Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-01-29
COUNTY MAIRERs.

In last Saturdays ISSUE we made passing
notice of u communication which appeared in
the Boise Statesman of Tuesday preceding
sent from this city, signed ''Tax Paycr"-and
contained sesere reflections upon F. B. Brit.
ten, Assessor and Tax Collector. the Board Of
County Commissioners. and, in general terms,
upon every county officer in Boise county.
We said in that brief notice that we would
undertake in the course of . week or two to
show that the specific charges made in that
letter were not worthy of an actual taxpayers
attention. AT that time we felt confident that
we could abundantly ful6ll that promise, and
we are very confident of the ability to do SO
now, but yesterday we were informed that the
matter is to undergo full legal test in the Dis
trict Court, and this being the case, we deem
it neither proper nor essential to go into vim
iication of the County Commissioners, or of
Mr. Britten, upon the chief allegations in 'Tax
Payers" letter. The Court is the proper tri-
bunal to determine the issues which have been
raised in the case, and the decision of that
tribunal will carry authority. with and CON-
lnand obedience to it, II s..,a-4 ..sr5a5a 4
But there are allegations and insinuations
contained in Tax Payers" letter, to which
we can properly reply, in defence and vindica-
ton of Mr., Britten and the Board of Com
missioners. The author of that letter asserts
that unless Mr. Britten 'can swear that he
was actually employed in assessing every day
charged for, he is entitled to nothing" Now,
as Mr. Britten did swear to the lawful correct
ness of the account he presented to the Board
=. of Commissioners, with the item in point in-
Guided in that sworn statement, TAX Payers"
language simply charges him with perjury in
taking that oath, and heavy censnre is like
wise insnuated against the Board for having
allowed the charges made for assessments by
Mr.. Britten. This is very serious charge
against the Assessor, and very harsh insinu
alton against the Board of Commissioners 1t
will, however, be sufficient answer for the
present, and until the Court pronounces judy
ment, to say that Mr. Britten has simply fol-
lowed usage and precedent in SO doing not
only the usage and precedent in Boise county,
but in Ada and 0wyhee, and, we are informed,
in every other county in the Territory. And,
further, We are assured that the opinion of ut
least one of the Associate Justices of the Ter.
,ritory has been expressed in support of this
construction of the law-to the effect that the
Assessor is entitled to charge the full per diem
up to the last day of the year. which is exactly
what the Assessors of Ada, Owyhee, and the
other counties Of Idaho have done. and what
Mr. Britten has also done in this county.
Therefore, if the Court shall finally decide
against this construction of the law, Mr.. Brit
ten will have in his favor the plea Of justifea-
ton for that which he has done that he sim
ply followed the common rule and precedent
throughout the Territory as well as in Boise
county; and the same justification will acquit
the Commissioners Of all wrong and improper
conduct in their allowance of the claim which
is made the basis of "1ax Payers" grave an.
imadversOns. 0yl#H4H 5a
We may add, the figures will bear US out in
the statement that Mr. Britten has so managed
his Office of County Assessor and Tax Collect
or, that Boise county presents far better con-
diti0n in the matter of assessments and collec-
tions during the past year than ever before,
and vastly better than does any other county
in the Territory He has made collection of
a materially larger amount than either Ada or
Owyhee, at much less proportonate cost to the
county. His collections have been made with
barely any loss upon the original, the suisse
quent, or the final subsequent assessments. and
such thing has never before occurred neither
in Boise nor in any other county of idaho. He
has, too, given public notice, every month, of
the amount of his assessments, his collections,
and his payments into the County Treasury.
In short, he has performed the duties of his
important office in the most creditable and
thorough manner, in such way as to win even
the appreciation Of prying and scrutinizing po-
litical adyersaries, If he has erred in his Off
rial conduct, either 10 action or in his charges
for services, all who know him will do him the
Justice to attribute the error to judgment
based upon precedent, or of belief in his own
Interpretation of the law, and not to even the
slightest disposition 10 perpetrate q wrong up
ON the county, or any individual, to his own or
any other persons profit. As man and as q