Gilpin observer., 1914-03-12
MEMBER COLORADO EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
ANENT TAXES

The plant of the Register man an
ent the revenue laws passed by the
last legislature lis that of the confirm
ed tax dodger. Naturally he is av-
erse to the passage and enforcement
of a law that requires a man to meet
his just share of the taxation. An
equitable system of taxation has been
q problem that has puzzled the minds
of the sages and statesmen from the
beginning of governments. Ever since
the inception of taxation in this coun
try, way back in colonial days, it
has been the one proposition that
has baffled lawmakers. Every law
that has been passed was intended
to equalize taxation and bring the tax
dodger around to paying his proper
proportion. OF late years the rich
have managed to escape their just
taxation, throwing the burden upon
the shoulders of the poorer classes.
The session laws, of 1913 are intend
ed to remedy this evil.
Our friend of the Register would
have the people believe that the laws
are solely of Democratic enactment,
but if he would play fair with the
people he would find by consulting
the senate and house journals of the
last general assembly, that the Re
publicans of both houses favored and
voted for the revenue bills, including
our esteemed statesman, the Hon. L..
j. Williams. We are not seeking to
defend the Democratic party nor the
tax measures, for, in our opinion,
both are good and sound and need
no defense. AS we have said before,
these laws are step in the right
direction, and although reeding amend
ment in places, as a whole they will
eventually prove very satisfactory
solution of the tax problem.
We feel that it is waste of ef-
fort to endeavor through extended
argument to convince our contempor-
ary that the new system of taxation
is a good one. He is prejudiced and
not open to conviction. If he can de-
ceive the people and make political
capital as a result of the deception,
he has accomplished his purpose. But
1t would appear that he is doomed
to failure. At first blush, many
thought the new law unjust. but
since they have looked into the mat
ter of assessing, they are rounding
to the realization that instead of
having a justifiable complaint against
taxes now, they can congratulate
themselves that they have escaped
the payment of just tax on a prop
er valuation in the past.
We cited the instance of Mr.. Laird
last week, showing that inasmuch as
he had been paying on a valuation
of b2,296 DIN 1912 and in 1913 on a
valuation of $4,793, he should expect
to pay more taxes. Instead of CON-
planning, he should be satisfied that
he has been getting off with much
less taxes than he should have been
hn nf
Observer remarked that the assessed
valuation of his property is more
than it could be sold for, and we do
not deny having made the statement.
But we can understand why the as
sessed valuation of property cannot
be governed by what the property
can be sold for. The sale price of
anything is always governed by the
demand, or what the property is
worth to the owner. Certain prop
erty may have very little value, es-
timated as to its worth to someone
else, but at the same time may be
worth its run cash value to its own
er
The horizontal raise made by the
state tax commission seems unreas-
enable as it applies to deposits. But
this is an increase that need not be
made in the future, II the counties
turn in the necessary valuation to
come within the levies for various
purposes that under the new law are
made according to the valuations.
1T is doubtful II the bill which for
ces a double taxation on the output
of the mines is constitutional. In
any event it is obEoxious and the
law can be amended or repealed by
the next Legislature.