Arizona republican., 1913-05-12
Gentlemen. Get Together.

Gentlemen,
 The mine taxation bill has reached the critical stage in the legislature. The situation complicated in the senate. though in the house there s good prospect of adjustment of differ ences of opinion and the arrival at a basis for the taxation of mines through their products. The house all along been strongly in favor of that practical method.
 In the senate there strange situation. There is a small minority the members opposed to the principles bill; who would oppose it. however large multiple applied the net products; who would oppose it if the multiple were large enough establish basis taxation far in excess of the actual value of the mines if such value could be ascertained.
 There are other senators who believe bill as amended conference will the mines heavily; there still others who believe it will them lightly. These three diverse eIe- nents have been curfousIy brought together op- position to the conference committees report. The matter is still further complicated by the opposi- tion of some of the mine owners to the report.
 yet hopeful the bill will pass i shape. It is useless argue with the few gentlemen who standing pat the fancfuI theory of taxing the actual cash value of the mines. who, regardless of the interests of the general taxpayer, would reject any practical tenn Of taxation. But would to the other members of they apart they think they
 look a figures. Graham amend ment. it went to conference, provided mine valuation for taxable purposes Of a little than s13100o.O00. The conference committees ar1end- increased this basis to s155925OO0. It is tinated by the tax commission that the valuation Of all other classes property than will Ape S200,000,000. Under the Graham bi- it went Fto conference. the mine valuation. added this would give a total valuation s331OOOOOO the mines being per conference amendment should prevail the total would be s355,- 25O0 he m ineS' bein Der
 The increase in all classes of property S14O- 100000 last year, s355,925,OOO this year, a material reduction rate taxation, to 55 cents for state purposes a conserva- tive estimate reduction
 We will here that if the proposed increases people will insist upon such economy of administration result in corresponding rate Of taxation The state tax on the increase of the mine valuation, provided for in the conference report, would about $135.OOO. This additional burden distributed over state. producing and non pro- ducing mines, should a serious burden
 There is another thing that should alarm; o Senate No. 3, giving to the tax commission the powers which it discovered last summer soreIy needed which the people decided last fall by the ratification stitutional amendment the commission should have. If the Graham amendment fails Senate Bill No will also
 Now, gentlemen. get together. theories and consider conditions. Arizona cannot afford further delay in the settlement of the taxation problem. We would especially urge upon mem the divided only by differ of opinion the multiple be applied to the net products of the mines, reconcile their differences.
 It would be better to upon either five multiple than to leave this tremendously important matter in the air, with the weight O taxation uncertainty and unevenly distributed.
 is most important business before you It is the most important business you hay had before you. Give this plan of a fair trial for years. In the light years experience clearly o progress along lines of equity and justice