Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-09-22
TAXATION.


boldt IS the richest county in the
State. As Il matter Of fact, Elko
must be very close in taxable wealth
to Humboldt county. but Brother
Booher is afraid to call attention to
the fact that Elko county, with her
tax roll OF between four and five
million dollars. has IA real or actual
valuation in wealth of S2O,COo,000.
The INDEPENDENT agrees with the
Silver State that taxation la Nevada
is a farce, Il bowling farce, and poor
men pay the taxes aud rich men es
cape then to some extent
Taxation, the solution of il. Is the
most Important question now con.
fronting the State government. 1t is
an actual fact that the rate is raising
slowly all over the State; that from
year To year the State rate raises;
that while there is Il decided increase
III property valuation, the rolls OF the
various counties show but a few hun
dred thousand dollars increase. What
a lie 10 go TO the world. that Nevada,
already despised, abused and laughed
at. Is raising her tax rate. l. there Il
community OH earth in which the
rate is slowly raised in which it Is
not an indication that times are bad
and prices falling?
We venture the assertion that Elko
is as badly assessed as HUMBOLDT
county, that Lincoln county is 10
better. Look at the great DcLamar
properties. the greatest gold mining
enterprise i'll the world, and assessed
at about $4,000. when they have re-
fused five millions. Let lis not mince
IGattcrs, for il we love the State OF
Nevada and her future prosperity.
taxation must be r~eadiusted.
How unw1se and foulhardy is tho
policy which would prevent the valu-
ton being raised to double it's pres.
ent amount. with the rate cut III
half. Would anyone pay more taxes?
There are signal instances all over
this State as 10 the utter absurdity
OF IL tax system. Nevada, rich,
growing. prosperous, with immense
herds OF cattle. iiocks OF sheep and
bands Of horses growing and incrcas-
ing yearly.
Let us raise the valuation all over
the State and cut down the rate: no
will be cinched, and Nevada Will
present II much more favorable as
pect before the industrial world
Silver State.
The INDEPENDENT in its comments
on the Silver State article, wherein
it boosted that Humboldt county was
the richest county in the State and
that the cash value OF the p~ropcrtv
within its borders was worth owe
S23.O0O,00D. dit call attention to the
fact that the assessors valuation Of
the same property was less than a..
100000. Ii is true that nothing WAS
said in regard 10 the wealth Of E.lko
county, but the omission WIS not,
due to fear. The object Of the INDIE
PENDENT being merely to call attau-
ton OF the people to the methods pur.
sued by assessor OF Humboldt conn.
ty in fixing the value OF property in
that county for taxation. II the Silver |
State Is correct in its figures, then
there is no escape for the assessor |
from the charge that he has not done
his duty under his official oath. The |
Charge that other assessors have done
the same does not justify him for fail. !
ing to do his duty.
The ~ISDErESDESr admits that tho
valuation Of the property returned by
the assessor Of this county is many
millions less than the actual cash val.
nc Of the property. To contend 9TH
crwisc would make il the laughing.
stock OF everybody who knows any
thing abont the actual wealth o! tic
county. II does not admit, however.
that Elko county is rs poorly assess.
ed MS Humboldt county. lis roll this
year shows an Increase OF over S3OO.-
0UO over 1898 while that OF Humboldt
county shows an increase 81 only $50.
G3i over that Of last year.
Tho remainder Of the article puh.
iishcd above meets with the approval
OF the INDEPENDENT. II every board
81 equalization in the State would dn
its tull duty under the law a great
many OF the evils complained Of by
The Silver Stntc would bc remcIicd
Year after year they have met and
nd~journced without cQuali7ing tl,e
value o; the property in their rcspcc.
tive counties, until a custom has
grown UP TINT ~ in direct conflict
with the law defining their duties. |
Scarcely a change is made in tho ns.
easement as returned by tho asscssore
Here and there mn unCancclled mort.
gage mny he added, but tho gross in.
capabilities OF tho roll are left TN.
touched. This practice is hoary with
ago throughout tho entire State.
There should TO power somewhere Ia
correct IL, or in a few years taxntion
IN Nc"Hda will 10 c~Onfscation.