Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-04-20
DOWNRIGHT ROBBERY.

a band Of horses belonging to resi-
dents Of HALEY. The owners of
these horses we're compelled to pay to
Mr.. Clayton, in addition to his
charges fol wiutering, the taxes as.
sessed and collected in .Cassia county.
These taxes were required from Mr.
Clayton before he would be allowed
to cross Snake River on his return to
Alturas. This circumstance only
brings to mind All imposition which
has long been known to exist, and
that the County Commissioners,
County aspirants fer Legislative hon
ors, and the people generally may
know to what extent it is carried, we
are glad TO furnish few facts show
ing the magnitude of this swiudle.
In the "Local and Special laws OF
Idaho Territory, 1SG3-l9S7"is found
the following:
125. (Section ~ That in the
counties of Cassia and Owyhee the
assessment and levy Of taxes shall be
made at tn. first meetings of the
Boards Of County Commissioners of
said counties in January, and the
duties to be performed at their April
meeting, as prescribed i'll sections 2,
3 and II of the Act to provide uni
form system Of Territorial and county
revenue, and for the assessing and
collecting the same, approved January
18th, 1873, shall be performed by the
Com missioners of CassIa and Owyhce
counties, at their first meeting in Jan
uary; and SO far as relates to said
counties of Cassia and Owyhee, the
word january is substituted for the
word "April" in tho Sections above
named.
l2G (Sec. 2) The County Com.
missioners Of said counties may, in
heir discretion, at any time after the
passage of this Act, hold special
session for the purpose OF making the
annual levy of taxes for the year 1888.
(Src. 81 This Act applies only to
the counties of Cassia and Owyhce.
The foregoing law was passed for
the special benefit Of Cassia county,
at time when tho Mormons held the
balance Of power in the Idaho I.cgis-
l.ture, and Owyhce county was Only
included to gain n few votes, and to
take the curse off the Mormon scheme
That it is a burning shame disgrace,
an imposition, a robbery, bold mali
cious and premedita,ed, will be seen
from tho following, which are only a
few OF the ways in which this
desp,oable special legislation is
inforccd.
1t is estimated that in 1856, over
100000 worth of personal proper'y
from ketchum alone was taxed and
paid in Cassia county. Horace Lewis
had los mules which were driven
there to winter and did not remain to
exceed four months. Clark & Taguc's,
pack train, Pardon's pack train and
4. Adams work cattle all went to
Cassia county to winter. Tom
Lavellc refused to have his cattle
taxed in Cassia county and when he
undertook to bring them out, they
were stopped by officers at the Snake
River ferry and held until Mr.. Lavelle
was compelled to telegraph the
money from Kctchum to Shoshone
with which to pay taxes, Charles
Jennison who works large cattle
outfit on Wood River from the
middle Of April to the lst of Dccem.
Der every year, objected to being
taxed in Cassia county because of a
higher rate than was levied in Alturas
was told by the Assessor of Cassia
county, that the valuation would be
made so low as to more than over.
come the difference. This is q
snbterfuge also rcsorted in the taxa.
ton of horses belonging in this
county, and to prevent the owners
from making any decided opposition
TO the Cassia county levy, they are
assessed at about one half their ia,
value, which thus far seems TO have
had decided effect in closing tn,
mouths Of parties interested. Ali ,hi
isa gross injustice and wrong, an,
both the Republican and Democrat,
conventions Of Alturas county, which
arc TO convene this Fall, should pas:
resolutions requiring members of til,
coming legislature to be pledged t,
the repeal OF this Act. A careful
estimate demonstrates the fact tina
the tax on OVER TWO HUNDRED AM
II