The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1920-11-26
HOLD
MEETING At
M|NOEN

Before a large gathering of stock
men and land owners of of Carson
Valley and other sections, Warren
Noteware and Vernon Metcalf of the
tax division of the Nevada Live Stock
association gave some interesting
facts at Minden Wednesday afternoon.
Mr.. Noteware was the first speaker
and opened his remarks by stating
that the tax question was one that ap-
pealed to all classes. To prove that
the federal government was in no po-
sition to offer assistance to the farm
er in the present crisis. he cited that
the national debt at this time amount
ed to twenty-siy billion dollars, the in
terest on this amount being nineteen
million. five hundred thousand dollars
a year. The principal and interest on
this great sum must be paid by the
people and through direct taxation, he
declared. Leaving the federal gov
ernment, he cited that in 1910 the
population of Nevada was 81 900, the
amount of taxable property $S90,00O.
and the cost of maintenance of state
government $504,000. In 1920 the
population was $1,000 a decrease of
$500 while the amount of taxable
property was $2.113,O0o and the cost
of maintaing the state government
reached the high figure of s1,256,OOO.
While few years ago mining was
the paramount industry of Nevada,
changes have taken place and now
farming and stockraising lea Is. The
division of taxes is divided about one
third to the above classe. one-third to
the railroads and one-third to all 9TH
er property.
He showed the increases ON farm
lands and livestock during the past
few years until 1t has reached some
instances higher that the actual cash
value.
He told that Nevada has a ,mmiss,
ion form of government and the
budget system. That in making up
the budget for the expense of conduct
Zig the state government for the year
to come, it is estimated that 1t will
cost so much more that the year just
past. That the commissions, created
for the purpoe of saving the taxpayers
money. have turned odt to work in
the opposite direction, to see how
much that can be expended
That present conditions, not only in
Nevada, but throughout the United
States, calls for economy, and not for
extravaganza That to some extent,
and for a time at least, that we must
look backward. rather than forward.
He declared that that hay crop in Ne
vada today could not be sold for an
average price of $40 per ton and other
products in accordance. That the
producer was the first to suffer while
the price of things he needed was slow
in seeking a just level. This will
come in time. but in the meantime the
farmer and land owner is the one who
is suffering.
Taxes must be reduced and the only
way that 1t can be accomplished is by
the practice of economy by the state
government.
He declared that a central body for
for the equitable adjustment of tax
alton between the several counties of
Nevada, was a necessity. He stated
most emphatically that he did not op-
pose the state tax commission, but al
so declared that he did oppose the
present system of that body, which
functioned in an opposite direction
than which was intended The main
thing has been to get just as much
from the taxpayers as possible, with
the result that many large stock con-
Germs and farmers have abandoned all
thought of expansion under the pre-
sent system of high taxation.
e.oultdOic icSiSihtioH 10 uccucu III We
vada and the tax division of the Ne
vada Livestock Association promises
to cut some figure at the next session
of the legislature.
Mr. Metcalf followed with an ad-
dress given over to matters appertain-
ing to the Nevada Live Stock Associa-
tion. He told how 1t came into ex-
istence and how that body had saved
many thousands of dollars to the in
terests which 1t represented. In
Douglas county about S5 per cent OF
the stockmen and land owners belong
to the organization.
Mr.. Metcalf is we'll versed on the
problems confronting the live stock
interests of Nevada and gave much in
formation of vital interest in the
stock men of this locality.