The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-29
COMPLETED THEIR WORK
The Convention of County AS
SCISSORS Finished Its Labors.
THE VALUATION OF SHEEP
The Committee Recommended An In
crease Which Was Agreed to by the
Convention Although Opposed
by the Sheep Counties.

Special Dispatch to the Standard
Helena, Jan. aS.-The Montana asses
sors who met here yesterday for the
purpose of an interchange of views
upon all classes of assessment work
and principally to agree upon a uniform
assessment of live stock completed
their work this afternoon after enter
ing permanent organization with the
view of making the meetings a regular
annual affair hereafter.
The valuation to be placed upon
sheep was probably the most important
matter transacted. The committee to
whom this had been referred reported
this morning. recommending an assess
ment of S2.25 on all sheep regardless of
class. The convention could not agree
upon this report. Both State Treasurer
collins and Attorney General Nolan.
VINO We're invited to express themselves
favored an Increase In the valuation.
They maintained that sheep are worth
more to-day than one year ago when
the assessment was S1.T5 per head The
committee Was sent back and it finally
agreed upon calling all but lambs stock
sneep ana assessing them at $3.50 per
head. Lambs to be assessed at 81.
sucks owned by parties dealing in those
ANIMALS to be assessed according to the
judgment of the assessor This report
was adopted after some debating. those
from the sheep counties being strongly
opposed TO the increase of IS cents per
head over last year.
Inc balance of the day was devoted
20 a discussion in conjunction with
members of the state board of euuati-
cation of the best manner of placing n
valuation Of the capital stock of ma
tlonal banks, credits. mortgages real
estate, merchandise etc. While no deti-
mite f1gures could be agreed upon in
assessing these articles, many good
ideas We're advanced. The attorney
general laid down the law In regard TO
assessing bank holdings. He said that
IN case banker declined to tell
whether certain party had few or
many dollars on deposit the assessor
mad the right tn have hinf arrested for
failing To furnish such information.
That was the law and the courts
should be asked to say whether 1t is IA
good or a bad law In the matter of
real estate assessments the property
should be assessed for its value less
about % per cent. In the matter of
merchandise. the assessors are 10 de-
mand the invoices and assess within IS
per cent. of the value. The assessment
of mortgages Is to be guided by the
present value of the property to which
they apply. The discussion developed
that a tax upon personal property is
not under the present law a lien upon
the property.
Many other instructive points were
brought out, and at the close of the
discussion the assessors agreed the time
had been we'll spent Mr.. Collins sug-
gested in view of the evident good re-
suits of the meeting that the organiza-
tion be made permanent. This was
agreed to, and these officers elected
President, q. NJ. Allan, Silver Bow:
secretary. q. s. Miller, Deer Lodge:
executive committee. I9gnh Fischer
Lewis and Clarke. j. II. Gibson. Flat
head: James Hunter. Custer: w. c.
Whaley, Broadwatcr. William Birken-
buell., Cascade The usual resolutions
for faVors shown We're passed and a
member Of the state board of eaualiza-
ton said the board would request the
county commissioners to pay the as
SCISSORS actual expenses of the trip
Just before adjourning a poll of the
political complexion of the meeting was
taken II showed l. democrats, 10 re-
publicans and two popnlists.