Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-09-02

BOISE. Ina, August 18th, 1899.


of March, 1899, the state board O
equalization called a meeting Of ..hs
county assessors Of the state, to be helS
in the city OF Boise, ut which all the
counties except one was represented
The object of the meeting was, rs you
are aware, TO acquire familiarity with
the, revenue laws enacted by the .lesis.
,,ature at its last session, and to devise
ways and means of carrying out effect
t.vely and equitably those laws. The
proceedings occupied several days and
the revenue system of the state was
very thoroughly discussed.
The two most glazing defects OF our
system to receive attention were the
Jack OF uniformity or equality in assess
ment, and the lack of generality or
failure to reach personal property.
According 90 our system of taxation
the total amount To be raised by tie
state is fixed by the legislature and
,apportioned by the state board of equal
izalion among the ecpnties according
to appraised valuation of each. The
rate of taxation is found by adding the
county tax to the state tax. The local
needs, therefore, should vary the rate.
and this would be the only cause OF va
Rance II property was assessed uniform
~ In all counties. AS is generally known.
this was not the fact. In contiguous
,couLties. when conditions were prac-
,tically the same, we find that the same
class of property was not assessed in
the same manner or at the same rate.
The inequalities were often so great
that the state board of equalization
was practically powerlsSs to adjust the
matter.
As regards the failure to assess all
property, the situation was becoming
quite alarming. The abuses that were
praeticed were so fragrant as to have
become by-word. Great masses of
property were annually escaping the
assessors eye, and the state and conn
ties were drawing more from the
property actually assessed than fair
and just share. 1t was considered quite
dangerous for 81 asSessos, 20 fearlessly
do his duty.
reputation of the state was increas-
Ing, but wealth, judged from the as
SCISSORS returns, was not. Besides
the great injustice done individuals
and .eonmupities, the oddly of the sit
uation gave rise to erroneous impress
sions, very damaging in their results.
as 70 the commercial and industrial
progress of the state.
This was the condition of tbinos
when the last legislature enacted law
nxing maximum rate for state and
.eYrnty purposes. 1t being impossible
e go beyond that rate, the assessors
had 70 raise valuations somewhere near
tae legal requirement. An utter fail
ure to do this would have occasioned a
deficit in the county revenues and a re-
sort 10 cxpediencies which should be
o'oiueu III possible.
having examined the county audi
tors abstracts showing the work of
county assessors in their recent work
am satisfied that most praise worthy
effort has been made to comply with
the revenue laws and levy assessments
on the basis OF full cash valuation. In
I'll instances there has not been a STRIFE,
compliance with the law maxine the
1uii cash value the standard of assess-
Iinent. But do not think this was the
result OF lnattention or desire to vio-
late the law. The reform has been snf.
hciently established to insure its COM
pletion 10 the near future. The inter-
est OF the individuals, the counties and
ths STATE will be greatly promoted.
The amount of property assessed has
been greatly increased. In some coun- |
ties, it would seem, there have been
the most remarkable improvements in
Ihis respect. Whether due TO the yio-
lance OF the assessor or to the yolun-
lary returns made by the owner. the
Tact is the showings are very mucb
more satisfactory than heretofore.
In connection with this expressio,
81 congratuIation upon your work.
beg leave to indulge the hope that Won
Will not recede from your resolution to
execute the revenue laws in letter and
spirit The state board of euualiza.
non fully approves your endeayora tn
'eiorm methods OF assessment. and
'heerinlly acknowledges the success
Shich mas been attained in particular
instances. The board has attemn,ed
o cooperate with you in the DISCHARGE
u It's duties of equalizing valuations.
IT Is gratifying to observe that tho
'eoople OF the state generally have ia.
Inflated the assessors in every w,v
'ossibie. The exceptions to the rule I,
re few' aud it is hoped the beneficial
esnlts OF the strict execution of the -,
eVenue laws will be so plain tina,
nese lew will become recouciIed. No !
ther Official is cOnfrnptad f.l :,