The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-11-04
CHANGES PROPOSED IN
STATE CONSTITUTION
They Are Eight in Number
and Cover Important
Legislation,
EXPLANATION IS MADE
Voters May Investigate Them
and Then Pass on Them
at Polls.

| = OIOWlng are the clGhl pIoPoeeu
amendments 70 tho state constitution
to be voted on tomorrow. They are set
out and explained in such manner that
they Will he easily understood and
voters Will then be in position TO act
intclliccnily upon the propositions;
QUESTION Members of the state
legislature now receive 81 per day and
10 cents mileage each way. This is the
| limit allowed bv the constitution.
The amendment provides that they
shall receive IS per day and 10 cents
| mileage each way until otherwise pro.
| yIdcd by law.
QUESTION 2-rhc constitution now
provides that amy city or town may IN
| cur indebtedness not exceeding per
cent of the assessed value of it's TAX.
able property, for the purpose Of sup
| plying water, artificial lights or sewers,
when the works therefor arc owned and
controlled by the municipality.
The amendment authorizes cities OF
the second class (having less than 20.
| 600 inhabitauts) and cities of the third
| class. and towns. TO incur indebtedness
not exceeding : per cent of it's assessed
valuation for said purposes The change
| IS from ! to : per cent and the amend
menr does not affect Salt Lake City.
The indebtedness for said purposes
| under the present constitution and un.
| der the amendment can bc incurred
| only by 4 majority vote of qualified
electors, who must be taxpayers, voting
az an election on the question Of incur
ring such debt.
| QUESTION 3-Tnc amendment pro
vide5 for thc formation of new counties
from territory OF existing counties,
| when a majority Of the qualified cleo
! tors voting i'm the territory TO he cut
of. and also III the territory remaining,
| shall vote separately for tho formation
of such new county.
QUESTION I-The constitution now
provides that tho state treasurer shall
| be the custodian of public moneys.
The amendment provides that the
pubic moneys shall be deposited by the
treasurer under the supervision of tho
| board OF examiners, The board under
| present law IS composed Of the COVER
| nor. secretary of state and attorney
| general.
! IT should be noted that this amend
meut Will probably relieve the state
! treasurer under his bond from liability
for loss Of state funds 50 deposited.
QUESTION 5-The constitution now
| prohibits the legislature from exempt
inc any property from taxation. 1t
also provides that property shall be
taxed in proportion 10 its value. The
| legislature must also provide an annual
tax, sufficient TO pay the state debt. If
any, within twenty years from the pas
sage OF any law creating the debt
The amendment authorizes the lcgis
/ lature to provide for exemptions from
taxation. 1t also eliminates the provi
sion that property must be taxed in
proportion 10 it's value it requires the
legislature to provide for the payment
! Of the state debt only before it becomes
due. and not by tax to be levied an
nually.
This amendment would enable the
legislature TO exempt classes OF prop
ertv or property Of classes of persons
or corporations from taxation,
QUESTION 6-The amendment pro
vides for the appointment OF board
Of equalization consisting of four resi-
dents Of the state instead Of the state
officers now constituting such board:
aud also provides that the state board
and the several county boards shall ad
lust the valuation of the property Of
the state and Of the several counties,
instead Of the state board adjusting
for the several counties and the county
boards adjusting within their respective
counties.
QUESTION by the constitution
the legislature must provide a Uniform
and equal rate of assessment and tax
alton Of all property in the state. ac-
cordin2 TO It's value in money.
so that every person and corporation
shall paw a tax in proportion TO the
value of the property
The amendment provides that the as.
sessment shall be Just and cquita BILE, !
at the actual money value. and that
taxes shall bc uniform on the same class /
Of property within the territorial linn. |
its Of the authority levying the tax;
and that the tax shall he levied for
public purposes only.
QUESTION s-The constitution pro |
vides that mines and mining claims, |
containing gold, silver. copper, lead, !
coal or other valuable mineral depos |
rs shall be taxed. after purchase from |
the United States at the price paid the !
United states therefor, etc.
The amendment provides that mines |
and mining claims containing gold, sill |
vcr. copper. lead or other valuable |
precious metals. after purchase thereof |
from the United States. shall be taxed /
at value not greater than the price /
paid the United States therefor. etc. !
And that all lands containing coal nv. /
drocarbons or stone deposits and the
net proceeds therefTom. shall be taxed
as provided by law.
IT viii bc seen that the Legislature
under the amendment. may authorize
the assessment OF precious mineral
lands at 4 valuation lower than that
permitted under the present constitu.
tion, and TINT il NAV lower or Increase
the assessment; valuation Of coal lands.
and other mines not containing valua
ble precious metals.
If = majority Of the electors who
vote on any amendment votes .ves =
thereon. such amendment become,
part OF the constitution.
ANY voter oppressed 10 any amend
ment should vote mo thereon. o,ber.
wise small minority Of tho electors
Of the state may secure the amend |,
ment OF ;he constitution. that is dis
approved by the majority.