Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-12
now rr CAN BE DONE.

The Journal understands that Con-
trolier Hallock, than whom there Is no
better officer in the State, is inclined to
believe that the present State rate OF
taxation SHOULD be maintained Tor the
fiscal years 1885 6, rather than there
may be possible deficiencies at the end
of that time. The Journal intends to
insist that the rate can and ought to be
reduced from 80 to 70 cents, and it abb
hors the prospect of deficiency bills as
much as the Controller. The appropri-
alton for the State prison for the ensuing
two years need not be over $685. 900,
whisa the Asylum can get along with
SO, 900, but certainly will not require a
greater sum than SIS, 600. In these WI
items, then, we save $4,000 Ii the
Legislature will remain in session only
40 days, there will be at least $4,000
saved, or $50, 900 per annum, so far as
estimates are concerned. A reduction OF
so cents on the State rate means one
sixth less revenue than we are at present
receiving. The $50, 900 spoken of is just
about one-sixth of the present annual ex-
pense of the State. 1t is not quite
enough, the application Of the pruning
knife around the Capitol building will
o add a sufficient sum to enable the
rate to be placed at 10 cents. And that
rate is all that is necessary or should be
levied upon the taxpayers, even at the
valuations returned at present, valua-
tions, we may say. entirely at variance
with values, for the truth is, there is an
immense amount of taxable property in
Nevada which escapes the eagle eye of
&Lo A--ozeor- Era- IN Ronn q ntaoo of
property was sold the other day for S.
$50 cash, which was only assessed at
$1,000. There are more cattle on one
certain range in Elko than are returned
and assessed in the whole county. Not
half the cattle in Humboldt are assessed.
There are many wrongs to be recited of
this nature, and if they are ever corrected
the State rate of taxation in Nevada
would not exceed 25 cents.-Reno
Journal.
The suggestions of the Journal are well
worthy of consideration. 1t makes a
charge which we hear often from other
sources, which is, that property in cattle
and horses and sheep does not pay its
proportion of taxes. We are not aware
that this charge can be s~ubstantiated;
but certainly steps should be taken to
determine its truth or falsity. The min
ing interest in Nevada, on which all
others have grown up and 1ourished, is
now depressed and languishing. 1t is
plain that it needs fostering and should
be handled as tenderly as possible. The
burden on the miner should be lightened
Up. The cattleman, who is now the
prosperous citizen, should be made to
shoulder, at least, his share of the public
load. If it be true that be is allowed
to escape from taxation to the extent
alleged, the Assessors in all the counties,
especially in the two alluded to by the
Journal, should bring him up to the
mark and then there would be no neces-
sity to keep up che present rate Of
State taxation. Yet it is plain that Con-
troller Hallock's only guide. in making
his estimate Of government expenses for
the next two years, is the revenues
derived by the several counties during
this year. In 30 far, therefore. his
figures are correct on their face; while
the Journal argues that Mr.. Hallock's
figures may be changed for the public
good and for the sake of a square deal
in the State by going behind them. This
is a question Of very great Importance
and should be seriously considered in the
Legislature.