| OCR Text |
Show WHAT UTAH FACES " Utah voters must pass on three Amendments to the stato constltutl. ons. Amendment No. 1 would Increase the bonding limit of the stato from 1H to 2 per.cent. It Is safe to say that tho minute tho limit was raised tho stato dobet and future Intrest bill would Jump to tho total 2 per cent allowed and the Increaso would be met by additional taxation. Amendment No. 2 empowors the legislature to divide all property in. eluding moneys and crodlt as well as physical proporty Into classes and to dctermlno what class or classes of property shall be subject to tax. atlon and what property, If any, shall not be subject to taxation. Instead of tho old thoory of equal taxation which Is the foundation stone of our government this amendment simply provides equal taxation upon all property In tho same class. Pro. perty could bo divided Into as many classes as political expediency seem, ed to dictato and each class could then bo taxed as heavily or as light, ly as the cono seemed to warrant. The theory of equal taxation would bo swept overboard and prop, erty right would be subject to the changing whim of political agitation, waves of radical Ideas that tempor arlly Infest any state government or any othor oxporlment which some organization In power wight wish to try. In other words, the balanco wheel of a sound state constitution on matters relating to taxation would be dona away with in favor of a "Jaxz system" that would leave prop, erty rights In Utah subject to legis. latlve activity every two years. Incidentally amendment No. 2 is the step proceeding tho Introduction of a state Incomo tax on top of all other taxes lu Utah. Tho man who has been frugal enough to accum. mulnto an Income In the majority of Instances InvestH, his money in real estato or productive undertakings which employ labor and pays heavy taxes In the community In which he lives. A state Income tax on top of all othor taxes would bo the aurent way to drlvo the prospective Investor and the man with monoy away from or out of the stato of Utah. The third amendment to double the pay of legislators is merely a tax.ralslng scheme. If a candidate eaanot be found who has enoug In. terest Jn his state to go to the legisla. uro and serve to the best of his ablll. ty as a public duty, tho mero Induce, mont of an Increase In salary from 14.00 to $8.00 a day will not, secure a bottor class of men, It will simply make u scramblo for n political Job paying $8.00 a day. The candl. dates for offlco would bo a mediocre class who nro looking for the $8.00 nnd who are not considering the hon. or or tho service which they could ronder the state. The three amendments proposed In Utnh havo not been demanded or asked for by the people. They are tho hobbles, schemes or mechanicians of political promotors who see an opportunity to Increase the field of officialism, croat o moro Jobs and dig deeper Into tho taxpayers' pocket for tholr own personal gain. It is ns certain as the sun rlsos tomorrow that If theso measures are passed, taxes In Utah will be permanently Increased. If tho people want reduced tax. atlon as appears to bo the demand in every section of the state there is but one way to do vote down meas. ures that aro sure tax.ralsers. Dele, gating the powers of a state constl. tutlon to legislative activity Is Just about as dnngorous as turning a child loose with a medicine chest full of poison. Results aro sure to bo disastrous. |