The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1919-02-14

Abandoning all hope of the occu-
Rational tax law being declared un-
constitutional. nine Utah mining com
panics last Monday paid the amounts
assessed against them under It, total
ing with interest at II per cent since
the tax became due, approximately
S765. 900. Others have since liqul-
dated until the payments are now
close To eight hundred thousand dol
lars. The decision 10 pay the tax fol
lowed numerous conferences of min
ing men, which nave been held wiihii
the past few days. As result practi-
.callv all the metalhlerous mines ct
the state concurrcd. Those corpora
lions which paid did go without pro.
test. which means that. even should
an appcnl be- taken from the federal
district court decision upholding tho
constitutionality of the law they will
not benefit from any favorable DC
cisioE which might be obtained from
a higher court.
So far a. the mctallifcrous mines
are concerned no appeal is to be taken
from the federal district court de.
cision and IL is considered unlikely
that any one company will appeal
No action has yet been taken by the
coal mining companies. While their
interest In the ease ~ not ~ heavy
a. was that If the metal companies.
they would pay to the state more thar
100000 should they decide not 10
contest the ease further No an
lnounccmcnt has yet been made ni
their intentions. nor have they paid
the tuX assessed against them under
the law The temporary injunction
issued. when the suit of the metal
companies VIVA filed, viii hold during
. the time allowed for perfection Of au
appeal. making the property of tho
rumpanic, which have moi paid tho
tax safe from sale for some fifty
days
Payment "f the tax hy the com.
pauics most heavily interested IN con
testing the constitutionnlity Of the law
came ~ % surprise IN state financial
circles. a. the general impression had
been that the ease would be- carried
|by those companies Ia the supreme
court of the United States The
amounts were paid under what N
known ~ the occupaiional tax law, u
statute prescribing that mining com
panics shall pay taxes, not only on
the physical valuation of their prop
|rriy, but on u submultiplc nf their net
|urucceds The claim of the mining
companies thnt'thc law was unconsti.
iutionnl WIS based IN tho contentious
that IL constituted double taxation,
was q violation Of the fourteenth
amendment % the federal consiitu.
ton IN that IL was discriminatory,
that 10 violated the mining laws ui
. the United States, and violated The
Interstate commerce law IN that %
placed u tax ON commodities intended
I Tor interstate commerce.
! Payment 1T the tax is expected u
relieve to considerable extent the
. financial situation m numerous school
[ districts Throughout the state. Unde'
l the law the bulk of the taxes collected
from IL will 20 into the school fund
Many of the school districts, con
/ irunicd with the problem Of financing
Increased salaries for teachers, nous
ing rapidly growing school populn
tons aud meeting constantly mount
ing operating costs, had arranged
their budgets for the current year or
the assumption that they would re
ceive considerable sums from the taA
on the net proceeds oi mines. Mann
'of them faced possible shortening
.uf tho school year in ease the take,
were not paid