The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1911-01-28
Governor Oddie' $ First Message
An Able State Paper Advocating Retrenchment in Ex-
pendtures and Suggesting New Laws--Document
Is Receiving Most Favorable Comment
Throughout the State

A synopsis OF Governor Oddle's mes
sage submitted to the Legislature last
week, follows:
To Cmfad Expenses
There are q number Of instances
where unnecessary expenses can be
curtailed and useless expenditures alb
olished, resulting in q substantial saw
ing to the State.
Oppressioe Taxafion
There is q general complaint that
the burden OF taxation is oppressive.
This may be relieved to q greater ex-
tent than 10 generally realized by a
more Just and uniform system of tax
alton than that now in force; by the
stimulating Of the agricultural and in
dustrial development of the State. thus
increasing the amount OF taxable prop
erty, and by . pruning Of all useless ex-
penditures both in the State aud county
governments. Il is q matter of com.
mon knowledge in certain counties
that the salaries and fees Of certain Of
fcials amount to an exorbitant income
for the services rendered.
Reduction of State Expenses
That q joint committee of the two
Houses be appointed to investigate the
ways aud means of reducing State ex-
penditures and to report by bill all
A. ha nH fad xuif
out impairment to the public service.
State Finances
The report of the State Controller
shows an increase for the last fiscal
year of nearly $4,000, 900 in the valua.
tion Of property subject to assessment.
At the present rate OF taxation on the
same. together with the States other
miscellaneous sources of revenue. the
receipts Of the State Government are in
round numbers about $1,000. 900 per an
mum.
Nevada has no outstanding indebted
ness, other than to itself. while the gen.
eral Government and other States pay
into our treasury interest upon more
than one and one-half millions Of dol
lars loaned by the State. We can look
into the future with the assurance of a
steady increase in property valuations,
aud in new sources from which the
State can derive its support.
State Expenditures
The expenditures of the State Gov
ernment for the fiscal year 1910. aggre-
gated 81, 1,04S. l32. 90. of which si60. 900
was for the purchase and redemption OF
Nevada State bonds. At the beginning
of the present fiscal year. there was
net balance in the State treasury OF
$590, 0,03597 after deducting all out
standing warrants. AS compared with
previous years the net balance on Janu.
ary /, 1909. was s7a9. .645.77. aud on jan
uary l. 1910. 1884. 542.11.
Mines and Mining
The production of precious metals in
Nevada discloses the satisfactory fact
that in the last three years there has
been an increase of over 100 per cent in
the value Of the refined product. In
1908 the gross value was under $i5. .000,-
0O0; for the year 1909 approximately
$25. 200. 900, and for the year 1910. about
$30. 900. 900.
The public revenue derived from the
taxation of the net proceeds of the mines
has increased from about 500. 900 in
1908. to over 1926. 900 in 1910. The con-
tinued development of mining proper.
ties and the erection of new quartz
mills. reduction works and smelters in
dicates that the maximum productions
Of our mines has in no wise been reach
ed, but that, for some years TO come at
least, there will be steady increase in
the production of gold. silver. copper
and lead.
State Tax Comnaission
The Legislature has not been success
ful. to date. in providing measure to
carry that provision of our constitution
Into eject which declares that there
shall be "a uniform and equal rate of
assessment and taxation" aud "a Just
valuation Of all property. real, personal
and possessory."
The burden Of taxation is unequally
distributed, falling proportionally heavi-
est upon the small freeholder. whose
property Is obvious, and least upon cer-
tain kinds Of property the existence or
valuation Of which is not so obvious.
This subject is one of the most i'm
portant to which the Legislature can
address its attention.
Nsw LaDs Recommended
The repeal Of the Act creating the
State Board Of Assessors, and the Act