OCR Text |
Show H EQUITABLE TAXATION. AND now the people, tho iiBsess- ors, tho county commissioners H and other officers concerned in the up- H plication of the revenue laws of the H state, aro face to fnco with the prob- H lem of an equitable assessment of tho H property of tho stale for taxation, H under tho provisions of tho new rcv- H enuo law, which materially reduces HI tho amount of the levies that may bo H mado for various purposes, and of H necessity depends upon a material in- H crcaso in tho valuations, as well as H tho listing of much property which it H is generally conceded has escaped tnx- H ntion heretofore. Hj The proportion of tho levicH which H may be mado under tho new law aro H about two ao against five per cent. H Tho valuations, therefore, must bo Hj about two and one-half times greater H in ordor to yield tho same amount of 1 rovenuo. And unless tho people of M tho state, represented by tho lcgis- H laturc, is willing and able to vastly H curtail their appropriations, fully ns H much rcvenuo must be obtained in H tho futuro as in the past. B Tho present week the commission- M crs of Iron county arc holding mect- m ings with the people in the various H settlements of the county, and aro H discussing with them tho provis- m ions of tho new law, and trying to m mako clear, particularly, tho fact that M an increase in assessment docs not H l signify an increase in tho amount of m one's tax, but that on tho contrary, M W in order to raiso the same amount of M revenue, it is necessary to materially M increase tho amount of tho individual M assessments. H The new law contcmplnttes tho as- M i scssment of all property at its actual 'i cash valuo. This seems simple and , easy, ut first thought, but it is in rc- f ;' ality a most difficult task and one y which rc.niiir4.-3 tho bcSt of judgment ' - on"tno part of the assessors and the H boards of equalization, as well as hon- H or and integrity on tho part of the H property owners. H K . Every man ought to bo willing to H ' . bear his just proportion of the bur- H -den of taxation, and instead of try- Hs ing to conceal and misrepresent his H property, should make u truthful, con- H scientioua statement to the assessor H ,of his property, when it will be much H easier to apportion values and dis- H tribute tho burden equitably among H . tho people. Tho great difficulty is H that wo aro all suspicious of the other H fellow, and lest he may make a false H statement of his property, we must H ,i needs, for our own protection, undcr- H jj rate our own. In tho long run thcro is H nothing to be gained by this course, H and wo would all be better off if we H would be perfectly honest and frank H in this matter. And ovcry tnxpay- H or in the state has a certain amount H 1 of influence upon tho other taxpayers. Hl Then let couthern Utah set a worthy H" cxamplo to the remainder of the state H in the matter of their assessments H for the purpose of taxation. This J will bo following out the spirit of the now year and tho new law, and will win for us tho confidence and respect of tho people of tho entire state. It H' may also bo the means of avoiding H ; heavy penalties prescribed for the H; misrepresentation of property. It is H J! surely worth while. |