Salt Lake Telegram | 1918-12-18 | Page 13 | Tax Battel Takes New Angle

TAX BATTLE IK El A Hi L E Alleging Payment Un I der Protest of Illegal j Charge, Two Firnu Demand Money Back AS A direct Tomtit of the ira-pending ira-pending litigation between the Mate anil about twenty prominent prom-inent mining conipatiifK to test the, validity of the mine oeetipa-tinn oeetipa-tinn tHX uw passed by the taut les-ls-lalui, two sparuts suits were fllcii In the local ITnltrd Klstrs court to-dny to-dny airHlnnt iMnlel O. Larson, stats trensursr, asking that an aRffreeats ot IM.9R1.S2, paid a mine octtpation (axes, be refunded by the state.' PAID UNDER PR0TE8T. The actloni are brought by th United. Klates Hmeltlng company and the United Htatea Fuel company, noth corporations allege that they paid their full assessments under the mine occupation oc-cupation tax law, but mat the money was paid under protest The United States Rmeltlrwr com - pun auks to mum a HUM uf fiff,' S&ft.tO paid to the state under the new law. and the United Stales Fuel eom-psny eom-psny asks for the return of -l,5t.22 paid as o'cupnt'on taxes. WITH INTEREST AND COSTS. Itoth companies seek the recovery of the foil amounts paid to the state treasury, together with Interest and costs of the court action. Several other mining cortipanles of the state also paid the occupation tax undei protest and It Is expected that they will also bring suits to recover the mounts paid. MEANS MILLION YEARLY. If the occupation tax Is declare unconstitutional it lg estimated thai the slate will lone more than $1,000,-Ooo $1,000,-Ooo annually. The validity of the law will be tested probably early In January, Janu-ary, when the litigation begun last Haturda-y by -twenty - different cm pnnies will be heard before a special tribunal. WILL BE TRIED HERE. Following a conference today between be-tween Judge Tillman D. Johnson of the United Ptate court and counsel for both sides it was definitely announced an-nounced that the case will be heard In Salt Ike. It was thought probable thst the case would be taken to Ht. Iiuls for trial to serve the convenience conveni-ence of two circuit ludges who will be called In t" hear the case. TRIAL AFTER JAN. 1. A telaram was received from Judg Walter 11. Kan born, presiding Judge ot the Kfchth circuit court of appeals. Intimating that be would be able to sit In the case shortly after New Year's. It is prooahl that he will come to Salt Ike with another Judge to hear the case with Judge Johnson.