Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1909-01-22
GOVERNOR D7CKERSON'S
PLAIN TALK

AS some of our readers may not see
Governor Dickerson's message, we give
space to those portions of it relating to
the state board of assessors and reduc-
tion of taxes. 1t is plain talk:
STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
"The present method of fixing taxa
bic valuations on property in Nevada is
eminently unsatisfactory, unequal and
unjust. The evident purpose of the law
was to make the valuations on all prop
erty of like character, uniform throuh-
out the state and to So cqualize the val
uations that the burden of maintaining
the government, state, county and
municipal, will fall alike upon all classes
of property. In theory, the law is
excellent; in practice, IL farce.
Tt is made the duty Of the assessors of
the various counties of the state to fix
the valuations, in meeting assembled
as Il state board of ;lssessors. 1t is also
made the duty of this board to fl the
valuations on all classes of property at
the actual cash value of the property.
There is nothing to Indicate that the
state board Of assessors has ever made
the slightest effort to determine the
actual cash value of the different kinds
of property upon which it has fixed
valuations. IT it has been in possession
of the facts regarding the actual cash
value OF railroad properties in this state
1t has contemptuOusly disregarded them
and has been guided entirely by clprice.
- In support Of this assertion call your
attention to the proceedings of the
annual meeting of the state board of
assessors held in this city Januray 11-12,
l909. AT the meeting figures were
submitted to Che board, taken from the
sworn statement of Mr.. G.. B. Seger,
auditor for the Southern Pacific and
Central Pacific Railway companies,
showing the actual cash value of the
Central Pacific railroad in Nevada to be
$l46,036 .73 for each mile of road: that
, on this valuation the Southern Pacific
Railway company, lessee of the Central
Pacific railroad, earned TO- 40 per cent
interest for the year ending June 30,
1907. In the face of these facts, which
were not disputed by the Southern
Pacific Railway company's representa-
tive, present ut the meeting. the board
fixed the valuation of the Central
Pacific railroad at $4,000 per mile, or
1850 percent sqf the actual cash value
of this property. At the same meeting
the valuation OH stock sheep was placed
ASSOC per head, practically the full
cash value, the valuation on beef cattle
and milk COWS was placed ut $25. 90 per
head, or 10 per cent of the actual cash
value. Other kinds of property were
valued at from 60 per cent to 100 per
cent of the cash value. Why n railroad
company earning an interest rate of 10
per cent per annum should b1 required
to pay taxes on only 1850 per cent of
the value of it's property while the stock
man and business man, regardless of
whether his business is being conduct
ed at profit or at loss, must pay
taxes OH GO per cent to 100 per cent Of
his property, the state board of assc ,sors
may be able to explain ! cannot.
am convinced that the state board
of assessors is not only of no benefit TO
the state, but is II positive injury in
stead. 1t has uniformly Disseminated,
IN fixing valuations, in favor of the
great corporations and thrown the
burden of maintaining the government
upon those least able to bear it, the