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Show Tin: i i:. a. vkrsls the tax- I' M F K S ASSOC IATION rpiffiRE is at the present time a con-1 con-1 trover ras?ii? bfttwc.-i-n the Utah Taxpayers A,vwciation and the Utah Kdufi.-ttional A':.:ociation. The bone of contention i; taxes, and charges and coiinter-chanes are being made by bo'li oj'iaiiizaUons. Tlie Educational association accuses the Taxpayers association, in bulletins numbered one and two, of being an organization which "was organized primarily by a few large taxpayers with tiie apparent purpose of keeping their taxes clown to a minimum." The Educational association, in their letter of January 9, 1329, sent out to taxpayers, states it is composed of all the teachers of the state. Its membership member-ship at present is approximately 5000. Krom the bulletins it is evident one of their main objects is to provide -decent salaries to obtain good teachers." teach-ers." The question naturally arises, Has eitiier of these associations a right to attack the other? Or, has each organization its private axe to grind? 'Hie educators accuse the tax association asso-ciation of being "large taxpayers." How many of the 5000 teachers are standing their share of the tax burden along with the small property owner and business man? How many are like the teacher employed by this district dis-trict a year ago who, although receiving receiv-ing a large salary, and having a number num-ber of children in school, owned no property on which taxes could be assessed? To more justly equalize the tax biTrden, why don't the organizations organiz-ations advocate other means of raising rais-ing money as provided for in the constitution con-stitution of the state of Utah: Article 13, section 12. Nothing in this constitution shall be construed to prevent the legislature from providing pro-viding a stamp tax, or a tax based on incomes, occupation, license or franchise. The assessed valuation of all property prop-erty in Utah is approximately $700,-000,000. $700,-000,000. In a recent report made by the state bank examiner it was shown that there was $51,000,000 in savings sav-ings deposits of the 87 state banks of Utah. (This does not include like money in federal banks or building and loan societies). An amount equal to one-fourteenth of all taxable property prop-erty of the state. None of this money is on the assessment roll and our tax laws are in such a condition it would be unjust to put it on. Our legislature should provide a method by which such money could be assessed, a method that would not drive the monev from the banks. Let it carry its share of the tax burden. Why should the stock or sheep man who goes to a bank and borrows this money, paying 8 per cent interest and investing in cattle or sheep be assessed as-sessed at their cash value, thereby carrying a double burden? Is it not possible under Article 13 section 12 for the legislature to provide pro-vide an income tax on the interest paid by the banks to depositors? Also the income from money deposited with federal banks and building and loan societies? What the state needs is some legislation, legis-lation, not in the interest of the "large taxpayers" or other organizations, but to adjust the tax so that the farm interests and general property is not carrying all the burden; shifting part of it onto "incomes, occupations, and franchises" as provided for in the constitutional con-stitutional provision above quoted. |