The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-22
\ SUCCESSFUL SESSION
Assessors Finish Their Business
and Adjourn.
MUCH GOOD WILL RESULT
Sheep Assessment Question Was Thor
oughly Discussed Address by
Attorney General Nolan-A
Reduction on Logs.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard
Helena, Jan. 21.-The second annual
meeting of the county assessors called
together for the purpose of form
ulating plan for the uniform
assessment, adjourned this after
noon after what is pronounced
to have been a successful session.
Tw enty-one of the "a officers of as many
counties who place the valuations upon
the different classes of taxable proper
ty spent the day in discussing valua-
tions and the best manner of arriving
at them. The meeting was harmonious
throughout and it is expected that
much good will result in the way of
keeping up the assessment of the diff
ferent counties. There was more dis
cussion over the sheep assessment than
any other matter considered, but tae
assessors finally agreed upon what they
believe to be an equitable basis for
industry. The assessors do not take
kindly to the bill that has been intro
duced in the legislature by Senator
Hobson, reducing their salaries, and
they hope to stave off its passage so
far as it effects them, or secure some
notifications.
After the meeting had been called to
order this morning, Attorney General
Nolan, who is a member of the state
board of equalization, addressed the
assessors, urging them to keep the as
sessments up by assessing property as
near its cash value as possible The
committee that had been appointed to
report rate of assessment upon cattle
and sheep then submitted its report.
The committee recommended that
cattle be assessed as follows: Year
lings, SIS; two-year-olds, $40; range
cows and heifers, s25; steers, three
year-old and upwards, $50; mich cows,
$25; bulls and beef cattle, at the dis
erection of the assessor. These recon-
mendations were agreed to with but
little discussion. When 1t came to con-
sidering the committees recommended
lions as to sheep 1t was different. The
committee recommended that general
stock sheep be assessed at $3.50 per
head and bands of exclusive lambs at
So per head. bucks to be assessed at
the discretion of the assessor.
This opened the ball for a wide field
of discussion. For two hours the as
SCISSORS debated the matter. Some fav-
ored an assessment of as high as SO
straight for all classes of sheep, while
others contended for a fiat rate of S2.25.
The report was, however, finally adopt
ed. although it is useless to say that
all are not contented with that feature
of their work here.
The committee on logs and lumber re-
ported an assessment of IS per thou
sand upon lumber at the mill and 81
upon, logs. After a discussion the val
uation of logs was reduced to S. and
the report adopted. The west side as
SCISSORS made a successful fight for the
reduction on logs. The committee on
banks and bank assets and merchan-
disc recommended that they be assess
ed at their full cash value and the re-
port was adopted. The committee on
mines and mining reported that in the
absence of legislation, it was useless to
report any plan.
During the afternoon the assessors
fell into a discussion of the bill intro
duced by Senator Hobson, which, #
enacted, will reduce the salaries of their
offices in the different counties. They
agreed that such reduction would work
an injustice and they accordingly ap-
pointed a committee to wait upon TIE
author of the bill and bring him before
the meeting. Upon Mr.. Hobson's ar
rival, Chairman Miller, speaking Cor
the assessors, said that the bill as in
PRODUCED in the senate was hardly fair
to the assessors He pointed out how
the assessors, unlike other county 9TH
GERS, had to go all over their territory
without being remunerated in the way
of mileage or expenses. If the reduc-
ton were made it would leave little
for the assessor at the end of the year.
He said that by hard work he had rails
ed the assessment of Deer Lodge coun-
ty and the county's class. The asses
sOr makes possible the revenue pro-
ducing ability of the county and he
should be the highest paid officer in
stead of, as at resent, the smallest paid.
He made a plea for an allowance of
travelling expenses. Senator Hobson
said that the case as presented by Mr..
Miller, showed features of which he
was not aware before. There was no
intention to work an injustice upon any
county officer. He believed, however,
that county salaries were too high.
IF they were cut in two you would
see just as many applicants for them"
continued the senator "All admit that
state and county expenses in Montana
are too high, and unless there is a re-
duction, the people will be almost bank
rupted. I admit. however, that there
is considerable justice in what you
have said. l want to see the assessors
all well paid, believing that they,
of all county officers. deserve d fair re-
enumeration. If you gentlemen will in
corporate what Mr.. Miller has said in
tangible form, l assure you it will "a
ceive most careful consideration"
The assessors then adjourned to en-
joy the hospitality of Commodore Pow
er at the Montana club.
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