The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-09-18
THE lNkY OCTOPUS.

There is a genus OF fish which, when
attacked or alarmed. exudes an inky
fluid which discolors the Va,er and un-
der the cloud thus created, makes its
escape.
In the efforts OF the Silver Blade in its
last issue to evade the questions raised
in our article OF the 4th inst, under the
head OF Facts for the Farmers. We see
remarkable similarity to the defensive
methods OF the octopus. 1t seeks to SO
befog its readers, that the real issue rails
Ell will be lost sight OF. to make the
course of Commissioners Dishman and
Gable worthy OF praise instead Of cen
sure, because the valuation of railroad
lands have been increased by 4,2l0,
and that OF individuals decreased by
1912, when the facts are, as every well
informed person knows. that nine tenths
OF this increase is due TO the fact that a
large amount of patented lands appear
upon the assessment rolls this year for
first time, and the decrease in the valu-
alton OF the property OF individuals is
due to the fact that there is a decrease
in the amount OF property and not to II
lower assessment.
Now the real question that people are
asking is, why should the value OF rail
road lands have been lowered at all?
The original assessment OF railroad
lands was 81 20 per acre; that OF indi
viduals sl.60 per acre; MeSsrs. Cabl
and Dishman reduced the valuation OF
railroad property TO 81 % per acre, leav-
ing the lands OF the farmer as originally
assessed.
Now il the lands Of The county were
assessed too high, why did they not
lower the valuation OF the lands belong
ing to the farmer as well as those belong
ing to the railroad company?
Why did they equalize the roll by
placing valuation OF 81 20 upon each
acre belonging to the farmer and only
$l.O9 on that belonging to the railroad
company?
These are the questions we wish the
W sit1hNl nave OurTCN
our columns for that purpose, but 80 fal
they have remained silent
The attempt OF the Blade TO give the
commissioners credit for the increase in
the valuation OF railroad lands is alb
surd. The assessor. prior to the meet
ing Of the board Of equalization had in,
creased the valuation of railroad land,
over $3.50, 900 over that of last year. bu
the commissioners reduced this by oyel
So, 1000, leaving an increase of CveI
$S4 ,2l0 instead of $l30OO1 as original,
assessed. Will the Blade b. NOR,
explicit and inform its readers how Mr.
Gable and Dishman are entitled to any
credit for this increase?
But, asserts the Blade, referring to the
increased assessment plared npon tn,
railroad lands by the assessor, 'ths
whole thing is a silver republican job. >
Now, while we are perfectly willing that
the Blade should give the silver rrpub
licans the credit Of being desiruus oil
making the railroad company pay its
just proportion of the taxes, we appre-
bend that the farmers OF the county gen
orally, whatever may be their political
predictions, have an equal desire
that the assessment of railroad lands
shall be on an equality with their own
and that it pay as much tax acre for
acre, as they themselves have to pay.
The only attempt made so far, to de
fend the action of Messrs. Cable and
Dishman, is by the Blade who says, re-
ferring to the matter OF the reduction OF
the valuation of the railroad lands. that
they ''took a business view OF the situa.
ton"
If this defense had appeared any
where except in the columns Of the
Blade We would be astonished but
when we remember its aristocratic per
formances in the political field last fall
and its various contortions made in or
der to get itself in such a position so
that it could take a business view OF
the situation, we need not he surprised
when it asserts that the gentlemen we're
actuated by business views" Now we
believe that the great majority Of the
people are Old fashioned enough to i'm
agine that the duties Of the commission
ers when sitting as board Of equaIiza
ton, is to 80 equalize the valuation of
property that each parcel will bear its
share Of the public burden, and that
they should be influenced by 10 consid,
erations as to whether parties would OBJ
Ject to such equalization unless granted
special favors, and in this view we
heartily coincide, and when Blade as
serts that it il proper in a business
point Of view" to assess the railroad
sixty per cent. less upon its lands than
the farmer is assessed. we most decided.
ly differ with it as we also believe will
every farmer in the county.
Some days ago a band OF Spanish |
guerrillas managed TO defeat an inferior