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Show Report From The Capitol Life at the Capitol being pretty much an 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. proposition these days, with many evenings and most Saturdays also occupied, I find it hard to find time to gather my thoughts and put them on paper for you. Everyone remarks that the tempo of this Thirty-fourth, is faster than that of previous sessions. Most of the time thus far has naturally been spent at hearings and in receiving testimony of experts and of studying proposed legislation. It is too early to predict just how the legislature is going to react to the bills under consideration, nevertheless 1 will venture to guess at the outcome of a few proposals. House bills 62 and 63, involving increase in revenue and changes in distribution asked for by the Utah Educational association, were finally reported out of the Education Committee yesterday afternoon favorably and unamended, although a desperate effort was made by one member to delete the provision for Increased supervisory staff. This amendment will doubtless be attempted and probably will be made on the house floor or In the Senate. Per-(continued on back page) haps some of the total funds will also be subtracted. Many will fight hard to retain all of the equalization provisions, while some others will want equalization cut in favor of "increased leeway" at the top. These will be. the richer districts. By the way such dls-tricts as Provo, Granite and Weber have now Joined the ranks of the poorer districts. San Juan is now the richest district Almost everyone agrees that some tax increase must bo made. The sentiment Is strongly against raising pro-pcrty tax. Most likely to bo hit, because it will raise the most money, is the sales tax, with state income next in line and maybo a little on soft drinks. Bills to tax land according to its use rather than its val ue, which some owners in fast developing areas have asked for, will be thrown out because: 1. they are unconstitutional, and 2. even if the constitution were changed to allow them, they would be unfair, mainly in favor of the land speculator. Some land owners must recognize that their land has become too high-priced for farming. As to other bills I havo been concerned with House bills Nos. 1 and 3 allowing counties singly or In conjunction with other counties, to add mental health to the present public health services havo been reported out of committee favorably and will likely be passed, If enough money to support them can be found. I would like to see the program started 1. because of the need for It, and 2. to rebuke the vicious dem-ogogery to which opponents of the bill havo subjected the legislators. I shall, of course, combat all reapportionment efforts. But we may havo to allow the admission of a few more representatives to the House, from the fast growing areas. No county will ever be deprived of Its one legislator, unless at a future time the state constitution should be changed, which Is not likely. A constitutional amendment providing for Increased pay for legislators will likely bo submitted to the voters at the next election. Increase in Fish and Game licenses does not seem to havo any noticeable support.. It was extremely gratifying to me to see the ready response to Escalante's plea for help. Our good friends in both the House and the Senate relieved Senator Holman and me of the necessity of asking for the emergency aid. We then sponsored resolutions thanking the Utah Pipe and Mill of the U.S. Steel Corporation's SVestern Division and tho Ashworth Transfer Co. for their prompt action. I also thanked and commended Mr. Jay Bingham, director of the Water and Power Board, for his steadfast work in tho matter. By Ncthella G. Woolsey |