The copper era., 1911-03-31


 one from Assessor Howe of Cochis county and one from T E. Campbell assessor of Yavapai county.
 h the minutes of the proceeding # the assessors convention no intor nation or statistics are given in sup port of the resolution passed, the min utes merely reciting that the resolu tion was introduced and passed. As sessor Howe of COchise county write to the ERA as follows:
 THE COPPER ERA, Clifton, Ari-
 zOna.
 Gentlemen: Your favor of the z7h inst. regarding resolution passed by the Arizona Assessors ( association at it's recent meeting Phoenix to hand. In reply there to will say that the basis of our resolution was:
 lst-The four years experience of individual assessors working under the bullion tax law, and
 2nd-Data and statistics accu- mulated during the four years that the law has been in force by Hon. T. E Campbell. assessor of Yavapai county, and, I believe, a member of the legislature that passed the law fixing the percent age of taxation on producing mines on basis of 25 per cent of their gross output.
 Inasmuch as Mr Campbell was chairman of the committee on 0fSg4ttions and has specialized to : a-censiderable extetffts on this par ticular phase of taxation, l would prefer, if the matter is to be dis cussed through the press, that the data and statistics be fur nished by him
 Yours very truly,
 CHAS. R. HOWE,
 Secretary Arizona Assessors Asso Assessor Campbell of Yavapai coun " writes that he is not ready at thi: time to take the matter up with the press of the territory, but promise: full information at later date. His letter says:
 THE COPPER ERA, Clifton, Ari-
 zona, MT. w. B, Kelly:
 Your letter of the 18th ult just to my attention and note your re- quest for information concerning the recent resolution passed by the assessors association of Ari- zona recommending to the legis- lature au increase in the percent age for taxation on producing mines. AS president of the asso- citation and chairman of the con- mittee on resolutions beg leave to state that it is not my desire to, at this time, take the natter up with the press; though this will be done when the time is ripe, and can assure you your paper will be among the drst to obtain such information, data and statis- tics, believing that with such data
  as we will be able to present and such assistance as [ feel we will get from the press of the territory, I hope we can count on THE Cop PER ERA, that a more uniform method of taxation will ensue and the burdens of government fall upon the large as well as the small. Thanking you for the in- terest displayed and assuring you of my sincerity, I am,
 Very truly yours,
 T. E. CAMPBELL. It appears from the correspondence cited above that Assessor Campbell some information, data, and statistics in support of his resolu- ton increasing the percentage of tax ton on the output of producing mines from 25 to 40 per cent Just what data and statistics were presented Nr Campbell does not wish to dis close to the public at this time (al he promises to do so later). The desired end to be arried at is that producing mining companies be by law to pay their just propOI tion of the burden of taxation, in the same proportion that other small and large taxpayers are con- pelled to pay. This much and no more. Mining is the chief industry of A rizona and care and consideration must be exercised that no snap con- elusion is reached and an injustice lone our leading industry of the pres ent and in future. Before the people of county, where mining is the lead Ing industry, can be expected to en- iOrse the resolution of Assessor Camp bell, more light on the subjectis is need ed. We take it for granted that MT. 7ampbell has heard both sides of the ,ase and the ERA suspends any com nent awaiting the information prom sed by him.