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Show jSchool Funds Threatened, ! Says State Superintendent In a formal statement July 20th, directed to the Public Utilities Conb-mission, Conb-mission, State Superintendent Charles 11. Skidmore says, regarding the relationship between taxes from railroads and the public schools: "There is an intimate U'lationship between public carriers and the schools for the simple reason that railroads are among the largest! taxpayers taxpay-ers in thu state and are not found among the delinquents. In many counties the railroads are the largest taxpayers and from whom the schools derive de-rive substantial revenues, it is my contention that nothing should be done by the Public Utilities Commission that would make it difficult for the railroads to operate successfully by encouraging competition unless the competing com-peting lines of transportation are put on the same bass front a tax-paying standpoint. If the railroads cannot pay their taxes on acooiml of having their business taken away from them by cometitors, there are only two courses open: one to shift the burden to other fornvs of .tane. ille proerty, such as farnvs real estate, homes, etc. (which I consider unthinkable), or reduce our present wonderful system of education to mere shambles." Superintendent Skidmore urges the Public Utilities Commission to follow fol-low the following procedure bn all applications made by carriers for certificates cer-tificates of convenience and necessity: "1. That the Utilities Commission first muke a survey of the state by counties or districts to determine to what extent the present rail trans- i jHuinflion .systems are adequate Ho supply our tu-eds in passenger and freight transportation. "2. That in case of any proved inadequacy, that the present tax-pay- , ing carriers be given the first opportunity to supply that need before permitting per-mitting substitute or competing transportation agencies to operate. "3. That no carrier be pertiritted to operate in this state unless it j has first proved to the compete satisfaction of the Utilities Commission that it is of sound financial standing, able to carry out the mandates of the law respecting the payment of taxes imposed upon them. "4. That where any doubt exists as to the financial standing of any ! applicant, adequate bonds be required that will guarantee the payment of ail their obligations in connection with their operations in this state. "5. That whatever tax U imposed upon the carriers that are to substitute sub-stitute or replace the railroads be made eirual to the taxes row borne by the railroads. "0 That the administration of the law dealing with the collection of I these taxes be so rigid and alert that no delinquency will be permitted. "7. That in case any carrier fails' to pay its taxes, licenses, fees, etc , j in compliance with law, its franchise to operate will be immediately with- . drawn." I This, in the opinion of Superintendent Skidmore, would eliminate the 1 fly-by-night and irresponsible concents who come into the state, take away j the patronage from existing- reliable taxpaying interests, and pay little ; to the public treasury'- . ; In his communication to the Public Utilities Commission Superintendent 1 Skidmore also directs attention to the fact that taxpayers' money con- ; structs and maintains the highways which are used by these commercial I carriers practically free of clmrge. These carriers use the highways, dis- ! integrate them and practically monopolize them, without paying adequately j for this service, which the taxpayers furnish to them. Says Mr. Skidmore: i "I hold no brief for the railroad.-, but inasmuch as the revenues from ; that source will affect vitally the nwneys which come to the public schools, ! I feel it incumbent upon me to direct attention t this situation." j Attention is called to a situation in Kanras where rilroads have for the first time in their history defaulted in paying tiixev with Ui result j that they are threatened with clo5ing schools in that state. Impressive statistics were presented by the Superintendent to show j the difference between the taxes cliarged in 1932 against the railroads ; and against other forms of transportation in several counties of the state to show what would happen if revenue from the railroads should fail and , the schools be obliged to place dependence upon revenue from other sources. ! This tabulation is attached. TAXES CHARGED IN 1932 AGAINST TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS Beaver .... S 62,772.45 $ 99.57 Box Elder 305,071.45 89.37 Cache 81,459.54 260.62 Carbon 166,047.37 117.51, Daggett - - None None j Davis 94,920.26 265.59 ! Duchesne None 65.94 Enierv 67,399.73 27.21 j Garfield ." .'. None 4,478.13 j Grand 65,663.98 41.91 Iron 87.950.73 9.539.52 Juab 97,192.33 199.46 Kane None 1,375.09 Millard 110,285.51 162.68 Morgan : : 64,561.23 46.16 Piute : 4,562.15 9.40 Rich None None San Juan None None Salt lake - 463,686.48 1,423.61 Sanpete 55,882.41 137.33 Sevier .-. - 41,842.58 122.56 Summit-. - 140.846.54 89.84 Tooele :..,..'....:....'. 163,012.62 156.98 Uintah None None Utah 301,995.35 492.00 Washington None 2,956.86 Wasatch . 23,011.19 27.49 Wavne None' None Weber 272,357.42 ' 209.51 In conclusion Sperintendent Skidmore says: "On behalf, therefore, of the youth of this state, whose lives and fortunes for-tunes are so largely directed, influenced and moulded by our public schools, I earnestly beseech your honorable body to preserve to us substantial sources of revenue by extending adequate protection to existing taxpayers who have proved their willingness and ability to bear their share of the tax burdens .of this stabe." j |