Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1912-10-30
Injustice of the Mine
Law at Last Admitted
From Thursdays Daily

From Thursdays Daily
Even after being bolstered up by
the decision Of the Supreme Court,
the Arizona State Tax Commission,
has come TO the delayed conclusion
that the system IL followed in the
levying Of taxes on mines was wrong
and has called for a conference with
the Assessors and Supervisors Of
the various counties FOR the purpose
Of discussing the advissbility Of re-
commencing TO the next Legislature.
the passage Of an EQUITABLE
MINE TAXATION LAW"
The Commission made q howl
ing farce Of its first effort to levy
taxes; in fact the method followed
was so palpably and grossly unjust
that protest arose all over the State.
The mining counties were soaked,
but were soaked in different degrees
some being Soaked" TO the limit,
while others were favored. OF course
the patented producing mines Of
Yavapai were handed q beautiful
package and when an effort was
made by the local Board Of Super
visors to remedy the injustice done,
the State administration carried the
matter into the courts. and although
the Supervisors were sustained In
the Superior Court Of this county.
on appeal the Supreme Court deeid-
ed that the law did not mean what
Il said and the Supervisors were ord
cred TO rescind their action.
And now comes the Corporation
Commission and openly admits that
i,s method OF assessing the mines IL
far and away TO the bad. What
has caused the change Of heart Is .
ht subject for speculation. but the e.
sentisl thing il after all that the
Tax Commission realizes II cannot
make fish OF one county and fowl
Of another In the imposition OF
taxes on mines. Perhaps the Tax
Commission. whose chief duty up TO
this time seems to have been hgur-
ing out how to raise enough money
for the horde Of tax-eaters under the
Hunt administration and chiefly from
imposts on the mines Of the State
at that. realized the fact that In
reality II has no law under which
TO assess the mines, and therefore
resolved that necessity as in many
cases, is the mother of invention.
Should an EQUITABLE law be
drafted, according TO announced in
tentions. the tax problem, will likely.
be forever settled. But the Hunt
idea Of an EQUITABLE law will
perhaps be on Q par with the Hunt
conception OF duty as chief execu-
tive Of the State. when without ex-
cuse or palliating circumstances, he
in direct violation OF his oath Of Of
fee, reprieved the sentences OF four
murderers from this county. II will
be interesting therefore to learn Of
the Hunt conception Of an EQUI-
TABLE law. But that Is beside the
point right now. for even II the
Governor considers law enforcement
is in the breach, the Tax Commits
sion may in Q moment OF near-sanity,
particularly after publicly confessins
its sins and asking for dissolution for
the injustices Il perpetrased, en-
deavor to do the right thing. T'is q
contamination devoutly TO be wish
ed.
The hope Of better things and con.
fession Of guilt. are contained in let.
ters being sent out by the Tax Com
mission. the following being . copy
October 10. 1912.
Harry Heap.
Member Board Of Supervisors.
Ysvspsi County.
Jerome. Arizona.
, Dear Sir:
A conference Of the State TIA
Commission with the County Assess
ors and members Of the Board o
Supervisors Of the several minini
counties Of the State. together will
Representatives Of producing mines
will be held a. the once Of the Com
mission In the Capitol at Phoenix OF
October 20. 1912. At nine o'clock q
:, m. for the purpose Of discussing tn
;, advisability Of recommending to tn
next legislature the passage Of Al
y equitable mine taxation law.
!. Your attendance At this meeting
!" earnestly desired. Kindly advise u
whether OF not we may expect yot