La Junta tribune., 1899-08-02

whose duty II Snall De 10 IeItet out
after July Ist all persons and prop
erty which have not been listed,
giving the inspector large per
cent for all property thus brought
to light, which commission I'd be
added to the taxdodger's tax. D
Revise assessment of mining prop
erty which now escapes its just
taxes.
AS to reducing expenditures;
first, reduction of the exhorbitant
salaries, including the salaries Of
officers OF the state institutions;
second. economy in the running
expenses of all the state institutions
which can be made in the pur-
chase OF supplies by open unre-
stricted competition. A rigid and
uniform system of auditing and ex-
amining the accounts OF all the
state institutions and all the state
departments, by special and COM
petent board will reduce the outlay
to minimum. l am opposed to
granting any greater power to the
state board of equalization. The
sole duty of this board should be
to equalize in order that assess
ments should be uniform. 1t
should not assess any property
whatever; for then, as board of
equalization, it possesses the ridic-
ulous function OF reviewing its own
acts.
There should be an appeal from
the county assessors and from the
state board to the court OF appeals
or supreme court, to adjudicate
any inequalities between the
counties (not Individually, or in
the state boards assessments; and
it should be the duty of the attor-
ney general to prosecute such ap-
peal at his discretion or upon com
plant, on behalf OF the state. He
should, therefore, not be member
of the state board. am opposed
to the Limit of County Levy
Law" unless the state boards au-
thority to assess railroads is re-
pealed. This law was instigated
by the state board to compel all
other taxpayers, except railroad,
telegraph and telephone companies
to pay more taxes. This is unjust
and the people are opposed to it
let the people vote upon IT, if you
don't think so. A maximum levy
should be fixed for no other pur-
pose, save to lessen taxation. But
What was this law demanded for?
Exactly the reverse. The taxpay-
ers did not demand it. The state
board of equalization, the railroads
and the boodlers who wanted to
raid the state treasury, are the
only ones who demanded it. 1t is
failure and it should be. 1t
should be repealed if the state
board continues to assess railroad
property.
AS to new sources OF revenue, i
suggest an inheritance tax, an in
crease in the insurance tax, an in
corporation tax or bonus on the
authorized capital on all new cor
porations and on the authorized
increase OF the capital Of those ex-
isting, an annual franchise tax up
on the capital stock Of corpora
tions for profit at fixed rate, a
license tax on places Of amuse-
ments, shows, museums, theaters,
billiard tables, shooting galleries,
peddlers, travelling doctors, fakirs,
ETC., etc.
1t is not SO much question Of
new sources of revenue as 1t is q
question of rigid, healthful econ
omy in spending the taxpayers
money, and securing full assess
pent of all property, fairly and
uniformly, thus distributing the
burdens of government with justice
to all. u : II - s. VI.
At the extra session commits
sion should be created composed
OF the best men in the state to re-
4 q l.