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

The choice OF county assessors by
election Is decricd by the board as the
browning evil of tine present statutes.
A correction recommended to be IN
corporated in the revision IS thut the
office be made appointivc, that the OF
flee may be freed from politics and that
the salaries of these officials be IN
creased It Is further suggested that
the term be Increased to four years, IL
being held in the report that the asses
surs under the present plan no more
than get their work well in hand than
their term of office expires.
Attendance ut the conventions of the
international Tax associations has
taught the members OF the board much
in the way OF tux reforms and an an
nual appropriation of $1,000 is recon-
mcndcd. to provide for three OF the
members attending this event each
year
In conclusion, the need OF an elastic
revenue law which Will meet perpetual
~ changing conditions is again en-
phasized In order to accomplish this.
all restrictions must be removed from
the legislatures taxing powers and an
amendment TO the constitution to this
effect is recommended.
GENERAL. RECOMMENDATIONS
The general recommendations. cover
ing the voluminOus suggestions con-
talned In the report and eight In
number. are as follows:
l. That II new law be enacted ere
ating n commission to Immediately re-
wise the revenue laws of the state.
.. That the laws granting counties.
cities, etc. authority to levy taxes be
amended as to the limits of the levies
they may make.
2. That the taxation plan referred to
in this report. which separates the
sources of revenue for the state and
county, be investigated and considered.
4. That subdivision II, section 25S4.
be amended to permit the board to
appoint chief clerk with n salary of
$3.50 per month and additional clerks at
So u day.
3. That the law relating to the as
scssment of net proceeds of mines be
amended us suggested in this report
g. That the law relating to county
asse ssors be changed so rs to make the
office appointive for n term not less
than four years. and that the salary be
increased.
Z. That an appropriation of $1,000 be
made to defray the expense of three
delegates to the annual conference of
the International Tax, association for
the years BILLIE.
s. That an amendment to the con-
stitution be proposed and submitted for
adoption. granting the legislature di-
rect and full power to enact laws with
reference to taxation.
RECORD GAIN SHOWN.
The total increase in assessed valua-
tions since the last report Is 500, 377 2s2.
of which over Sl4,O00000 represents the
gain In the past year: This is the heavi-
est percentage OF gain In the history Of
the state. Between the years 1902 and
1908 tho increase was nearly sl1 100000,
while the average gain per year since
1900 has been approximately s7.O00.OOO.
Tho total assessed valuation of rail-
roads In Utah Is s26,374,O37. with the
Denver & Rio Grande railroad heading
the list with a total of s9.2SS,412. The
San Pedro. Los Angeles & Salt Lake
railroad comes next with a total Of
s6,69o.4 1873 The Southern Pacific Is as
sessed Mt $4,Gl7,75a. the Western Pacific
at 81 ,06l. 055. the Union Pacific at $1542,-
3l6. and the Salt Luke & Ogden Mt
$242,5S9. Numerous smaller roads, In
Guiding the Eureka. Hills, the Salt
Lake & Mercur, the Echo & Park City,
and many others bring up the total.
The total mileage In the stnte is 2,731.
of which 2.1o2 is main trackage, and 629
Is branch tracknge.
The total assessed valuation Of live
stock Is placed Mt slO.9s3,694.
The total personal property valuation
is SOS. 1890.