White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-22
Continued from page one.)

based, is responsible for The finding
of extraordinary Importance to oui
industrial development and economic
welfare.
The saving to the people of this
state by such reduced freight ratef
is practically equivalent to the rev.
enue derived from taxation for the
support OF the state government.
It was developed in the hearing
that Nevada Is no longer a bridge
An unproductive territory across
which the Central Pacific railroad
runs with practically no business be-
tween It's Utah and California ter
minals.
II was, on the contrary, establish
ed that, of the volume of business OF
the Central Pacific railroad for the
fiscal year 1907, o%ne-third of its
eyenue was derived from passenger
and freight traffic originating or ter
minating in Nevada or interstate,
while on the showing of the selected
months OF February, 1903, 81 per
cent of the revenue derived from the
west bound transcontinental freight
business on the Central Pacific rail-
road was from such Nevada business,
and but 46 per cent was on freight
which passed through the state.
Moreover, of the volume of pas
senger business for such selected
months, 80 per cen originated or
terminated In Nevada or was intra-
state as against 6S per cent which
passed through the state.
These findings caused Commission
er Lane to remark that while Ne
vada traffic may at n time have
been negligible. such Is no longer the
case 1t Is to be understood, how
ever, that these figures are not gen.
eral for the entire business of the
Central Pacific system, but the COM
parison Is made with the relative
portions of the through freight and
passenger service which is properly
applicable to Nevada.
The work of the Nevada commits
sion has been extremely beneficial In
adjusting freight and passenger rates
on other lines in the state and their
Investigations and records have serv-
ed as the basis for a rational deter
mination of the valuation of the va
rious roads for assessment purposes.
state Tax Commission.
The legislature has not been sue
cessful, to date. In providing a
measure to carry that provision OF
our constitution into effect which de-
clares that there shall be "a uniform
and equal rate Of assessment and
taxation" and "a just valuation OF
all property. real, personal and pos
sessory.'
The state board of assessors act
has not solved the problem. Few
citizens of the state can be persuad-
ed that the present system of tax
alton and of determining property
valuations results In any uniformity
In the appraisement of similar kinds
OF property In different counties or In
any relative uniformity between diff
ferent classes and kinds Of property.
The burden of taxation is unequal
ly distributed. falling proportionally
heaviest upon the small freeholder.
whose property is obvious, and least
upon certain kinds of property the
existance or valuation OF which Is
not 30 obvious.
This subject Is one of the most I'M
portant to which the legislature can
address its attention. ! am conyinc-
ed that were the requirements of the
constitution met by a practical mea-
sure, II will result in a marked rela-
tive increase In the value OF u tax
able property as a whole. and thus
permit a substantial reduction of tax
rates, state and county. Moreover,
by equalizing the burden of taxation,
those who under the existing system
of appraisment pay an undue proper
ton OF the cost of maintaining gov
erment will be Afforded relief.
New Law Recommended.
/ urgently recommend the repeal
of the act creating the state board OF
assessors and of the act creating the
office of state license and bullion tax
agent, and that a bill be passed or
the following general nature:
First-Providing for a state tax
commission, and bringing the states
entire revenue system within the con-
THERE GOV. MESSAGE -. $3.50.
troll, examination and review OF such
commission. Making the governor,
the lieutenant governor. the state
controller. the attorney general ana
the three members of the Nevada
railroad commission, ex-oficio mem
bers thereof, with the governor as
chairman; and providing for the APP
pointment of a state fiscal agent. who
shall be secretary of the commission
and perform such duties as the COM
mission directs.
Second-Empowering said COM
mission, by majority vote, at stated
sittings, to fix the valuation on GER
tain of property, such as is now fixeo
by the state board of assessors.
Also empowering said commission
to raise or lower the assessment valu-
alton of any class or kind of property
in any county or the valuation on
any particular piece of property, In
whole or In part, In any county, In