Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-10-30
the QEiAinaI
H8Nm
Levi Strauss Cos
CoPPer-riveted
OVeHallS
Tn. Tn. Reduction Law.

ihSb oSSoiOh VI luo cRlBluIuTes
At the lust session OF the legislature a
law was enacted 70. a graduated reduc.
ton ut the tax rate 10 the various coun-
tiee Of the State.
Tho law provides in substance that in
counties where the rate exclusive Of the
tax for the payment Of interest upon the
bonded debt md the mnintaiuance Of a
sinking fund exceeds Sl.50 On a hum
dred dollars Of valuation the rate ehall
bc reduced not less than ten cents on
each hundred dollars until the limit Of
sl.5O is reached; and TINT thereafter the
reduction shall be at the rate OF not lCss
than live cents on each one hundred
dollars until the rate ia brought down to
90 cents on each one hundred dollars
after which he arbitrary reduction is to
cease. Their" are other provisions for
tho payment Of the floating indie btedncss
and the placing of the connties on u
cash basis, but the reduction of the tax
rate Is the leading md distinR gushing
feature Of the law the object being to
bring about M increase of property
valuations tO Whatever extent may he
necessary to offset the reduction Of The
rute.
In onr state the custom has been ca
tablishcd Of placing a low valuation
upon property Tor taxation and levying
a high rate SO as TO raise the necessary
funds, as q result q which the assess
ment rolls indicate a poverty which does
not exist. Last year the aggregate
sessment rolls was only about $4,000
600, whereas it is quite generally be-
lieved that tho aggregate wealth OF the
State - Mt least Sl00,000,o00. This
gives the state a black eye in a business
way, aud the high rate OF taxation tends
to repel capital that might othe wise be
invested III Nevada.
1t was the purpose OF the law That it
should take effect for the current year,
but owing to the delay in it's passage
the rates for 1898 had beer fixed in the
various counties before the bill was ap.
proved. Hence the reduction contem-
plated cannot begin until next year.
Tho purpose OF my present trip
through the state is to explain the main
features OF the law, so far rs explanation
may be necessary, in order that the way
may DO smoothed for the operation of
the law next year, A studied effort has
been made in some quarters to condemn
the law an advance Of my test OF it's
merits, and the State Board Of Revenue
deemed it proper that the m%eritorious
purposes OF the law should he presented
to the Revenue officers OF the different
counties and the law be fairly tried be.
fore being condemned.
The purposes sought to be attained
are undoubtedly good and beneficial.
II 10 possible that some amendments
may be required to meet special local
conditions. but the reduction OF the rate
ia 50 gradual that there will be ample
! time for such amendments ms they may
appear Ia be ssary.
! Thus far | have visited the counties Of
Esmernlda, Nye, Lander, Eureka, White
Pine and Elko. In this county there
seems to be very little doubt that the
law can be carried out to the fullest ex
tent. Here the rate for county purposes
is already within fifteen cents Of. the
minimum limit contemplated, md the
wealth aud resources OF the county
make the problem comparatively sim
pie.
In the poorer counties to the south
there is liz some feeling that 1t ma not
be feasible to continue the reduction to
the minimum as it would involve Ia
much raising Of valuations and throw
upon then. M undue proportion OF the
state tax. This, however, is u problem
Of the somewhat distant future. Al,
most everywhere ! have been met with
the assurance that IN earnest effort
would he made to comply with the re,
q%uircments Of the law next year md
NJ much longer ne possible. While
come defects have been suggested there
is n general feeling that something had
to be done IN the line OF tax reform and
that the law under consideration Is Il
step in tho right direction. Nowhere
have / encountered my captious op
position, md | have no doubt that there
will be n general compliance with In,
law next year.
. Whether The minimLim OF 80 cents II
over reached in all tho counties, (wlicl
IN some Of them would require tbirt,
years. there can 10 no question that tht
Inv il fairly tried will lead to genera
reductions OF county tax rates and
substantial raising OF Valuations. This
will be followed by n lowering OF Tn,
state rate, which in turn will great,
tighten the burden Of inequality tina
the less prosperous counties seem Il
tenr. II is, Of course, To DO understood
that IL ia not The purpose " tho law Il
, increase the amount the tux payer vii
DO required TO pay for property yalua
tionB AFRO only to he raised in proportion
r as Tho rate ia lowered.