The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-01-07
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Submitted to the Legislature Last
MISUNDERSTANDING Notes.

POI VdHI ledCuIes Vi Gue governor
message:
The governor recommends a
change in the laws governing tax
alton. He says: Our laws relat-
ing to the taxation of property are
deficient in some features. 1t shall
be uniform upon the same class of
subjects, but the statutes do not
provide any means of securing such
uniformity. Again the statute
provides that all taxes on property
must be assessed at its full cash
value, but no adequate provision is
made for the enforcement Of the
rule.
/ am convinced that it would be
to the interest of the state to have
the assessment of the property
raised to its full value, thereby re-
ducing the rate of taxation. I'm
der the present system we have a
low valuation and a high rate of
taxation. We should have high
valuation and a low rate. Inves-
tors instinctively shrink from pur-
chasing property in any section
where a high rate of taxation pre-
walls, and they will seldom take the
trouble to acquaint themselves with
the facts showing that the high
rate is apparent rather than real.
One difficulty is that the rate of
taxation is fixed by statute, theI
present rate being So cents on eachl
one hundred dollars.
The remedy for these evils, it
seems to me, is to be found in the
creation of state board having au-
thority to fix the rate of taxation
in accordance with the needs of the
treasury, after the assessments
shall have been made.
suggest the enactment of a law
providing for the election of three
assessors in each county in the
state, instead Of one, to be elected
one in each commissioners district,
in the same manner and to serve
the same length Of time as the
county commissioners. 1t should
be their duty to assess property,
each in his own district, their com
pensation to be such as might be
fixed by law.
To remove the incentive which
exists Of piling up money in the
treasury, | recommend that they
be let to the bidder who will pay
the highest rate Of interest on bal
ances. There are many banks in
Idaho that could give bond and
that would be willing to pay fair
interest on deposits. Where money
is necessary to build up any Of our
state institutions or advance any
particular interests Of the people, | |
would advise that it be raised by
the sale of bonds instead of direct
tax for the reason, first, that the
state can borrow money more
cheaply than the taxpayer; second,
that | can see no reason why the
present citizens of Idaho should be
taxed for the state institutions, the
benefits of which will be shared
equally by those who come in the
near as well as the remote future.
The governor recommends liberal /
appropriations for the public insti-
buttons Of the state.
He commends the Australian
ballot system as satisfactory law.
He recommends the passage Of a
mechanics lien law.
Advises the legislature to repeal
the Mormon Acknowledgement
clause.
Recommends the adoption Of
certain portions Of the Colorado
mining law, published in full
elsewhere.
Closes by reminding the legisla-
tors Of their solemn duty, and stat
ing that he will at a later date call
their attention to some subjects
omitted in the message.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
The bill to repeal the Mormon
test oath has reached its second
in the house.
The regular fusion caucas nomi-