Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-12

MANY PROVISIONS OBSOLETE
Increase in Utah's Taxable Valuation
lii Last Decade Has Been APP
proximutcly $S0,G00,00O

That Utah's tax laws are wholly in
adequate to meet the requirements of
her rapidly progressing commerce and
that these laws should be rcinodelcd
from beginning to end Is the burden OF
recommendations contained in the BIZ
onnal report OF the state board of
equalization, which has been filed with
the governor.
In more clearly setting forth the nee
cssity of such revamping if Utah is To
retain her place among the more pro-
gressvc states of the Union. eight gen
cral recommendations are made and be-
meath each of these, n volume of su2-
gestions for provisions of the revised
law are given.
In the decade just coming to a close.
the increase in Utah's taxable valuation
Gas been approximately SSo.ooo.ooo. This
Increase is yearly SURPRISING that of
the years previous and the advance
of the present year over 1909 has been
sl4O04, 207. The present total assessed
valuation is s1S6.25a,255. which places
the state in the front rank. with Il per
tbIlIti dSStSSt'i NiiuNtibIl " tppi'N-
iinately $500.
First of the suggestions made, under
the recommendation that n new law he
enacted creating commission to i'm
mediately revise tho revenue laws OF
the state. is that the status of the state
would be greatly benefited If the tax
levy Is reduced in proportion. to tho
increase in valuations: that the mini
mum levy for revenue be maintained
pn IN n hrip on 90
about. such legislation should bold the
earliest attention of the law makers at
the coming session OF the legislature.
Economic conditions, never sta
tiouary under any circumstances. have
been altered in Utah more than in any
state In the Union. according to the
report and to meet the sltuation i'm
mediate revision of the revenue laws Is
urged \ taxation commission Is nee
cssury to make these changes and the
appointment OF sucli n body is suggest
cd to the legislators who will convene
in the coming month.
OBSOLETE PROVISIONS.
Pointing out many Instances in which
the states tax laws are SO obsolete as
to be ridiculous. their relation to public
utilities is referred to and the necessity
of immediate reconstruction of this
y
emphasized The amassing of such
properties In certain counties and the
almost total lack of them In other
counties renders tax distribution I'M
equal to an absurd degree.
The public utility tax laws of Kansas
and those OF California are held UP as
models in the report OF the board and
1t Is suggested that they be used AS
examples In the matter of reconstruct
ing the Utah laws. The tax from pub
lie utilities in these states goes to the
state and the counties. in return. are
FREQ from the burden OF state main
tenance. a COMMISSIONS recommend
ed. to study the more advanced statutes
bearing on this subject with the idea
of adopting what is tried and found best
In other states.
out the several counties, the board Is
not tlinid in its criticism OF tho existing
statutes The notable lack OF uniformi-
ty throughout the counties, declares the
report. works q hardship on tho state
Mt large, and should therefore be cor
rcctcd at once. County assessors are In
no way blamed by the board. since the
right Of each county to adjust its own
matters of equalization Is given under
the present statutes and In this matter
the. counties work absolutely indcpend-
cnt OF ana out of harmony with each
ether Because of this fact. the board
finds it impossible to arrive MT an ac-
curatc estimate of the total valuation.
More definite legislation governing
The assessment against the net output
OF mines is referred to as an Immediate
necessity. Under the statutes at pres
ent obtaining. no provision Is made by
which the board can investigate the
net proceeds of mines not controlled
and operated by corporations and to
the end that this be rcctined, the board