Arizona republican., 1915-02-05
NINE TAXATION;
STAPLEY'S VIEW
Maricopa Senator Takes Is
sue With C. B. Wood =
Infers That P. M. Judges
Without Hearing Both
Sides of Question
BY o. S. STAPLEY


l have carefully noted the Honorable
c. B. Woods statement in The Repub-
lican of February 4, page 10. 1t seems
from the first paragraph that Mr..
Wood is authority on the mine tax bill
He goes on and explains the mine tax
bill very deliberately, and cites instanc-
es for comparisons, in his own way, as
c. E. Wood can, as you know And
knowing that many will read your val
liable paper and be swayed, more or
less, by the papers influence, believe
the readers should know the facts re-
garding this bill.
Using the Good Book, Mr. Wood
! quotes it, also says, "A man who judg-
eth matter before he heareth (both
sides) it, is unwise." Now for the pres
ent mine tax bill, these are the facts
as | understand them First, that the
| assessor shall assess all machinery, re-
ductiOn works and all other visible
property of any mine or corporation
| just as all other property in the state
| is assessed, and in addition, all mining
lands. Mr.. Wood does not mention
| this. Further, all producing mines are
assessed 124 per cent of their gross
output, and after all expenses that are
| incurred producing this gross and max
| ing the net, have been taken out, then
whatever net is left is multiplied four
times, and this added to the gross, and
the Improvements added to that, makes
the total valuation of the mine.
| The amendment made to this bill
says that all mines that produce for
/ three months or more, shall be as
sessed for the year by the assessor or
tax commission. This class of mines
| is left TO the discretion of the commits
| sion for adjusting the taxes on this
| class of mine.
| Now for Mr.. Woods example on the
I Chalmers property, total valuation
s56,O40.O0; he paid s1,33S75 taxes. By
this, | infer, means county, state and
city as it is based on an income of
| $4,000 per year.
Now if you will take the tax rate in
Maricopa county, add to that the coun-
| ty school tax and the city tax of ?hoe-
nix, and it totals $1,O5635 Now note
that the total state tax on this property
| is $277.40. Out of this $227.40, there is
| $7S.45 comes back to Maricopa county
for school purposes, leaving balance
| from this property that the state re-
tains $19695. This is not so bad, Mr..
Wood. Why didn't you figure it?
The ground was assessed at s51,S4O.
| Who did this? The tax commission on
the Somers' system. by the sanction of
| someone, no doubt Who is to blame
if it is too high? The improvements
are $4,000. who did this? 1t brings
$4,000 per year revenue. Doesn't that
Improvement figure look dwarfed?
Now Mr.. Wood, candidly, why did
you vote for the mine tax bill May 49,
1913? Did you have some selfish mo-
tive, or was it a good bill? If it was
a good bill then, the one now before the
legislature is a better one. With the
same production and prices that have
been obtained for the last ten years is
what the taxes will be based on, if this
new bill is passed. and in my opinion
it will bring to the state from ten to
fifteen per cent more money than II
has, in the past two years. / do not
consider this bill special legislation
nor neither can | interpret it that way
For the mining industry is different
from any other class of property that
can possibly be assessed, and we have
got to arrive at some basis for capital
to work on. OF our mines will not be
developed in this state.
Understand me- do not wish to take
any powers from the tax commission
hut do believe that for the good of oul
state and for the benefit of all the peo-
pie in it, that there should be legisla-
ton along this line so to settle for {
number of years at least, any agita-
ton in regard to mines. and after thi!
is DONE | am sure that the mines vii
have the greatest impetus that thl:
county has ever known, and | believe
, that We should look at this bill from al
sides, and give it just and fair treat
ment without prejudice, and with uu'
consideration, and | am sure after thi
is done and the thinking people Of thi'
state have looked into this matter care
. fully, they will find that bill some
thing along these lines and much tn
same as this is drawn, should be passe'
, at this legislature.