Show WHAT GOES ON HERE BY A. A I. I TIPPETTS J SENATOR From SANPETE Second Week I wish to God the gift Hed He'd gie us to see se-e ourselves as others see us wrote Robert Burns Bums In the absence of that gift it helps some sometimes sometimes sometimes times to hear or read what others think of us Here is a quotation from Robert S S. S Allens Allen's new book Our Soverign States p p. p 31 Quote The state legislatures as a whole are a shambles of mediocrity in incompetence incompetence incompetence in- in competence and hooliganism Thed The legislators come to be bought They d j have no vision and they take or orders orders orders or- or ders absolutely Am I deflated I thought it was an honor to be elected to the State Senate and come to find out I should be in jail 9 Any truth trow In m It it Yes there mere is 15 too much truth in it and that would be so if it were only 10 per cent centtrue centtrue centtrue true which is doubtful From my honest observations the me members of th flit Utah legislature represent most of the weaknesses as well as the virtues of the average voter of the state and what more can you ex expect expect expect ex- ex in a democracy No system of government has ever been created which always results in putting the wisest and most honorable men in into into into in- in to public office In fact that is the exception rather than the rule If you want to find the ultimate source of the good and bad in government government government gov gov- look in the mirror minor You may be interested to know that the Senate is made up as fol follows follows follows fol- fol lows Five lawyers 6 business men 1 dentist 3 farmers one housewife one engineer 3 teachers one contractor contractor contractor con con- tractor and 2 real estate dealers By the way the housewife is Mrs A. A C. C Jensen of Sandy a charming and talented lady and a sister of Mrs Oscar Christensen of Ephraim What did we do the second week Well I can feel our good old ship of of state begin to tremble beneath me We are at last out to sea sea and the winds are getting brisker brisk brisk- er and brisker I would say that 75 per cent of the heavy measures are arc already in the hopper I will discuss some of these with you as the weeks go by and I am asking your opinion on one of them this week Now to a answer n s w e r some of your questions 1 How can you contact yoUr re- re n or Senior First Find out who he or she is then just write a card or letter to Sen Senn or Rep Capitol Salt Lake City Utah Or come up to the capitol and tell one of the numerous Senate or House doormen whom you wish to see They are anxious to find something something something some some- thing to do 2 Why didn't the thc Governor break brcak the deadlock in the House of Rep The law wouldn't permit it 3 3 Does Docs the thc Governor have an anything anything any any- thing to do with law making Yes He can prevent a bill from becoming law by vetoing it unless the legislature overrides the veto by a two-thirds two vote 40 in the House and 16 in the Senate He may also in influence flu en c e legislation through messages to the legislature More answers next time Now I want your advice One of the important measures coming before us in a few days would exempt ex exempt exempt ex- ex empt gasoline used in in stationary engines and farm machinery from taxation Drop me a card and tell me what your honest convictions are The main arguments for and against the bill are outlined below For 1 1 The gas tax is a benefit tax aimed at placing the burden of highway construction and maintenance ance upon those who use the high high- aI ways It is unjust and inequitable to tax gas which is not used on the highways for this purpose 2 The majority of the states in including including in- in eluding our neighboring states exempt ex exempt ex- ex I ex-I empt non-highway non gas from tax tax- 3 Our present law is a good example ex example example ex- ex ample of class legislation which compels farmers to bear more than their share of the burden of gov gov- Against 1 1 The gas tax was never meant to be a per cent benefit tax any more than the school tax Many people pay school taxes who have no children to educate 2 A law exempting non-highway non gas from taxation would make it possible for many dishonest individuals individuals individuals indi indi- to bootleg non-highway non gas into their trucks and autos and thus escape entirely any tax for or highway support No state has found a way to prevent this abuse 3 Our highways are now suffering suffering suffering suffer suffer- ing from lack of revenue and such an exemption would result in a loss of from 15 per cent to 20 per rent of our already inadequate road fund with no source in sight to tomake tomake tomake make it up 4 Farmers would not be alone in taking advantage of such an ex ex- ex emption Industrial installations of all kinds cleaning establishments airlines road construction companies compan compan- ies etc etc would all be in a 1 position to claim exemption thus depleting our revenue still more What do you think Well Vell so long A A. I. I Tippetts Senator from Sanpete P P. S. S Wouldn't you be surprised if you were caught with your taxes down I a |