The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-04-03
Tax Commission Bill Discussed
Nv F. N. Fletcher Member of the Nevada Tax Commits
.ion Who Gives Facts Relative to Law Just Enacted


come law it is worth while for taxpayers the State
inc carefully and to learn Wherein ALL improves old
law which supercedes proper understanding the
requires Of the steps leading adoption
Both Republican and partes platforms
consolidation the tax commission with the railroad
purposes Neither party advocated the
surrender principle of commission This principle
that equalization of valuation for purposes
brought about only placing authority for fixing
tons in the central body having The
fact that past 40 States have changed from the
old method local form central tax commits
sion is principle right and method
When present Legislature convened in January
not only the promise Of both political parties combine
the sake of economy but there existed bitter feeling
hostility the principle of central taxing authority the
had been considerably increased by the Nevada
tax This feeling based largely the
the raising the valuation of lands the agcu
ura and raising counties November While this action
undoubtedly radical, it honest efor about a
approach equalization of values in til had
obtained The had failed their
bring sufficient of assessed valuations provide for
States expenditures The Legislature having fixed the rate CO.
the tax commission obliged raise the assessed valuations
sufficiently high produce the funds could do this
by raising the assessed valuations of all property the State BY
certain percentage could place the increase property which
believed be its equitable proportion of the burden
of taxation chose latter which, despite certain
doubedy nequable results the whole arer method
than have raised the assessed values of all property
The property hardest hit by this action of the commission
the big land the State which, beyond all question
had hitherto paying their full and fair share of taxation
Intimately connected with this of the live stock
interests and other class has successfully evaded its just
share taxation than this When the commission
lied in 1913 it doubtful live stock Nevada assessed
2 per of its value In that year
tered into between the and the stock
on under which, for low assessed valuation the stock
to bring full of their stock in 1914 Some
Of the unquesonab lived the agreement
proportion did 1t became evident that the worked
injustice to the ordinary taxpayer and that method must be
of in fOrmOf
stock escaping taxation should be placed the tax rolls fair
valuation Thus the feeling against the commits
sion for its action raising land valuations intensified the
fear OF the live stock that somewhat similar action might be
expected from the commission in assessing live stock
When the Legislature therefore,
OF opponents to the old tax commission law First those who
believed its principle but desired its consolidation with the rail-
road commission for the sake of second those who
opposed the principle central power having Statewide control
In matters of taxation The law the result of
mise between these two asses those who desired consolidation
and those who oppose commission law with teeth it. Just
who out the compromise better be told when the law
be judged by its workings of safely
predicted Those who advocated the bill the grounds of
will have little boast of
commission do the work of efficiently the law will
nothing to the State for the extra of clerical hire the
pay to one commissioner and the of the meetings of the
county assessors in Carson City annually will practically offset the
saving expected Gov Boyle committee the
whole that the only advantage the BILL drawn in his office had
over the old law in its educational value the county
meeting with the tax commission. This education be
wholly sided.
On the other hand what benefit parties the
compromise stock growers big land
from the law? In the first place. they
ing the State back to the old order equalization
composed as before OF the with the addition of
the railroad commission acting commission the Gov
and additional member great
qualities in assessment valuations inherent the old that
vad under Gov Odds forward step
line with other progressive Saes body broad
powers over matters OF taxation The law in this particular
reactionary.