, 1902-12-18
STATE AUDITORS REPORT.

% Hon. Leroy Grant, state auditor. has
hled his report with the governor. 1t
is a handsome document of I2l pages.
containing statistical information of
the anairs of his Office and much in re-
iation to the state board of equaliza-
ton. 1t is the most comprehensive
publication of the kind ever issued in
the state. Statistical tables are prosy
and cannot be reviewed in the scopc
OF an article of this nature. but the
auditor has presented some recon-
mendations that will interest the peo-
pie OF the entire state. They are ap-
pended:
Il desire to renew the recommended
tion made by this office in the last
preceding report. with reference to the
taxation of express companies and
other common carriers. At the last
session of the legislature, a bill cover
Ing the taxation of such companies
was introduced. but failed to become
a law. 1t seems as though some leg
islation along this line should be en-
acted. which would provide for the
taxation of the franchises of such cor
porations.
During the past two years. a com.
paratively new class of associations
have attempted to establish a new
business in this state. In most instan-
ces. these associations or ~organiza-
tons are unincorporated, and are CO.
partnerships, issuing contracts for
oan and promising a home to the in
weston. at the end of maturity. The
contracts mature in the order in which
b individuals become members, the
first contract issued maturing first,
and SO on. in regular numerical order.
These organizations do not possess
the stability and reliability Of Build
ing and Loan Associations, for the
control Of which the state has enacted
laws. providing certain requirements.
The Building and Loan Association
laws Of this state do not contemplate
the control of co-partnerships, and it
is respectfully suggested that some
legislation be enacted which will place
these associations under the control
Of the Insurance department. provid-
ing for an examination of their fnan-
cial condition before being admitted
to transact business within the state;
and providing that they shall file sworn
statements OF their condition, annually
paying therefor a fee, the same as now
required of Building and Loan asso-
Citations.
1.-THE following recommendation. re-
lating to the taxation and evenue laws
Of this state, is made by the State
Board Of Equalization and should re-
ceive the consideration of the legisla-
ture at its coming session. 1t is in
cluded in this report for the reason
that the report of the Board of Equal
ization is not printed, and it is desired
that it be given as wide a circulation
as possible through the State Auditors
Report:
From reliable sources of informa-
ton and after a thorough investigation
Of the matter the state board OF equal
ization finds that there is not less than
two hundred millions Of taxable pro-
perry in the state. while there is only
$43, 34S, $4,000 worth returned for taxa.
ton.
I'VE find that the several classes of
property taken as a whole and COM
pared with all the property in the state
are assessed about as follows:
Live stock, one-ifth of its total
value in the state.
Land one-fourth of it's total value
in the state.
Merchandise. one-tenth of its total
value in the state.
Railroads, one-fourth of its total
value in the state.
Moneys and credits, one twelfth of
its total value in the state.
All other property. one-fourth Of
its total value in the state.
I'VE find a great difference between
the several counties in the valuation
of the same classes of lands.
I'VE find that some are assessed
with all the property they own, while
others r assessed for a very small
proportion of what they own. SO that
taxation is not equal.
IF all the property in the state was
assessed, each class of property could
be put OF an equal footing with any
other class of property, the rate OF tax
levy reduced and the burden of taxa
ton would then be equitably borne by
all; and as a further result, those who
now escape their just share and those
who now bear more than their just
share would be equalized.
1--WE, therefore, most earnestly urge
and recommend that the coming legis-