Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-29
THE SUIT on THE TAX QUESTION.

The horizontal reduction Of twenty
per cent. on tho assessment OF real
estate in this city does not please the
Assessor. on course not. hut the re-
ductlon wa. not made TO suit him, II
was done In the Interest Of Justice and
to meet the views Of the Taxpayers, who
claimed tina, their property was over
valued.
There are some other persons who
think the reduction Ia unfair TO them,
because II does not cover the valuations
on personal property. And they have
taken y peculiar method Of yentilating
their grievance. Their complaint,
voiced by MIR. johnson Of the firm Of
Remington, johnson a Co., and pre-
scented before Judge Anderson, by Mr..
varisn. will DO found In another part
Of this paper. The glsi Of II Il that
this reduction Il discriminating and
unfair. A. II applies 10 real estate only
and not 10 personal property.
Ifthcro were nothing more than this
alleged In tho complaint II could be
easily answered by this proposition
II this valuation on personally ought
10 have been reduced n we'll M
on realty, Tn. proper way
10 do IL 10 work for an extension Of tie
reduction TO make II cover the whole
ground, not attempt 10 destroy the
good work done because II Ia claimed
that II does not 10 far enough.
But the complaint goes further. II
alleges irst, that In hearing tho oblec-
lions Of taxpayers and deciding upon
them, tho Board Of Equalization thus
made tho assessment roll TO represent
the fair cash valuation OF nil the tax.
able property, real and personal, with
In tho corporate limit. OF the city; aud
second, that having done this, the
board Of Equalization exhausted Ia
powers, aad therefore had no right TO
msks tho reduction Of twenty per cent.
on the valuation Of tho realty.
Ths case sppcars to Us to turn on the
question OF whether the FIRST allegation
Ia true ~ matter Of fact. Then tho
question Of law involved as 10 the pow
era Of the City Council hs n Board Of
Equalization will be- ons for the court
to determine. IL II true that after the
objections OF those Taxpayers who
made complaints where heard and do
terminsd, the real estate OF the city
was placed ut fair cash valuatlon9
Thousands OF voices Of Hggricved tax
payers will cxclaim "No.v Tho
grievance Ia that the entire assessment
Of realty has been excessive. Values
have fallen but assessments have been
raised. The assessor has put fictitious
and not actual cash values upon realty
generally.
One proof OF this Il afforded
by the valuations Of tho County Asses-
nor. Comparison OF tho two assessment
rolls will demonstrate this: That either
the County Assessor has undervalued
the realty In this city or that the City
Assessor has overvalued II. There IL
no complaint that the County Assessor
has bees derellct. There IA n universal
complaint that the City Assessor has
been exorbitant.
The meaning Of the term "cash
valuation" rs to realty has not been
taken into account In tho city assess
mcnt. That meaning is not open
10 question or bubble. II
Ia given In the law and signifies, not
boom figures, not speculative prices,
not values to give an assessor n big In.
come on per ccntage, but "the
amount at which tho property would
he taken In payment Of a just debt due
from solvent debtor"
Any valuation above that is unlaw-
ful. Tho theory on which the hori.
zontal reduction was based Ia, that the
entire realty Of the city was placed
above such valuation; that II was
therefore excessive and Illegal; aud
that by reducing It twenty per cent.
the intent OF tho law would be
reached.
As to personality, we undsrstand it,
valuation was fixed by the returns OF
the owners, 80 far rs 1t relates to bust.
ness hrms, banks and other such con.
Germs. Al any rate, money Is cash,
goods have au involced cash price,
bonds, shares, etc, have u face value.
They are all different In this respect to
real estate.
Hut " the Board had no power TO
make general reduction In realty, Of
course It had none rs TO personally,
and the complainants will gain moth.
lug In the event OF their succeeding In
preventing the proposed relief to the
overburdened Taxpayers on real estate.
II the realty has been overyalued aud
the reduction is right, It ocs not fol.
low that the personality has been over,
valued and should thereiors be reduced
10 make the assessment" unlform.n Fol-
dollar In money canuot DO over.
valued when assessed Us u dollar