The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1891-06-06
THE STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
One who Believes 1t VIII Prove Benz
efcial TO the State.
Reno Journal

N'@0
Reno Journal
Heretofore you briefly referred to
the Act of the last Legislature, Great
Ing State Boards of Assessors and
Equalization, and submitted some
observations as to the course, which
In its judgment, should be pursued
by the Board, probably with a view
OF obtaining an expression through
out the State of the opinions of the
press and the people generally, but
thus far the subject has not enlisted
attention from any quarter, and seems
to be regarded as of no particular
consequence, whereas in point of fact,
il is one of the most important meas
ures that has been enacted into law
In this State.
Your correspondent, upon this as
upon every other question involving
the interest of the people of Nevada,
has an unqualified opinion, and there
fore asserts upon a careful and I'M
prejudiced examination of this stat
ute that its main provisions are emil
nently proper, and IL properly and
conservatively enforced, will promote
the equalization of public burdens,
and secure better adjustment OF the
valuation of property than we have
had under the old methods. Had he
been consulted in formulating the
Act he would have eliminated some
OF its provisions, and especially that
which enables the Board TO pass
upon individual assessments, as the
exercise of this power might result
in considerable hardship to individ-
ual taxpayers, by requiring their at
tendance before the Board from re-
mote and far distant quarters of the
State in order to defend against COM
plants upon their valuations, but
there'is scarcely any law that is not
attended with some hardship, where
property rights are involved, and the
high official station of the members
of the Board will be a guarantee that
exercise of this power will only be
resorted to in extreme cases, and then
only for the most urgent reasons.
The provision requiring the Board
to assess railroads and taking this
class OF property out of the hands of
local assessors is eminently just and
proper, as the assessment rolls of the
various counties through which the
Central Pacific is located furnish the
most convincing reasons. For in
stance in Elko county the road is as
sessed at $40, 900 per mile, and in the
adjoining county of Eureka, where
the road is not worth one dollar more,
the assessment is $4,000 per mile;
this assessment is likewise made in
Lander county, and Hum boldt falls
back to 81 900, and Churchill shades
off to $4,000, and Washoe jumps up
to Sl4, 900, and until recently to &c.
900 per mile. This character of val
nation has neither been just to the
railway company nor to the State,
and was never based upon any rea-
sonable hypothesis, but simply the
within or caprice of the assessor, who
was required to give none and posi-
bly, had no reason for the valuation
he placed upon the road. Again
other classes OF property have been
fiuctuating in value nearly as bad as
railroads. Cattle are assessed In
some counties at $40, In others at $l2
and in few counties at $16 per head
without any intrinsic difference in
their real value.
1t is to be hoped that these differ
ences will be met and overcome by
the Board, and that every class and
species of property will have uni
form valuation all over the State, and
that there will be no inducement to
live In one county and drive your
property into another for assessment
purposes.
1t is not expected nor is it neces.
sary that there should be any partic.
ular advance in valuations, and al
this time, when the people of the
State are suffering from severe losses
and stagnation in business, 1t would
be cruel, If not indeed criminal, to
impose heavier burden upon them
that the actual necessities of gov
eminent require honestly and econ.
omically administered, but what they
do demand is, that the burden, "likt
the dews of heaven" shall fall alike
upon all, and this is the mission, and
let us hope the result of the action
of the State Board of Equalization.
silver King District