Semi-weekly herald., 1911-06-08
GOVERNOR SHAFROTH AND
THE NEW LEGISLATIVE BILLS

Governor Shafroth vetoed the six
ty-nine road and bridge bills which
carried an appropriation from the in
ternal improvement fund of $255, 900.
At the same time he announced that
tho bill transferring this fund TO the
state highway commission would be-
come a law. These bills were known
as the "pork barrel bills. The gov
ernor's reason for vetoing them was
that the platform on which he was
elected guaranteed that this fund
should be turned over to the state
highway commission. His act pre-
vents the several counties from get
ting individual appropriations, and
places all of this money in the hands
Of the state highway commission for
expenditure. The members of the as
sembly were tied up about ten days
on the distribution of this fund.
Governor Shafroth vetoed the land
board bill which had for its object
The payment to the leasor of state
land one-half of the increased value
of the land should it be sold at the
expiration of the lease. The bill pro
vided that if the state land commits
sion should sell leased land at the eX-
piration Of the lease, the leasor should
be given one-half the amount of the
increase in its value, the idea being
that he is entitled to this for having
developed the land. The governor
merely held that he was not entitled
to any such consideration.
Governor Shafroth has signed til,
tax commission bill. In its far-reach.
ing effects this bill is without doubI
the most important measure that was
enacted during the session. 1t pro
vides for the appointment of taN
commission of three members, by the
governor and the state treasurer. Tn,
members of the commission receiv,
1900 per year each. They are EN-
powered with all the duties of the
state board of equalization. They ar,
also given the power to investigate
1.-The values placed on local property
by county assessors. They have th'
right to increase or decrease va1ua
tions and the other county officers
must recognize their valuations in the
compiling of assessment rolls and the
levying of taxes. They are command
ed to investigate thoroughly the worl
of all county assessors at least every
two years. They are given unlimited
power with which to conduct this in
vestigation, even to the extent of sus
pending county assessors and county
boards of equalization. They are
clothed with power to appoint experts
accountants, appraisers, clerks ant
any other employees necessary to reacf
valuation ON the local and corporate
properties Of the state. In short, the
bill seeks to clothe them with al
the power now possessed by the state
board of equalization and by the sew,
eral county assessors and county
boards of equalization in the state
Not only that, but the bill declares
that the commission is hereby clothed
with all of the rights and privileges
as an individual resident of the state
! The object of the bill is two-fold. FRS
to create state house machine il
every county in the state. And sec
ond, to increase the value on loca
property. The measure will undoubt
edly be attacked on two grounds. Firs
that the legislature did not have thu
right to clothe an appointed commits
sion with all the duties of the stat,
beard of equalization and with con
trolling power over the several count!
assessors. And second, that even i
it did have the right, the appointment
of the commission should be made by
a majority vote of the state boar,
OF equalization and not by two of tn,
FIVE members.