Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-08-05
TAX CONFERENCE
HEARS UNITED
VERDE
(From Fridays Daily.)

per Company was given a hearing
on its complaint of high assess
ments. a resolution was enacted aim
ing to simplify the assessment OF
cattle in the futurc-there were the
principal features attendant upon
che session OF the state tax confer
ence yesterday. Thursday had been
set aside for the exclusive utiliza-
ton of the State Taxpayers Asso-
citation upon request OF that body,
bur in an eleventh hour decision the
leaders of that body notified the
conference that they would be IN
able TO take advantage OF the oppor-
tunity: that instead, two representa-
tives would be IN attendance and
that the day could be utilized for
other purposes. Accordingly the
commission elected 10 continue with
its work OF hearing and discussing
the relative reports OF the different
counties.
The mornings session opened At
$50 O'Clock with a hearing on thc
United Verde appeal for a reduction
in assessment valuation. Manager
VIII Clark CT the company opened
the arguments by presenting the
valuation of the old smelter for 1913
which was placed at S22E. 800 by As
SCISSOR Tom Campbell OF this county
and raised to 100000 on recon-
mcndation Of the lax commission.
Assessor Campbell read the letter OF
transmttal OF the assessment foI
the year 1914, which is on file wiz
the state tax commission.
He then read correspondence be
tween the tax commission and him
self regarding the assessment of
this property Tor the year 1914
Chairman Zander OF the state tax
commission asked Mr.. Campbell
he allowed depreciation on tempo
rary structures and Mr.. Camp.
replied that he did.
Mr.. Clark maintained that his
company should have a utilization
value as other plants did III 1913
contending that the old plant shoulC
be assessed for Is per cent vaiua
ton. The new smeltcr will replace
the old one in operation some time
next month. The commission fur
Their informed Mr.. Clark that engi
neering excavations and foundations
would not be allowed in the as
sessments of smelters and reduction
works for the year 1914
Commissioner Howe declared the
United Verde's old smelter woulC
not be strapped as in the case O
the Calumet & Arizona Company
Mr.. Clark replied that this was 2
conjecture and that the old smelte,
would he scrlpped.
The hearing lasted for fully n
hour with Supervisors Stephens
Heap and Mason, Assessor Camp.
bell for the county and Manage,
VIII Clark and Attorney lie Roy
Anderson representing the corpo.
ration, in attendance.
Owing to the i'll health of Asses.
sor Began. Maricopa county gave
way to Pima county in precedence
Pima county was finished early il
the afternoon session after which
Maricopa county was taken ND.
Assessor Hughes OF Pima count,
approved the Somers system of tax
alton and maintained that it hac
worked out splendidly in Bisbee anc
Douglas.
R. G. Whitmarsh and w. H. Kee.
gan appeared before 1he conference
as representatives OF the State Tax
payers Association. Originally it
had been planned by this organiza
ton to send a full delegation to tn,
conference with i view OF discuss.
ing matters in general and pertain.
ing to the interests of the taxpayer
But a dearth OF willing volunteers
to make the trip occurred and as
result a delegation of two wa:
sent instead.
During the day Commissioner P
J. Miller OF the state board lost
red colored pocket book in which
was contained some valuable stats.
tics. The commissioner is mucl
rerturbed over his loss and is anx
ious to have the finder return
rs early as possible.
The next annual session of the
tax conference will probably be helc
in Nogales. A resolution was
passed making it the sense of the
conference that Nogales was desired
for the next conference. However
the choice is optional with the com
mission. and there is a general be
lief that Prescott by virtue of it,
superior climatic conditions. during
July, will again be chosen as the
scene
The tax. conference will undoubt-
edly find it necessary to call nigh
sessions both tonight and tomorrow
in order to finish up the work OF
hand per schedule. The session ad.
journed at 5 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon to allow the visitors to par,
take OF the hospitality arranged by
h A..