The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-14
THE FEnocIous TAXING PLAN,

We are glad TO see that the mining
men of Utah are alert and are max.
ing strenuous fight against the fe.
rocious taxing proposition contained
in Senate Bill No. 81. 1t is a scalp.
lifting proposition, sure enough, so far
as the mines are concerned. 1t would
tax them on every possible basis, and
would not allow them the ordinary
credits that always naturally and
properly come into consideration in the
fair financial treatment of any business
proposition. The measure would tax
the mines without mercy or rebate, and
would even impose double taxation
upon them.
1t would tax everything in sight in
the mine, and would allow nothing for
expenditure in developing that mine.
AT the same time that 1t taxes all
value that can be seen, it requires q
taxation on net proceeds Of mines. In
this the proposition is precisely as
though the merchant might be taxed
upon all Of his goods without al
lowing him any rebate whatever, and
in addition tax him on the net proceeds
of his business for the year. 1t would
tax all assets and credits, and would
allow nothing for debts. Such taxa
tion, individually applied, would pro-
woke universal revolt; so why should
it be applied to mincs7
Surely a measure like that is Of
such a fnr-rcaching, unjust character,
and it would introduce such new
aud scalping principle into the taxing
system Of the State RS would utterly
overturn all ideas Of Justice, and set
aside all precedent and all consi6era-
tion for the taxpayer.
Another requirement of this grossly
unfair taxing proposition is tho re.
quirement that all Of the plats and
drawings and workings in the mines
must be submitted TO the board of
equalization; thus throwing open 20
public view the most hidden secrets
and recesses Of the mine But it often
is the case that it would be extremely
damaging TO mining company to have
its plats and drawings thus exposed to
public view. There is no reason what
over why it should be done, any more
than that the day books. journals,
ledgers, and other accounts Of a
merchant should be transcribed and
forwarded TO the State Board Of Equal
ization. No business man would want
all Of the figures Of his business thus
made public, and thore is no reason
why mines should be selected for this
sort of inquisitorial exposition.
But in fact it is not alone mines
that are subject to this exacting taxa
tion and inquisitorial inquiry; the same
principle runs through the bill as ap.
piled to all species of property. There
is nothing considered in favor OF the
taxpayer. The whole purpose, text, and
idea in the bill is to make the taxpayer
the helpless prey of the taxgatherer
Nothing is to be concealed, no reserves
are to be permitted; the taxpayer must
show up everything, and must pay on
everything.
We do not doubt but that it would
be possible for the State Board of
Equalization to add very materially to
the States revenue and corresponding
ly to the burden of the taxpayers, if
this bill investing such extraordinary
powers in that board were to pass
But the Legislature that would pass
such a measure as this, throwing open
the constituency of every member to
such caustic brutality, would un-
doubtedly receive, and would certainly
deserve. the e1ecration of the public
and the damnation of every taxpayer