Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-10-13
WHITTIER ARE VIZ pnrrrrxe.

Under the above caption the Reno
Gazette publishes the following.
-Simyly to call attention TO the fact
that Nevada needs a State board OF
equalization or some other power
higher than :he local boards to equal
ize assessments the Gazette publishes
the Central Pacitc's rolling stock as.
sessment in the year 1871, That year
the company paid on Sc locomotives
valued at 5000 each, or SiIS.GOO. The
locomotives then used by The com.
pany weighed * and 10 tons. In
1850 the company pays on but 30 10.
comotives valued at $1,000 or $4,000
ON engines that weigh some.
thing like 10000 pounds. In
1877 the company paid taxes on 4OA
box cars valued at S2il,2oO. This
year they pay OIL 400 cars valued at
$4,000. The value ~ the rolling
stock in 1877 was SlC0,4 SO. This year
the same company pays on SSd,O3O.-
Tie railroad company viii have
serious difficulty in convincing the
people that its rolling stock, iuclud.
ing engines and all kinds Of cars, is
worth less today than Il was twenty
two years ago. Never in is history
has 1t done the business Gyd used as
many engines and cars rs it has this
year. The engines and passenger
and sleeping coaches nov IN use are
certainly more valuable than those
III use IN 1877. The are valued at IL
less figure for the purposes OF taxa
tion, but when i; Is necessary to float
more bonds, up goes the value On all
the property belonging to the com.
pIny, and the bonds are a5aiei. The
other taxpayers follow in the wake of
tho railroad and the result is 4 rate
OF taxation for State and county pur.
poses that binders the growth and
development OF the State.
This condition Will continue so
long rs the present system is il.
vogue. \ power higher than the
railroad must be created that will
make the railroad company and every
other taxpayer i'll tie state pay their
proper proportion OF tie money
necessary to carry nn tie State aud
county governments.
The county boards AZ equalization
have failed for years to do th,ir duty
under the law. Tie members Of
each board are possessed With the
idea that their county L.. and has
been, paying more than its just pro
portion toward deir0ylng the cx.
penses OF the State government. and
the result is that railroad and other
property, valued Il millions OF dol.
lars, has escaped taxation in each.
How much better wuull il BE for the
people OF the State and especially for
the small taxpayer, il = State board
OF equalization were created with
power to equalizs the assessment o.
all property IN the State.
The INDEPENDENT has faith enough
In the honesty and integrity Of the
people 10 believe that u S,nte board
could be elected that would do full
justice TO the railro al ana all other
taxpayers. That the ~rni!raan % not
paying taxes upon but 4 small
portion OF the valuation OF its proper.
ty Is plain to everyone that has given
the subject due consideration. Tint
other property in the Stase also es
capes taxation every year As also true
The railroad is not the only sinner b,
any mean. Every taxpayer in The
Statc, except perhaps the small far
mer or one whose worldly poscssion,
can be sized up by the assessor at I
glance, are o or less tiocured hy
the same virus. An are determine
that they will not pay any more ,aYe.
in proportion than the railroad OF
their neighbor pays. The correction
OF this evil is a problem for the mex
Legislature TO solve.
This question Is oac iltet interest.
all the people in tie stat, rut man,
schemes are being presented tcr II:
solution. In this cnauacluH sine fol
lowing extract from q spcglh deliver.
cd by Congressman Ncz lauis Tues.
day night before The Cdrson Cinmbcf
Commerce will he Of interest:
"Mr.Ncwlsndsalso took up 'le qugs,
hon OF a low tax rate AZ q means .ui
increasing settlement Ia Nevada. lie
Was OF The opinion .l,a; ihis vns o.
great Importance. Tnuany counties
the Tax rate was nearly equal 20 the
rate OF interest in ctlct States and
such a tax rate had au irrfavorable
effect upon people thinking of making
Investments in the State. lie favor.
ell piedging both parties next year to
a State levy Of 30 cents on The hun.
dred and TO the passage Of a Law lin
iting the tar rate in all coantiea. c1.
cept perhaps Storey. and possibly one
or two others. to n dollar on the
hundred, exclusive OF m,crcs, or
debt, He claimed that tins method
would result IN a uniform tax rate OF
about n and ono baW rer cent nnd
would compel IN inSscase IN the gen.
eiai assessment. u would .cnj Ia
equali7e assessments as b,tecen in
dividuals and counties end would
force on The assessmrni roll consider.
able property Ina; is DuE cscapine