Arizona republican., 1913-01-09
Detailed and Interesting Statement of Operations of Tax Commission Dur ing lncumbcncy Sent to Governor Hunt Yesterday
REDRAFT URGED
 OF REVENUE LAWS
Asks for Law Giving Power Over Local Boards of Equalization, Tax Limit Law and Power to Assess Railroads

kallIOadS
 1 Ihc state tax commission of Arizona. | submitted to the governor vrstorday 1 it's first annual report This report l has been printed and bound for general i circulation. It is lengthy. detailed. and Interesting, and covers the operations of tEe first tax commission the state has had from the period of it's an pointment and organization in May last until the close of the years busi- ness in 1912
 The tables within the report and the work that was done to make the as SeSsed valuation of the state If Arizona as great as II was together with the meetings of the commission with as scssors and mining men are given in great detall. A Stenographic report of the actions of the tax conference be- tween the commission and tn mining nm is given as well as d complete CODY of the law proposed by the mining men of the state themselves and submitted to the commission for their approval.
 Tfa report is chiefly noticeable how ever for the recommendations of the
  clusion of the report and which are printed below ill full Tho following interesting eXcrpts were taken from the report which was released for pub lication yesterday at noon after il had been handed to Governor Hunt. To the Governor of Arizona:
 While section II. Chapter =. Rcgu- lar Session, Laws 1912. only contem- plates q biennial report, the tax com mission deems it but wise and eXpc- dicnt. in anticipation of another special session of the present legislature. to report it's findings of the tax laws as they TOW are. and recommend such changes ss il, in the limited time since it's appointment and organization. have found to D. weak intellectual. conflict ing and inadequate. with the hope that they will be so amended that this com mission wIl not be hampered in per forming it's duty to the state, with 2 set of laws that were written years ago while q territory, but which are not conscdercd adequate. now that we have assumed the peers and duties of d state
 When the tax commission Was ap- pointed, the taxing season Was almost over. most of the assessments had been made by the assessors and but five weeks remained to tn commission in which to take such steps aS would produce an equitable assessment on all classes of property. including patented producing mines which latter class of property heretofore had been assessed on 25 per cent of their gross bullion production
 From all sources of information at hand. from experiences gained during it's incumbency in office and also be cause of the lack of time it has had to apply to the problems confronting it, the commission finds and recommends es follows:
 First: A rc-draft of the revenue laws of the state bill for which ac- companies this report
 "Secord: That it be given powers over local boards of equalization; pow sleeping car and private car cOmpan ics without specific restrictions of law, or with q law similar to the Minnesota law; and powers to assess railroads, telephone and telegraph lines: bill for which accompanies this report.
 Third: A small special tax on monies and credits. bill for which ac- companies this report.
 Fourth: A tax limit law.
 Fifth: The true consideration in, deeds.
 Tt finds:
 FIRST: It is unable at this time to submit it's conclusions on the questions of mine taxation and taxation of stand ing timber, but will do so in a special report.
 Second: It is necessary to classify farm lands and railroad and other grant lands.
 Third That railroads and other properties assessed on a mileage basis are not paying the same proportion of municipal taxation as other classes of property.
 Fourth: That the income tax in Wisconsin is being thoroughly tested and that Arizona will do welt to await the outcome of the trial in that state before trying it.
 Respectfully submitted.
 |. J. MILLER,
 c NJ. LANDER.