davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

First ana ut tho oplnlou tbnt co,,,,,.
courts should have the power 10 loyv !,
higher tax, u, 1.-Two Cd mills il no, suf'
licicnt for poor counties like Kane conn.
~ '''''"'
Second Section 2n5i. last session l,w.
gives the assessor too much power, ns be
could ruin q taxpayer by his "taxn,, e,ii
nnslec' TO return the blank prnbpfiy
illlod oui and within tho statutory ti,,s
though some penalty should he attached
TO hI. neglect.
fhirl ln nay opinion tha assessor and
NJ deputies should hive the power 10
round Hp aud count hurse-, mules. cattle
anl shnpp Nhen he has good reasons to
n'loNc lhAi the nwnor or nynn' In charge
ms not given tn the usseSsnra fair Assess.
nl'hi' AMI " he should iind more stock
ihhh was reported tax the cost of the
roundup ~ the owucr and have his tsx
raised, have understood Lhat die AZ.
SCISSOR oi Arizona has tho power to round
Up and count In my experience III
thrro years ilnl stockmon arc disposed
to cytdo % mir tax.
touitn. ana In counties like onf,
thW border IN Arizona that iHxniyrr,
hrs' slate To the Utah assessor thai tlalr
slnsk ranges In Arizona aud then slate +,
tue Arizona us.'.sur that their stock /. In
liah. An the same, these taxpayer. Re-
side In Utah and an " their In 'ert,ts ara
IN onr Territory. n somp Kind of lspi-.
lnton could be- had that would stop that
klnd OF wiggliug Il would help counuc,
IKE our. very materially i,c,pe,,iuny
submitted, N. :. ttlLTH,
Assessor Kane County, Utah.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

and would insure better service g,
/ the public.
9. Section IS, On page 3nl, vol. !,
Lave Of Utah OF 1855, should be- t..
pcalcd, NJ being Of no further utility.
}. Tue Office VI public admiuistra.
ior should to created In each county,
With duties defined and fees prescribed.
There are In this county many estate.
OF long standing which have not been
administered upon, and I'm c0usc-
quence, minor heirs are often deprived
OF their just dues, and titles % real
estate much complicated, and much
iilgalion created.
D. The compensation Of the probate
Judge should he hy small salary and
not by fees, such salary to be paid out
oi the county treasury. As the law now
IL, either the widow aud
minor children must sell their
last COW, or the Judge aud clerk
perform the services without c0mpen.
-ation or the estate 20 uuaiministsred
upnn, generally tho two latter, where.
~, II u was public charge aud duty,
All would bear the burden alike NJ all
are subject 10 the same misfortune and
nj would derive the same benefits.
o. There i constant aud growing
demand on the part Of the farmers for
some Coos, aimplo aud Wholesome law
IN regard to irrigation aud the rights
to the use OF water for irrigation pur.
poses, II the oillco N water.master.
coull be created ia cach precinct la
NE Territory, whose acts would be
Official, In the proper distribution Of
water 10 the persons legally entitled 20
tho USE of IN. same, nul who should
Keep nm official recori of the rights OF
each person within his preciuct aud
also M otliclalrvC0rj Of the quantity "
wafer flowing from each source Of
supply, also tn. amount Of wHtcr
Necessary 10 ifrlgate an hcfe Of laui |
and 10 prevent waste OF water. also 10 |
require any psrsou intending TO make /
new appropriations Of wnter, 10 HE a 1
notice OF such intention with the |
water.master Stating the nature and /
extent Of such proposed appropriation,
lnd prohibiting any new apprOprin.
non OF water without such notice, etc, /
" some such or other good system, I
believe much good would result there
rom 10 the farmers Of the Territory.
u N well known that land IL nearly |
Worthless without water, set Ia pun
farming lands, II Il impossible
% ascertain from any official source,
or not such land Is entitled 20
water.righi, NJ no records u water
'ights are kept by any official person.
Very respectfully, your. cl3.,
JACuu JOHNSON.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

PARowAS, Utah, Dec, 10 1891.
Hon. Arthur l.. Thomas, Governor
Dear Slr-Your favor In relation IA
county government and probate court
was duly received by mail.
| am not able 10 make any sIgses.
tiOus In relation 10 counties, not being
well enough versed IN law.
In probate practice the law should
be amended 20 rs 10 make the expense
OF administration on all small estates
10 light AS possible. AS the law l. now
II works a hardship on all small estates,
aud, TO some extent, rOhs the widow
and tue iathcrless, many oi whom are
leit almost destitute. Publication ia
any newspaper should not be required
IN any estate OF deccdents, the value Of
which does not exceed $1,000, eKrept
lho one notice 70 creditors o. present
their claims, and three months time 1.
ample, Instead Of four aud ten months,
~ now. All other notices which are
required should be by posting up In
the county, which II not near 30 OK.
pcnslve nv publication Ia n newppnper.
Please see Laws Of Utah, approved
March H. 1880, page 100.
Section ] should be amended 10 al
allow 0ricts Of sale without publip,.
ton, only by posting W notice. IN tho
county, when the consent Ia writing
cauaot be obtained by all persons In.
lerJNed.
Section il7O, Lava OF Utah, vol. ..
page 500, Al estates which do not
exceed 5000 should be exempt from
publication In u newspaper, instead Of
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12
Suggestions From School Snperin-
ieBdents.
sArr LANE CuY, IMAM,

SALT LAKE CuY, IMAM,
jan. End, 1899.
Hon. \. L. Thomas, Governor OF Utah.
Dear SiE-I regret that continued
| indispOsitiOn has prevented an earlier
/ response 10 your favor Of several days
I since, asking for suggestions Tor
amendments to the school law.
! earnestly believe that the welfare
of the schools demands that the Terri.
| tOnal Commissioner devote all his
! time to tho work Of the schools. There
should be associated with him two
other persons In Indiana and some
other states these peraOns are the city
supefintendeuts Of the largest cities 10
constitute au Educational Commissiln,
whose duty II should be % establish "A
uniform system of graduation TOR all
the county schools, 10 prepare oXami-
INTERPRETATIONS for the certiiicatiDg OF
all tcacners IN tho Territory, and in
general to promote tue Interests Of tho
common schools.
Article II. Section rs, which pro.
viies for the salary u the County SUI
perintendeni needs changing TO make
the salary of the superintendent large
enough to induce competent men u
take the office. Au annual salary Is
much better than per diem.
Tho maximum amount allowed each
county for the expenses Of It's County
Institute II lamentably insufficient
The subject Of examinations and
certificates should, as suggested above,
be placed In the hands OF n commits
sion, and not left To the control OF The
County Superlntendents and their as
sociates, No other method, | believe,
viii rcsiiltin rescuing the schools from
the evils Of incompetent instruction,
which In many parts Of the Territory
Is preventing good work
The arliclell Y relating to text books
needs amendment. In my opinion
cities Of the class contemplated IN Rrii-
Gle Nv should form class by them
selves for the selection OF school books;
and such cities should have u uniform
series, Just ~ the books selected for tho
cOunte', outside of those cities should
be uniform. a book that would be
well aIapted to the use OF schools In
Salt Lake, Ogden, or Provo, for exam
pie, would likely not DO at nil suited 70
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12
MORGAN CITY, Utah,
Decem brr Is, 1891.

Governor Arthur l.. Thomas Salt
Lake city, Utah:
Dear Sir-In reply to your communi.
cation Of Dec. lsi, | will respectfully
mention:
lst. The cattle law, as amended by
the last Legislature. fhialaw l. found
to be much less protective 10 stock
owners than the old law. Especially
sois Sec. 22J3. II not only allows any
Onc 70 disposed to drive stock OF Of
ranges, bat to keep them - hours be-.
fore returning them. la that time il
would be hard 10 recover, for Instance,
nttOlen horse, and II recovered the
owner would have 10 prove that The
act was wiif1l.
%. The revenue law having been cut
down also by The last Legislature, two
mills on the dollar, buta much heavier
tax than formerly imposed through the
new school law, make. Il very hard Ia
small counties 10 meet required eN.
pensos and 10 run the district school,
the length ~ timo prescribed.
"a. IL seems necessary that some
law should be enacted FOR the support
anu protection OF pOlygamous chillrn:
as after tue dissolution Of polygumous
marriages, many fathers refuse 10 BRO.
vide for such children aud their moth.
ers. lfsuch children ami theiy moth.
efs are To come N INDECENT persons
upon tue counties, II would be exceed.
ingiy burdensome.
or the probate laws have nothing
TO say, except that such legislation IN
recommended by you Ia your mefs &c
10 tho last Legislature In rg.rurI D.,
salaries OF Judges, ought 10 have heeu
adopted. Many refrain from having
their estates before the courts, fearing
the expenses.
The code ought n prescribe some
time when the Judge Is 90 br paid FOR
probate work. The idea seems 10 prc.
vail that he should notte paid I'm the
case i ended which sometimes take,
years.
Very respectfully,
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

lost 10 this Territory oVory year IL, .,
tusenco or such law. While tho ts.. " W
utah amply prov idcs Tor tho tpiic,ii.' W
mNcs on stock ringing from ono ,,,,,.. nl
20 another, 10 does no, gi,c ~
access 70 trcspussiug stock ~. i
oht .ncighburing States and 1ih
tories. sometimes tho stock l. es.e...,,
before coming over the boundary I'M
Ihny range ~ our Territory All .,,,r,,'''vs'
and move haci. into tho nelr,,i,il,,e.l,
state before The iaNog are colieeieJ i,' w
fall, and they absolutely refuse 4, uls
any taxes I'm this territory. The t,o,it'y
,outt OF Nwcotwaial County. Mvp Ls
backed thom up In this refusal IL, nN
cHso. This Territory cor ainiv shonitv t'r
entitled to uli revenue accrulnr non, Nv ~
grazing lands within hrr border 'ns
wyoming hns very good gri,lnyt,..
" makes u obligatory on the Iartv N.Y.
W., w OF nNNlug onarge OF any stock th.,
may cross ihoir border lines IL noiiTy ~
county clork of tho number of s,iJ -, w
nn1 mo length ~ tlmo they arn WithiS
thoir borders, aud pay 20 uu,i, ,'n
month. 10 case uf any failure to ro,,,I,a,
Win The law, the Assessor frpos aut -.
their herds, collects the graglnr foo ' ,.i,t
costs Tor his time In travelling and c,nn,
ina them ''un'-
There are u few change. that mich, b..
made ~ an advantage In our nt..o,,'
= 'hool laws hut ~ your attention a, I'M ,,'l'
doub' odly DO called 10 thnin bv do ,o,,.,. l,
school supcfintoLdents, win moi ",f.ys
awning IN this direction. V'
Hoping ina whatever changes may IL.
nado hN the coming Legislative As'ot,,,
MY may provo benefit tn tho Terslt,.,.
nnd ils people. Very respectfully.
u. =. WoonHrTF.
Nssoispr aud collector OF uiniah rounty
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12
A-.EssoR's OrriCr,
odnEN, Weber County, Iah,


oapEN, Weber County. r,ah.
Jan. .. lsI..
Hon. Arthur l.. Thomas. Governor Of
Utah Territory;
Dear Sir. i,cplying To Yours, with
reference 10 "prOhablc changes la the
law governing thoa.-essmont OF properly
durinz the pf0.cni session of tho I.ogls-
lativo Assembly,
The law ~ II affects tho assessment OF
mortgages has been n fruitful theme of
comment, especially that part of IL
making all mortgages uncancoled on the
l7t day OF January Azspssable for taxes.
many OF them being cancelled during the
early months Of the wear before tho peu-
eral assessment OF property takes place.
IN such cases the law allowing no discrc.
ton only TO place them On the assess
mont roll.
This apparent uufairnoss has been
severely criticised by many taxpayers.
ana has occupied very much OF tho atteu.
ton Of The county Board II tquaiisn ion.
during IT. sitiing-. and siikoly Ia tax all
tho Ingenuity u the county collector. IN
mako the collection Of taNOs ou such can.
colod mortgages.
Tho nilureO property owners To place
their titles ON the county record uecossi-
tales many corrections. II additional
stringoncy could be- placed In tho law I
think It would DO helpful. Respectfully,
IDwtS DiN,
Assessor Of Weber county.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

FILLMORE, Utah, Jan. d, 1893.
Hon. Arthur l.. Thomas. Governor OF
Utah!
Dear Sir;-ln reply To yours Of Deem.
bcr 18th ! viii say that there IL one mart
of the law that think could be greatly
Improved, aud that ls IN rotation to the
limo thni tho taxes become delinquent.
Tho time a, II now stands IL tho ist Of
November, and u IL Just when tho farm.
rrs are gctting their crops In shanj tn
sell, and % " almost impossible for thom
Ia pay before they become dolinquent.
Now, / think II thet that taxes could
run before becoming delinquent va. mi
az December alst | think Il would 10 a
great deal bouor for the taxpayer aud no
doiriment Ia the government.
Yours truly,
JusEru A. LYMAy,
Assessor and Collector OF Miliard
County.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12
DEsERET EVENING NEws. TrEsDAY. JANUAnY ne. 1sng.

Section six t6l Of the present law pro
vldes that the Territorial statisticat
stall furnish, In addition 81 the com
pilaliou maize of thu assessOr-' reports
"the number Of compaults engaged IL
each kind Of mining, capital Invested
number " hands employed, amount o
wages paid, annual output In tons and
value, number Of smeltefs and omp'
Ing mills, average cost " reducing ores,
number Of hands employed, wage.
paid ani tons reduced" n would
have required considerable time aud
some travel about the Teffltory "a
'ecure this information accurately, mud
as the law hpa made no provision for
the employment VI an nsslstant libTar-
ian, could not close the library long
enough % gather this detailed iniorma-
tlon. In my statistical report TO the
Secretary Of the Territory concerning
the mineral output had 10 rely chiefly
On correspondence for the figures. !
solicited the county assessors to all
me In this matter. some refused
because the law lid not maks
u incumbent upon them to obtain
this data, others becsusu there was no
pay for II and still another attempted
20 get data hut having no authority OF
law was refused the Information.
These are additional reasons, IL np.
pears to me, why the -tatlsiiclau should
employ his own deputies.
Section six (8l Of the law also re-.
quifcs the nsseesOr 20 compile AMI re-
turn TO tho county clerk of his county
a tabulaled statement OF the statistic.
OF his county, when he returns the
assessment rolls, and the clerk IL
directed by the same section TO for
ward such tabulation without delay 10
the statistician. No penalty Is attached
for failure TO make these returns anu
II was almost two months after the
tine fixed by law, before I was able 10
secure the statistics for lsll. Had the
assessors boen directly responsible 10
the statistlcian this delay might have
been avoided.
Thon again much Of the value Of
statistics lies In the fact that they are
recent. The statistics for any given
year should be gathered, complied AMI
published within six months after the
close OF the year. A. the law now
stands the data for one year arc not re-
turnablc 10 the statistician before July
OF the following year, he has until De-
tobct LIST TO compile nnd arrange them,
and the Secretary OF the Territory has
until December LIST To print and pub
fish them IL the matter Of collecting
the data, compiling and publishing
were placed entirely In the hands OF
the statisticlan, the figures could all he |
secured n.y. April lst, the compilation |
made by June LIST aud the publication
completed by July LIST.
My statistical report Tor 1870 was
nlrd WIN thu secretary OF the Terri
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

b'cs -, laNl.
Governor A. L.. Thomas, salt Lake
CITY.
Dear Sir-YOurs duly received and
and contents noted with pleasure. In
reply | Will say that as to the probate
laws can suggest no changes, ~ nm
u the opinion that the statutes con.
cerning the distribution OF estates n
good perhaps as In other parts vi the
United States. The school Law doe.
not, In smaller precincts, work as well
rs | could wish. In precincts where
there are few children Of school age, Il
works n hardship on the people. the
public money drawn Is 70 little that
there u no chance iOr Two terms of
school ~ the law directs, unless the
people put their hands Into their pock.
cts and donate 10 make up the def.
cicncy. A. the district school tax
cannot be levied except for rcpairs aud
fehOOl Furnishings, anu not for tuition.
The statute cutting down the
rate 81 taxation for county
purposes Ii also u blow 10
the smaller counties, ma q three
mill tax does not give sufficient revo.
nue 10 meet the current expenses,
Washington county Il better situated
than several Others Of the amaller coun.
tics, aud the revenue for county pur-
poses ia In round numbers 5000 ltwo
thousand dOllars). Now II the law
could be nmendod so that the county
courts could have power 10 establish
the rate OF a county tax not 20 exceed
4iN mills, we would he greatly benefited
by the change, and the larger counties
could assess ~ low rate ~ they
deemed for their best Interests.
Thanking you for your kind consld.
GRAFTON, ! ali, -ir,
Yours 10 command,
FRANCIS h, nAGGErr,
Probate Judge.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

BHioirA't Cur Utah, Dec, =, 1871.
Hon. Ar;hur l.. Thomas, Governor Of
mhi
Dear Sir Replying to your of the 18th
ihH'',N say ihat IL ismuch easier to lind
a lhult than to suggest q remedy. In this
county we und collecting taxes on tran.
Siioiy herds attended with much din.
Guilty On account u tho vast area of thinly
settled country, which renders securing
payment almost impossible; aud 40 far "a
we are clncurnoi, Tthlnk that an as,os,.
moul- on this class NJ properly should DO
returned for collection 10 tho county tn
which NE owner resides, and tho taxes
divided ~ now prov died Tor. | nm Of tho
opinion that arbitrary as-cssinenis
should ho subject u eqtlizttiou Just q,
others ara. The burden " collecting sti.
tlsiics should, I think, DO removed from
the assessors, as the people will hardly
believe chat the required data will no liz
some way alec. lhoir taxes. hence they
glvo u grudgingly. aud In many IN.
stances, ! believe, Incorrectly. This IL
about NIL I have 10 uiipf.
Trusting that / haye complied with
your wishes, / am most rrspcifully
yours, d. =. Bum,
Assessor Bon Elder County.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

JUNCTION, Pluto county, poc. ~, len.
a. l., Thomas, Governor, U.T.i
Dear Sir-lu answer to yours ~ tho
18th would suggest that II II lies within
tho power OF our Legislature thorr ought
To be law compelling banker. ard other,
to furnish tue different assessors with Tho
amounts OF cash deposited with them by
persons In different counties, ~ tho as
SCISSORS get very small portion of such
deposits or assessment. In my opinion
section ., In chapter Kill, page Gi. laws
Of 1880, should I've stricken out, for, II A
special school tax he levied IN the dis.
trict whore tho stockman re.idos and
none i levied whore tho animals aro n.
sossed, then he does not caro- about Oh
tanning the certificate.
Shoull moro occur 10 my mind I will
write again. Yours respectfully,
Il, 4. AilEN,
Assessor and Collector, Pluto county.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12
L. D. KINNEf, Pf5bale Jnaee.
To His Exccllcncy the Governor Of
Utah Territory.

CORmNNE, Utah, Dec. 81, 1891.
Sir.-Iour esteemed favor Of theSi ut
inst. has had attention 10 the extent oi
carefully reviewing the laws men.
toned, from tins 70 time AZ I found
opportunity and but for several days
sickness would have answered sooncr.
| venture the suggestion that II the
county government bill could be 70
amended that n salary could be paid
seleclmen, II would obviate the neces.
slty Of their auditing their own bills
Tor services. IL would bo better au1 to
the Interest Of all concerned.
remember your recpmm. ndati0n 20
the last Legislative session 1881 regard.
ing salary 10 probate judge. believe
the SAME reasons apply 20 soltcimon.
End. | also suggest that IN my
opinion some legislation should be had
looking 10 the iayment Of witnesses,
jurors aud justice, Of the peace In
criminal cases. find that some VI the
counties pay the costs Of Justices, com.
missionora when actirg ~ Justices la
territorial cases, witnesses, Jurors aud
ministerial ofllcyrs IN full, romc pay
witnesses and officers only aud M am
correct, salt Lake county pay. none Of
The criminal EXPENSES anl costs all up
on the Territory ana II j. hard 10 see
how such officers can receive their fees
while In the district courts Il IL PRO.
viied for by acts providing Tor the
PAYMENT oi Jufors, etc. Char. Us, laws
$500.
Allwhich Is respectfully submitted.
| am y0ura. ETC.,
Il. T.. JOHNSON.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12
RlClIrrELD, Utah,

Hon, Arthur l.. Thomas, Governor OF
Utah:
Dear Sir-In replying to yours Of the
lslh Inst ! would say, OF suggest, the
proprieiy Of fully compiling The pro.
bate lRwsui Uhh, Hs they run through
long series, beng scattered tsr1ugh
both Of the two VOLUMES OF the present
compilation, and contain many errors,
ani are IN very imperfect condition.
u seems 10 me that the Legislature Of
Utah would bee willing, In view OF the
fact, take tho matter into the present
necessity ~ such a stop.
| would also suggest the prouriety OF
some change In the existing estray
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12


Dec. "a, lsgl.
Hon. Arthur L. Thomas, Governor Of
Utah,
Dear Sir Your honored favor of the
18Th inst. received and contents fully
noted, ! appreciate the interest lakon by
you in this direction
have one or two suggestions In regard
to our revenue laws, our present laws
Ia rcgard 10 collecting special school dis.
Irlel taxes are very complicated under
some clreun ,Iances; Cor Instance, per-
sou has stock ranging within this county,
ana thov are nov0r wintercd or sum
morod ia the county and, In some cases,
oven Iorriloryl whore the ownor resides
II Is very hard % determine where The
school district tax belongs, or n they are
subject 90 such tax; II so, 10 what district,
ls thoy move from one district To- another,
especially sheen.
ono thing think syory much needed.
l. g., grazing law Tor this Territory.
am satisfied thorc are hundreds ofdollars
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

N'''" Jam iihrrN COUNTY
ulah, Jtn 3rl. Ism
lion, Arthur J.. Thomas. Goyerpor ~,
uihh' salt Lake city. Utah: VT
" ir Slti-In answer % your 0v,- ,,
December lsth, lN1i, viii siv i'm ro,,,,t ~
lhe assessment pf properly. 1 refnr w. w
tun li'ler ptrt " Section ll.5. ia r.f,,, \,
TO the boarduf Equalization incf".sipg ", "
decreasing tho valuation NJ propertv ~,
my opinion the board shoulihRyo 8,,yas
To gid to or take from tho numbe,. u,
'tnch hss. N-ei, ns we'll ns tn inrr.',so ,,s
decrease the value. ''''' w
mere might also be- cost fixed ON alI
". nluont iaNc' or taxes that afo NOT
p'ii ON the 3tsi OF October. ''
Respectfully,
-. u. KLpNcg,
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-12

law. 10 n impossible for owners nj
-iors u recover their own on account
VI the time specified by law Tor the
sale aud the manner of advertising il
too short AMI altogether unsatisfactory.
There should be commissioners ap.
pointed 10 settle the boundary line be-.
tween SEWER and Pluto counties, M
there are important mining interests
at issue, and by 20 doing avoid trouble
resulting from taxes, assignments, etc.
Iours tniiy
u. B. KINNEY. pTOLalr ImlEn.