Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-08-04
SHEEP.h.E||::.N ARGUE.
ON ASSESSMENT | Z ! {:
FIockmasters Again Present
Their Side TO Board Of
Equalization.
-------- ----.- 49,
DISCRIMINATION is CLAIMED.
DISCRIMINATION is CLAIMED.
same Ratio on Flocks Asked as on
Real Estate''Secrct Rate.
Also Brought Up.

The sheepmen and the state board of
eoualization had quite field day yes
& terday, In controversy over the propos-l
"a 40 per cent raise In the assess
ment in valuation Of sheep, representa-.
lives from Sanpete county occupying
the morning In argument before the
board with Wasatch taking the res
maindar of the day At adjournment
both the board and the protestants
we're Of the opinion that the statutes
covering the system, of livestock as.
sessnent were not practical and need
+ ed revision. This will be done at the
meeting of the next legislature. The
I growers seemed willing to accept an
apsessment based on 100 per cent IL
valuations were placed, as they claim
& ed. on the same taxable basis as other
assessable property. At the same time
the board held that sheep are the least
taxed OF any property, though admit
ting an appearance of straintng things
10 make the 40 per cent raise in order
TO secure return on 10 per cent of the
animals that would be rated lower on
a 100 per cent count.
Tho sheepmen explained to the board
tle difference between the government
inspectors count and that of the as
sessment boards In this way. The gov.
eminent officials counted lambs and
ALL while the assessors do not count
lambs. Moreover, 1t was claimed that
the same flocks we're counted three
times because enumerated in as many
different counties through which the
herds were travelling. "A point was
made by the protestunts that sheep in
Utah on Jan, /, are worth at most So
to $3.50 per head and at that figure
are taxed more proportionately than
any other class of property. The board
per contra, claims that sheep are
worth S4.50lto S. per mead and are the
least taxed property III the state.
Flockmasters commended also that 1T
was proper so per cent Of the sheep
should go untaxed because Of heavy
losses in some years. This argument
was offset by the board in stating that
many of the fruit raisers in this state
u had lost their entire crops through
frost, and no such provision had been
claimed that the highest loss to sheep
growers was not over 10 per cent
However, the board was ready to adj
init that a fiat raise on sheen all over
the state might work an injustice on
the small growers Whose sheep had
been counted in full and at present
date there was no visible way out OF
this dilemma. The growers then con-
tended that a fiat rate on sheep was
unjust because OF the different breeds
OF sheep and consequent variation in
values, sheen III the northern part OF
the state being worth more than those
in the southern part.
SECRET RATES.
The matter Of what was called "se-
3cret rate cutting was brought up,
sheep grazing in different counties dur
ing the year, paying part tax in each. It
was claimed that some counties made
fr,t, tr>1 ,t,1, 4.
limits during the January assessment
time. v One member of the board said
he knew of one case. where tho ASSESS
ment was only 30 per cent Of the actual
number of animals for the reason mem
toned above.
r. e. Smith was the spokesman for
Sanpete county. He called attention to
the fact. in illustration, that Main
street real estate pays in one case on
IA 5000 valuation when the property
sold for Sl,700. The Newhouse build
.inss valued at q million We're assessed
only at s125,000. On this basis, sheep at
So should be assessed at a trifle over
81 The board stated that at the date
of assessment the buildings we're un-
der construction, and not worth the
value when completed. The members
OF the board also told Mr.. Smith that
the question was not what other prop
crty was paying, but that 80 per cent of
the sheep had been escaping taxation, a.
little oversight which the board pro-
posed to readjust.
A popularity in the ethics OF assess
,nent was developed In the appearance
OF r. w. Jones, the owner Of Z, 900 head
Of sheep. Tho count for purpose of
assessment was made at 5000, and be-
cause half of the year the herd was
IN Wyoming, the assessors cut this flg-s
IRE In two. The state board failed to
View the matter In this light.
RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED.
Otto Otteson of Sanpete county pre-
sented to the board resolutions recent
iy adopted at Nanti protesting against
any raise on cattle. He held that Utah
cattle are not worth over $3.50 per
head In the herd. but was willing that
the count be 100 per cent if cattle were
rated at 81 each Members of the
4 board asked how it was that the wi
Z doW's COW WAS assessed the full
amount. while a herd of 100 head were
counted as 40. Mr.. Otteson said that
the assessors could hardly count 10
per cent of one COW without Injustice
+ to the cow. The members of the board.
however, seemed to think that the in
Justice would be on the widow. The
hearings are continuing through today.