The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-18
THORNLEY, BILL AIMS
At INHERITANCE TAX
State Treasurer MattsOn Ex-
presses Himself Upon Pro-
posed Legislation.

House bill No. 200. which was intro
duced in the house by Mr.. Thornley,.
THURSDAY will materially reduce the fees
received by the state from the inheritance
tax, if passed,
Under the provisions OF the measure.
all property in excess of $4,000 is made
subject TO this tax, the present law fixing
the amount at "1n 900. Again the pres
ent law provides for a tax of per cent,
while the proposed law provides for only
| per cent.
The bin will. If passed, according
virtually make nil the fees re-
seures ee,Tea -rGo by 30, the state FROM from this
hers. Mr.. Mattson asys. to about $4,000
a year, according 10 the way the fees
have been coming in during the past few
because the s per cent per annum
charged along with the tax after the fees
are hfteen months overdue Is figured
lected. Some heirs. Mr.. Mattson says.
rather than settle up the he entire amount amount
OF the tax when il is due.
The passage of such a law as that"
said Mr.. Mattson. would almost kill
the benefits at present accruing from the
inheritance tax. The greater. number Of
In this state. are between $4,000 and
$4,000. and, at any rate, the ! per cent
feature OF the bin would make it hardly
worth while 10 collect the tax.
1T must be remembered too. that
there are a large number OF industrial.
commercial and financial institutions do
throughout the entire country. which are
working under the incorporation laws OF
this state AS a result OF this. In case
OF the death of stockholders in any of
these companies, whether the deaths oc-
cur In New York City. San Francisco or
any other city, Utah Is entitled to an
inheritance tax as provided for by the
existing laws. To this fact is due much
OF The revenue realized by the state from
such tax. and it must surely be admit
ted that even SI5.0Oo a year is not to be
lightly considered by this or any other
state. One can readily see what a cut a
reduction Of 4 per cent would make in
the revenues from the tax There are AT
present several large fortunes on which
The state is reckoning its Inheritance
tax.
Though the estates left by the ultra
wealthy are often verv great. the ma
lority OF local inheritances taxed run
from $4,000 to $4,000. and | can see no
reason why the latter amount should be
made the minimum for taxation. II we
The leeislat ture is already running
ahead of its revenues in the matter OF
appropriations: or at least, wondering
where it is going 10 make good its prom
ises To the people. and now il looks to
me as though 1t is giving thought to
cutting OF one OF its important sources
was not drawn up by anyone with the
best interests of the state at heart. and
] believe that Mr. Thornley, did not real
ize just what effect the passage OF
such a bill would have. II IL were passed.
or that the trainers OF the bill II friends
OF Utah. did not know just what they
were about.
The inheritance tax provision. as it
stands AT present is something that
should not be tampered with II has
stood the test OF law, has been proved
effective, and is generally conceded to
he. by those who know. Just what Is
needed to cover conditions in this state