The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-07-08
WILL INVESTIGATE
TAX CONDITIONS

recently organized Nevada PUBIC
Economy League, of which former
United States Senator Henderson is
president, has been in Lovelock dur
ing the week in connection with the
work OF the league. say the Miner.
In speaking of his work. Mr.. Flet-
cher said: ''It is the intention of the
league to make a careful investiga-
ton Of tax conditions throughout the
State, and to tabulate State. county.
city and special district taxes and ex-
penses covering a period of years in
order to secure an accurate and COM
prehensive survey of the entire sub
ject before action is taken.
THE results of this survey will be
made public in order that the people
may know just where increases in
costs and taxes have taken place. In
vestigations already made disclose
that in 1901 the total tax levied for
State purposes amounted to $277,-
130, while in 1921 1t amounted to
$1,220,530, and increase Of 437 per
cent; total axe levied for county
purposes in 1901 amounted to $780,
1874, and in 1921 to $2,942,S3S, an
increase Of 719 per cent.
There is a strong belief on the
part of the people that these start
ling increases in taxes have been
greater than the needs of the State
and counties have required; and that
better economic methods applied to
the administration of public affairs
would produce equally good results
at considerably less cost.
1.-The Nevada Public Economy Lea
que sharing in this belief. will first
make a careful investigation of the
situation in order to determine how
reductions in public expenses may be
effected without injury to public well
fare. One of its prime objects will
be to work in cooperation with
ty officials and local taxpayers in mat
ters pertaining to county and local
taxes.
THE lague will place the results
of its investigation In the hands of
the citizens of the counties for their
own use; 1t will analyze the figures,
and advise, but the final results will
be largely with the taxpayers them
selves and their county officials. The
people of a county can have the kind
of county government they want and
it is their own fault II they don't
get 1t.
THE league will purposely avoid
the subject of equalization of as
sessed valuations of different classes
of property, an exceedingly import
ant subject, but one for the different
interests affected to handle.
"A decrease in the assessed value
of one class of property, no matter
how equitable, necessarily increases
the taxes of all other classes; and eff
fort along this line would necessarily
end in disagreement.
1.-THE sole object of the league is
to secure a reasonable reduction in
taxes ON all classes of property, a re-
duction that must apply to every
piece of property on the tax rolls, re-
CARELESS of it's class, and to every
taxpayer in proportion to his taxable
property.
"As the results expected will be of
equal benefit to all taxpayers 1t is
desired that all shall become mem
bers of the league. 1t is a serious,
carefully considered effort toward a
reasonable tax reform for the bene-
fit of all; it's depends for success upon
popular approval.
ANY taxpayer may become a mem
Der of the league on payment of SO
cents; IL his taxes last year amounted
to more than 5000. his dues will be
one fourth of one per zen ON this
excess"
Pershing County is the first to be
visited by Mr.. Fletcher in the work
of the league; and he states that this
was purposely done because this
county is looked upon as a model in
the way of county government; 1t
had the advantage OF a recent start,
WIN up-tO-udlc nuctHOuS OI dCCOuut-
ing with high-class county officials,
and successful business men on the
board of county commissioners. The
result is the lowest county rate in the
State, 9S cents. which is Just about
one-half the average Of all the coun-
ty rates.
1t may not be possible for older
counties to pattern closely after Per-
shing, but 1t should prove helpful
to the taxpayers and officials of all
counties to know what business
methods applied to county affairs
accomplished in this county.
The officers of the league are:
Charles b. Henderson. president.
w. j. Harris, Reno, vice-president.
George A. Campbell. Reno, secre-
tary-treasurer.
In addition to the above officers,
the following are members OF the