The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-16

ing December 81, 1896 is estimated by
Iefrltoria Auditor Caine at 500, 000
In almost every county and municipal
Ity of the territory a deficit is also
found, which would indicate that in
addition to increased state taxes there
must be an increase in the county and
municipal taxes considerably in adj
vance of that at present collected. To
meet the deficit in state revenues and
the added expense of state government,
VIII require, by a conservative estimate,
that the present rate of territorial tax
alton alone he multiplied by three, less
whatever reduction may be made in
taxes for school purposes, which may
be reduced by the income derived from
the school land grant.
My opinion is that a system can be
devised whereby all revenue for state
expenditures may be obtained by in
direct taxation without wrong or OPP
preston to any oneg which would be
preferable to any other system.
Inc Judge goes on to point out the
principal avenues or causes of expense
IN the state government, and the
sources from which, in his Judgment,
revenue should be obtained. The first
great avenue for the expenditure of
state moneys is in the operation Of the
courts OF justice; next to this is the
school system; third, the executive de-
partment; fourth. the legislative branch
OF the government, and, fifth, the mil
ltaTy organization of the state.
Inc general sources of revenue sllg,
gested are as follows:
FIrstIThe interest on the investment
OF the purchase price of all state hands
that can be sold for $40 an acre ~,
more Ihat arising from the purchase
price OF school lands kept separate and
Us Sso LOT tnelr support only.
.n, Soecorla-Ine rentals>of all state lands
t-Oh
per acre, the school fund befng lgenf
seg par as indicated above.
In1rd-An assessment of two ,,a,
cent OF the gross earnings of am
Idllroaug including street car lines
within the state.
- fo I1a assessment of two and
one half per cent ON all interest col
lected by bankers, banking c sTT Sga-
tloll5 or loan corporations not inclu1d-
ing mutual building associations or
canned under the laws of the state
faffh-An assessment of five per
cenl OF tine net proceeds of all mines
WIGnln dhe state arising from the sale
mines.
Sixth-An annual license Of not less
than one hundred dollars per yeas
ON each wholesale or RETAIL dealer o.,
manufactures of Intoxicating bever-
ages.
seventIh-An annual license of not
less than $50 ON each corporation or
gahfzed in the state or doing business
0here1n other than railroad and bank
ing and loan corporations, and mining
corporations which pay a tax under
the fifth subdivision.
Eighth-An annual license of not
less than $50 upon each lawyer and
physician.
Ninth-A tax ITO be paid upon each
n;
less than $500.
Tenth-Ali fines and forfeitures re
covered in caISes of felony or upon
bonds forfeited I'm cases OF felony.
1t is not my intention an this paper
to FURNISH AN estimate of revenue THAT
would be derived from these several
SOURCES. In either words 1 DO not pro-
pose TO submit "a, budget to this asso-
citation. The rates L have Indicated
in. a constitutional clause ought not
TO be aTibi'trary but Within a given
range-the taxing or assessing power
should be given a discretion. Ihe
rates suggested are those that accord
ing TO estimates made by me would
afford ample revenue for all state
purudses after the second year of our
existence as a state. During the for
NATIVE period, say the first Two years,
a small direct tax should be permlGued
to meet any deficit THAI 1ndent aT'lse
The judge then goes on 70 demon,
strate the business of this mode, of
raising revenue, and concludes 'py sIal-
ing that with a, reasonable discretion
allowed to the assessing power within
limits ito be fixed by the constitution,
it seems to me that the system here
but vaguely and briefly outlined may
be rendered perfect and the people be
relieved who are unable to pay in
creased taxation, and the burdens placed
.,.,;a.
society which are best able to bear it,
which cost the greatest outlay, and
which at present pay propOrtionately
the least government expense"