Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-02-22
rnE BULLION TAX COMPROMISES.


The State Is deeply in debt. A heavy
weight Of taxation hangs like . funeral
pail over tho business interests OF both
the State and Storey county. State and
county interests alike demand. In the
most positive and u~nsquivocL terms,
that their representatives now assem-
blsd at Carson shall take prompt and
efficient measures for the immediate re-
Lief Of the people. Without such relief
the coming year opens with the pros
psct OF q burden Of taxation that will
be almost unbeatable. There Is but one
door epen-but q reasonable avenue
Of escape from such a state Of things.
That relief Is In the prompt passage by
the Legislature Of the Bullion Tax Con-
promise bill. A law was passed taxing
the proceeds Of the mines. The owners
Of the mines believing the rate Of tax
a,ion unequal and unjust, refused to
pay the tar and have carried the matter
into the courts. Many Of the best law
yers Of the State and the Pacific Coast
agree that the cause Of the county
and State will DO beaten In the
Supreme Court on the grounds that tho
mines. having only a posssssory right to
their claims cannot be compelled to pay
taxes on anything moro than their i'm
provsmsnts. and are not subject to taxa
ton the same as landed titles acquired
through patents. In any event II will
take years to have the matter properly
adjudicaied in the courts, and In tho
meantime the people must bear their
great burdens and quietly suffer II some.
thing Is not done to affcr I'd them relief.
To accomplish this, and give the aid
needed. the Commissioners Of Storey
county directly representing the interest
OF over one-half the taxpayers Of tho
State. have had drawn by their attor-
nsys, who constitute m Of the ablest
law firms OF the State. . compromise
bill, which has been submitted to the
owners Of the mines and accepted by
them as q reasonable and fair disposition
Of the entiro difficulty. II this bill Is
passed. they not only agree to the
prompt payment Of all taxes in the fu-
ture.- but to the payment at once into
the State and county treasures Of nearly
or quite $500. 900. now due. This meas.
urs not only receives the endorsement
Of the managers on behalf OF the county
and State. rs well as that Of the mine
owners. but II meets with the hearty ap.
proval Of almost every taxpayer Of
Storey county.
This bill has been published In almost
every newspaper in the State. and
nowhere has there yet been a sound
reason urged against its adoption. The
only opposition yet offered appears to
DO based. not upon the wants, interests
or good Of the people, but upon the
idea that tho controllers and managers
Of the only two paying mines on the
Comstock to-day. are rich, and that 1t
is proper to force all that Is possible out
Of them. right or wrong. Gentlemen OF
the Legislature. reflect well before you
refuse the people to pass this bill ; aud
you may rest assured that IL you do not
provide some measure Of relief, they
will in tho future hold you rsspon-
sibls for the oppressive weight such
want Of action on your part will impose
upon them. The mine are meet
ing the people moro than hall way In a
Measure that is for the good Of every
taxpayer OF the State. Let the bill rass
by all means.