commission and andT T T. 1 H. H Humpherys state state- engineer arc are expected expected- to submit le legislation for forthe forthe forthe the control of or Utah's underground water water wa wa- ter resources as well as a bill creating creating creating creat creat- ing a metropolitan water vater district to permit municipalities and other interests interests in in- in the Salt SaIl Lake area to participate participate participate par par- in the Utah lake Doer creek project C. C H H. Skidmore state superintendent superintend superintend- ent of or public instruction will urge enactment of or a teachers' teachers pension law lawas as well as other legislation looking toward more efficient op operation ration of the public school system If It the need arises legislation to correlate Utah's laws with new deal legislation emerging from the coming session of congress a also o may be forthcoming forth forth- coming |
