Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-04-07

a suicidal policy to control his business
affairs; and it is safe to assert that the
system of Issuing warrants with which
to pay for supplies, construction, etc.
Of public institutions, costs the terri
tory annually, on account of increased
prices required to be paid MANY thou
sands OF dollars.
Ali public institutions should be pro
vided by taxation with fund for theli
maintenance, and il is stated by CONF
petent authority that enough interest
is being paid annually upon the float
ing debt to maintain the official ma
chinery Of the territory.
An attempt was made during the
Twentieth Legislature tic pass Il Law
requiring a special tax levy for the
maintenance Of the territorial prison
so as to relieve the necessity 81
large drafts upon the general fund and
the payment of such heavy inter st
charges upon the cost of maintenance
of that institution. A prominent mem
Der explained his opposition to the
measure by saying that he did no;
propose to support bill to tax the
people and put the territory OH a cash
basis because by 50 doing he would
be strengthening a republican admin
istraticn. The Question is not 81 Pc
Ntical one, and such a-partisanship
is virulent poison to the welfare OF
Arizona.
The financial affairs of counties are
similarly mismanaged, to a compare
tive d,gree, and yet this entirely in
excusabie policy will continue as long
as the present faulty revenue system
remains uncCrrected, and the good p0t-
tons of existing laws are not properly
executed.
II is conceded to be much easier to
diagnose a disease than to prescribe
ti0nally fortunate in the possession OF
great taxable wealth, and fer that
reason the problem is not difficult.
Correction of the revenue laws, their
proper execution In the assessment and
collection of taxes, together with in
telligent official manage ment, will cure
every evil Attention i; invited to the
following quotations fr pm the revenue
laws, revised statutes If 1887:
Section 2631 The term real eS-
tate whenever used in this act shall
be taken to mean and include the own
ership of, or claim to, or possessions Of
or rigkt of possession tC any land
within the territory; and the claim by
possession of any person, firm, corpo-
ration, association, or company to any
land shall be listed under the head Of
real estate, provided the term land as
used in this section, shall not be so
construed as to include mining Gains,
either lcde or placer; 80
Section 1882. All taxable property
must be assessed at its full cash value,
the term cash value whenever used
in this act shall mean the amount at
which the property would be taken in
payment of a just debt due from a SOL
vent dsbtor. Land, and improvements
hereon, shall be separately assessed"
Section 1858. Shares of stock in a
corporation possess no intrinsic value
over and above the actual value of the
property of tbs corporation for which
hey stand and represent and the as
.essment and taxation of such shares
md also of the corporate property
would be double taxation and
hcrefore all property belonging
. corporations shall be as
essed and taxed, but no assessment
hall be made of shares of stock, nor
hall any holder thereof be taxed
herefor.'
Section 1851 specifically exempts
IAllIIIiS CtdIluS, either IOuG VI DldCGt,
rom taxation, and the question arises,
o patented mines cCme under the
cad Of mining claims" within the
Intention of the law? The. ambiguity
f this language makes conflicting con-
tructiors possible, and in some coun-
les of tbs territory mines are as
essed, and not in others; in nc local
5y, however, are they properly valued.
t is not clear why both productive
Mining claims and patented mines
rom which large profits are derived by
he owners should not contribute by
aXati0n a Just amount towards the
maintenance of the government under
7hich they thrive and are protected.
Section 1858 prohibits the assess
lent of shares of stock in corporations,
ut requires That all property belong
ng to corporations be assessed and
2Xcd. This section, when cGnside-er
n connection with s=ctian 1881 as
suatly construed, it is Claimed, en-
bles mining corporations to escape
axation altogether upon their mines,
o matter how valuable the mines may
e or how much wealth they contrib
its annually to their owners for lux
rious living or distribution in divi-
ends outside the territory. The stock
t several mining corporations in Arr
ona have a market value of many
millions of dollars; yet neither The
tcck nor the property represented by
can be assessed and taxed. This is
nanifestly unjust, and the specific eX-
mption Of mines contained in section
63l should certainly be repealed, a!
hoGgh good authorities claim that
lines can row be taxed under the law.
Sections 264O, 2641 and 2643 of the
evised statutes, as amended, read as
ollCws:
Section 264O. Between the first
Gonday in February and the first
ICnday in June in each year, the coun-
Y assessor, except as herein otherwise
equired OF the territorial board of
shall ascertain, by dill
,ont inquiry and examination, all
property in his county, real or per-
Onal subject to taxation; and also the
James of all persons, corporations.