The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-09
WOULD CHANCE
LAWS Of STATE
Legislation Committee of the
Commercial Club Holds a
Conference.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
ALL UTAHNS DISCUSSED
Legislature Will Be Asked to
Change Statutes Regarding
Payment of Taxes.

A meeting of the laws and legislation
committee Of the Commercial club heid
at noon Thursday resulted i'll some ac-
tive discussions, and action was taken
on some suggestions presented TO the
committee in the way OF recommend
tons 10 the next legislature for laws
which II passed. ii is declared. VIII be
of great benefit TO the business men OF
the city. The work OF the committee
will be passed upon by the board OF gov
ernors Of the club at an carly meeting
The most important matter considered
by the committee in the estimation or
the members or that committee was the
recommendation for a change OF the
law regulating the time OF paying taxes,
The laws and legislation committee sub
mitted a report TO the board of COVER
nors In which II recommends the pas
sage OF law making taxes payable
semi-annually instead of annually. 1t is
the contention among business men that
the payment Of the entire years In
stallment so near the end OF the year
causes a great deal Of money to be
centrali instead OF spreading out In
legitimate lines OF trade. The fact that
people are called upon 10 pay taxes n
few weeks before Christmas. say the
merchants causes many to forego ex-
way trade Is injured from no good cause
II is further argued that il taxes are
made payable in two equal lnstallments
in the year that there will be less de-
lnuuency,
Payment Of Taxes
law modelled on the plans of laws
in force in many states making May
and November tax-payins time, may be
the nature Of the law recomme,ndee- rec nm ,n1oe
ests directly affected by the present ar
rangement. VII not only cause larger
per cent OF tax payers to meet their
circulation TO "A better advantage. Under
that plan a tax payer may pay the en-
tire years taxes at the spring install
,ment. The contemplated law. ii is
urged will be Il measure of vital value
to the citizens III general II Is argued
this way, for instance. If property
owners taxes are 500 it will be much
easier for him TO get together 500
twice a year. with six months interren-
ing than 10 have the whole amount at
one time. In order TO be sure OF the
5000 at the end OF the year. he will
skinlp unnecessarily. perhaps Under
the semi-anuual plan OF paying taxes
the failure on the part OF the tax payer
to meet the first instalment causes the
entire years taxes TO become delinquent
and the delinquent assessment Is added
on the basis Of the whole amount Of his
taxes In that way the state does not
lose tho delinquent fine.
I1dil ICnllJ lloIsiliuS1ito
Another phase OF the law discussed by
the committee is that payment in ha.f
yearly installmen,s shall be optional with
a charge Of per cent where the lasI
payment Is delayed. and penalty OF :
per cent or more where payment is all
deferred until the last date for payment
The committee was urged 10 take action
90 this matter by the executive commit
lnr OF the publicity bureau OF the club.
An amendment 10 the revenue laws Will
be drafted and presented To the legisla-
tGre at the proper time.
The committee will recommend 10 the
board OF governors that law be enacted
this session Of the Legislature that will
permit the board OF county commission
ers Of each county in the state TO appro-
pirate from the general fund certain
part 10 he expended In advertising and
promotion work for the county IN which
the appropriation is made measure
OF this kind would be of material benefit
to the Manufacturers association of Utah
in getting exhibits from the various coun-
ties for the chamber OF commerce in the
Vermont building, showing up the re-
recommend the passage of such a law
and Il subcommittee was appointed 20
secure copy of the California law on
to the committee at its next meeting
two weeks hence. The California law
provides for the expenditure OF the coun-
ty's money for advertising. and one may
see page advertisements In magazines
with the county commissioners as the
proper persons to address for infcrma~
ton.
Public improvements Law.
Another act OF the committee was TO
report favorably on the necessity for the
enactment of a new public Improvements
law. This act will provide that whore
city improvements in the way OF paving
a street arc 10 be made. that the prop
erty owners shall stand the entire cost
OF the Improvement including the inter
sections OF street crossings, The pres