The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-24
EQUITABLE TAXATION.


absolutely an equitable taxation offproperty-
but we would ike 10 live long enough to see
some attempt made for that end. Our mer-
chants complain that with license and heavy
I, taxation an unjast burden is placed upon
them; and one owner of real estate does not
understand why he is taxed on valuation IF
$1,000 an acre-while an adjoining ncighbor,
with really mere valuable land, is let off with a
valuation Of $50 per acre. The Board of
Equalization will soon be in session, AMI they
should give this important matter thorough
investigation Boise Statesman.
We are glad to see an influential
newspaper like the Statesman take
hold of this question of taxation,
and wish it had gone into a COM
plete expose of the system prac-
ticed in Idaho.
We are reliably informed by one
whom no person will dare to con-
tradict that the valuation for Ada
/ county, 100000, would be dou-
bled, increased to 100000, if the
taxation laws of the Territory were
any ways near carried out; and
that the first place to strike would
be the stocks of merchandise
throughout the county. Talk of
merchants-non producers-com-
planning that with license and
heavy taxation an unjust burden is
placed upon them" A merchant,
when hereceives an invoice of goods,
before he sells cents worth, adds
to the cost price certain per cent
for rents, insurance, taxes, etc.
Who pays the taxes ? The con-
sumner. But then this is an old, old
story.
To return: Our informant says
the reason a full valuation is
not returned for Ada county is
that none Of the other counties
of the Territory do so; that there is
no reason why Ada county should
pay two dollars into the Territorial
treasury to other equally wealthy
counties one dollar.
This state of affairs, if it really
exists, is shame and a disgrace on
the Territory-a Territory that
aspires to Statehood
If we have a valuation of $4O,-
100000 to $50,000,0OO, as both Ex-
Gov. Stevenson and Controller
Wickersham in their reports say we
have, let the books show it. Let
the world know it; and then put the
tax levy at a figure where it will be
acceptable to persons hunting
homes, and not be a hindrance as
at present.
In Alturas county last year the
portion which now comprises the
county of Gilmore returned $780,
600 valuation. This year, assessed
according to law (by newspaper
man, Geo. NJ. Payne, of the Elmore
Bnlletin) it returns 81, 100000. If
every Assessor in the Territory had
worked on the same principle as
was adopted in Elmore-to make
as good showing for his county
and the Territory as possible-then
instead of applying for admission
into the Union with a valuation
smaller than that of any State be-
fore her, Idaho could proudly ask
for admission, and in reply to in
quiries produce her assessment
roll, instead Of lodging the question.
AS regards the Statesman's COM
ments on the inequalities of taxa
ton and the Board of Equalization:
Such little inequalities" have come
up every year in the past and viii
doubtless come up in the future.
Heretofore they have mostly been
settled on the "you scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours" plan.
There is no reason to believe that
there will be any marked deviation
from this rule.