Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1913-01-20
The Governors Message
A LENGTHY DOCUMENT TRANS
MTTEO TO THE LAWMAKERS

would still have to pay Sl4.50 If il
White Pine County, where he now
pays $2l. he would still have to pay
ecutive departments. boards and com
missions all were eliminated. In
Lyon County the relief would be i'll
the ratio Of $40 to $3.50 etc. In tho
foregoing, no comparison is made
with the taxpayers residing i'll mu-
inequalities. where the tax rate is trc-
quently double the state and county
rate. In Reno. for example. the re-
lief from such abolition of the total
expense attached to the executive
departments. boards and commits
sions. would be in the ratio of SS4 t.
$5l 50 on each thousand dollars OF
taxable property.
Now, it is not altogether futile to
introduce such comparisons. 1t Is
quite clear that even drastic whole
partments, appointive offices, boards
and commissions OF the state COVERT
ment, If that were possible. would
not effect any startling measure OF
relief to the taNpayer-much less so,
il the pruning were only partial and
amounted to the abolition OF an OF
flee or a commission or two. On
the basis OF SlO0,OO0.0O. in round
numbers, taxable property in the
state. the pruning of each $1,000 from
the cost of the state government
woud make difference of but one
cent the property owner has to pay
in taxes per thousand dollars asses >
ment valuation. Thus, ii the prun
ing is S5OO0O, when ii is trans slated
in difference to the ultimate taxpayer.
he saves 50 cents on each ethousanl
dollars OF property valuation. \
100000 saving would thus make a
dollars difference on each thousand
dollars of property valuation.
Now from the foregoing. it must
appear that the taxpayers OF the State.
who are complaining (and Justly
there is no question: OF the burden OF
taxation. are not likely to tind the
problem of relief so simple as many
seem to think. When analyzed. It
resolves itself into ramitications which
include fundamentally the present in
equitable system of taxation (by
which much property escapes taxa
dervalued). and an aerhauling of mu-
nicipal and county governments as
well a, that of the State, to eliminate
waste without reducing efficiency.
Lastly. it involves the propositions
discussed by NE in a former message
to the LEGISLATURE. as follows:
That we should address ourselves
to the ways and means OF bringing
more population and creating more
taxable property in this State That
this work OF State upbuilding permits
of no postponement without inviting
in the measurable future a crisis in
the State. between the natural desire
of our people for progressive institu-
tons and their ability to maintain
them
For with a fixed cost OF maintcn-
ance for institutions which we have
come to believe as necessary to Ou1
civil government-for the same reason
that advanced ways of living havs
supplanted the simpler modes of liv-
ing of former times-the expense to
the TAXPAYER OF such institutions, Will
be in an inverse ratio to the quantity
of taxable property on which the bu:~
den OF maintenance is assessed.
Thus many problems intcrlock and
have a more or less important bear
ing on this great pdoblem now IN for
solution. which may be expressed as:
How to maintain and increase the
efficiency of our system OF govern
mert and at the same time reduce the
burden Of its maintenance
In November last. Senator New
lands proposed that. in advance of
the meeting Of the LEGISLATURE a citl-
zens committee be appointed by him
self. Governor Ross, SER
ator Massey and myself to investigate
the subject of taxation and retrench-
ment and to submit its finding for
the use and benefit OF your honorable
bodies. The proposal met with my
instant acceptance. since it was in
accord with what | had urgently
called to the attention of the previous
Legislature and the people OF the
State The members OF the commit
tee so appointed have given earnest
attention 70 the work before il. and
believe when its report is submitted
will present valuable Information and
recommendation for the considera
ton Of "~rr honorable bodies. I
have confidence in your wisdom ana
good intent. from the primary stand
point of the highest welfare of the
State, in dealing with this problem
and that your deliberations when