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Show n (And why Farm Bureau November 1968 election ballot willcarry five proposed amendments facing Utah agriculture for some time. The Utah Farm Bureau Board of The Amendment to create machinery to retire judges. Under current law, it is difficult to remove a judge It from office. requires action by the Legislature with public proceedings, public charges and open votes by the legislators. It rarely happens. The difficulty is that when a judge becomes senile or otherwise unable to carry out the responsibilities of his job, he stays on the job unless he voluntarily retires. The story is told of an elderly judge in South Salt Lake who swore in the jury three times in one case. The charge ismadethatsome judgeshave gone on beyond the period of their usefulness. This amendment would provide legal steps to retire judges who are no longer capable of exercising clear and incisive judgement because of advanced age. The exact nature of the new law would be for the Legislature to decide since it isn't specified in the amendment. We recommend that this amendmentbe adopted. Amendment to raise pay for legislators. For nearly twenty years Utah legislators have received $500 plus expenses for each session of the Legislature they attend. The legislators devote full time to the business at hand are away from their session. It would homes and jobs for the ninety-da- y be difficult for anyone but a man of independent income to live on the allowance given to the lawmakers. Many good men serve one term only to find that they cannot afford the luxury of being away from their jobs for that period. They do not seek Other capable men never seek election because of the cost. Dedication marks most of the legislators who serve year after year because the financial compensation is so inadequate. When pay is so low there is always the temptation to sell one's votes to an organization willing to pay for the privilege. In Washington, D.C. tales of this nature are common. Adequate pay will lower the chances of this type of difficulty arising. Last year the Farm Bureau opposed the amendment dealing with higher pay for legislators, not because we wanted the legislators to work for nothing, but because the proposed amendment gave the power to raise pay to the lawmakers themselves. This amendment would place the amount of the pay raise in the state constitution and in order to raise it again, a new amendment would be needed. re-electi- on. The amendment would give legislators $25 per day plus $15 per day expenses and travel expenses. We recommend that this amendmentbe adopted. to the Utah State Directors suppor Amendment to tax a; land on its use. (Gr For yea's the farmland in Utah according to the practice adopted authorities as they interpreted the s The constitution requires that all ta be taxed according to its market valu 30 of its market value is the consti ment. Property, in most cases, hasn't 30 of the market value. The pract value at 20 or lower. The Tax Commission is beginnin bring all valuations up to 30 across they will continue to do unless th passed. At present, the State Tax Comm is the value of the property in money similar piece sold for in a voluntar sale in which there is a willing buy seller. some of the urban counties have a value of $300.00 an acre a land, could bring as much as $5, for a housing development, which u terpretation of the Constitution coul ations of $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 an a ing land. Under the present effort tc valuation to 30 of market value, in taxation of $60.00 to $80.00 per ac At first this was a problem only with rapidly growing populations. If is not approved, it will be aproblem in the state. If the amendment is approved, it Legislature to enact laws which wouli for farming to be valued according farmland, rather than what it mighl uses. The exact way the law woulc be left to the Legislature. Safeguards a legal haven for speculators is In popular support. We recommend that this amendr |
