Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-11-15
TURN ON The LIGHT"
In NEVADA

oAN o1LCStCo Xix
Governor to appoint some person, d
resident Of the State OF Nevada, a Stat.
License and Bullion Tax Agent, whose
term OF office should be two years, and
whose salary was fixed at $4,000 per
annum, and $500 was allowed for travel
ing expenses.
james Neven, u close personal fuenu
Of Governor John Sparks, but a mai
who had never previously held a public
Office, was chosen for the place.
This is one Of the most important,
offices in the State, as the Bullion Tax
Agen. comes in direct contact with I'll,
Assessor, Sheriff, District Attorney and
County Commissioners in every count,
III Nevada, and hs privileges in the ex.
animation OF tile various county officers
books aro not subject to discussion.
Section two OF the statute creating
hat Office, IN defining the duties OF tina
officer, says:
ut shall be the duty of said Stat.
License and Bullion Tax Agent to III.
quire into and report in writing ever,
haS thOhthF vi III oINcu lis hue COUOl-
tons in any county show the necesslt.
OF a report, to the sheriff, district attor-
ney and boarI Of county commissioners
o. each county in this State the names
OF each person OF persons, company,
corporation or association carrying ON,
conducting or managing any business in
heir respective counties, subject to .ht
payment Of State or county licenses US
required by the laws OF this State, anu
to see that the came are collected anu
paid INTO the State and couuties rs the
law direct"
Section five Ii very specific in outliu-
ing the duties Of the Bullion Taz Agent
That clause reads as follows:
at shall be the duty OF said Stat.
License and Bullion Tax Agent to ex
ANNA into and report to he State Con-
trolier and the Assessors OF their reepec-
tive counties the condition OF the various
mines and mining companies producing
the ores and metals in this State, in go
faI us the product Of the same is subJec
10 taxation for State and county pur-
poses, and the amount OF reveuue de-
rived the ~refroin, and to this end is here
by authorized to demand nm inspection
OF the books or records OF any person OF
persons, company, corporation o; assOci
alton carrying on, conducting or mHnag.
mg any mine, naming claim or mining
property - this State, the object {. this
section being to ascertain the actual
cost OF mining, transportation and RS
%iuction OF ores taken from the mines nj
this State and the amount Of taxes paiC
OF payable thereon
Has Mr.. Neven complied with til.
requirements OF the provisions Of ,lm
foregoing section? Speaking for Eureka
County, We answer 40, He has been III
Office about W. years and Il half and
during that time he has never vlsited
Euroka's county seat either officially or
othe wise.
The last report male by the late
Auditor Rolf disclosed some startling
Irregularities. Among two OF the most
not being promptly collected, and
further that the State was losing at least
s35 COO a yearIfrom the failure to collect
liquor licences.
The Sentinel docs o know nf my
such Irregularities as referred to above
existing among Eureka County's officers
That is a matter Tor Mr.. Maven to ascer.
tain. But what We do know is that
there is u State officer who bas been
appointed by Governor Sparks and who
receives yearly 500 q month and travel
ing expenses to attend TO the collection
OF bullion and other taxes; is supposed
to visit the varion connties and see that
the gaming, saloon and bullion taxes
are properly collected and that all the
places are paying the righlful amounts
that the said officer hBs neven examined
the books or Investigated officially the
affairs OF the officers OF this county aud
} has "a completely ignored Eurekt
/, County as though it were not Oh the
map.
Another instance along these lines liz
J ,iat during the session OF the last Ne,
vada Legislature, when charges against
= MIR. Neven were made TINT he was dere,
I lict in the performance OF his duties, il
!, was shown that he hHd never officially
visited Elko, the second largest and
most prosperous county in tho State.
AZ a matter OF fact, up to the present
8 time, the Sentinel has never seen d
statement that no has eince done 80.
a short time ago President itoosovelt
made II speech at Nashville, Tennessee,
y and during his address he said hr had
been charged with precipltating the
! recent financial disturbances. Ia reply
, ho admitted that no turned tho light ON
: but could not be held responsible Tor
, tho crooked conditions that the lixhl
showed.
|, Tho Sentinel believes that Governor
Sparke, who appointed MIR, Nevtn to this
important position, should "turn the
light on this matter, hich will enable
tho Taxpayers Of tho State 70 SEQ Tor
the msclvcs whether tho State License
Collector aud bullion Tax Agent If
giving value received FOR tie 900 u