Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-09-16
How They EquallZed.

CclNc tuc people. oOiHe weeks ago
it contained the following:
after a thorough and most con-
scientious investigation, the mem
bers of the Board Of Equalization
deter mined that the railroads could
stand trifle more of the burden Of
ouI state taxes"
Commenting on this the Tribune
pointed out that the railroad COM
panies would in Idaho this year
pay from $5o.ooo to $75.ooo less
taxes than they did last year; that
in Bannock county alone they
would pay SIS 900 less taxes than
they did last year. Individual
property will, however, pay about
the same amount in taxes that it
did last year.
In replying to this, the Capital
heaps abuse upon the Tribune.
This, Of course, isn't worth no.
ticing. but incidentally, the Capt.
tai continues its attempts to de-
ceive the people in regard to TIE
true situation of affairs. 1t says:
Railroad property.in Idaho for
years has been assessed nearly so
per cent higher than other property
and hence should not have ben
raised as much in proportion as
other property
This is Just as untrue as the
former statement, and the Capital
knows that it is. Individual
property i'll Idaho for several years
prior TO this year has been assessed
at about so per cent of its actual
cash value and certainly nowhere
for less than 1915 per cent of its
actual cash value. Last year
the railroads were assessed at
$1,000 per mile. This year their
assessment Is $3.50 per mi,e. As
an instance it is only necessary to
say that the property Of the Oregon
Short Line is bonded for $50, 38I
per mile OF track. Its actual
value is hardly less than that
figure.
The Capital also says:
ut (The Trlbune) openly
+ charges every member OF the State
Board of Equalization with dis.
honesty and corruption, aud init
mates quit plainly that Governor
Steunenberg is liar"
In regard to the above, we can
only say that a member of the
present administration, who prob
ably knew what he was talking of,
said just before the State Board of
| Equalization met that the state
officers had figured the general
raise i'll valuation in the state and
that to make a proportionate raise
in railroad property would require
a valuation of not less than Sro,-
500 per mile. OF course there was
some reason for the change of
opinion. In regard to Governor
S,euncnberg: We did not attend
the convention OF the assessors of
the state held in Boise not long
since, but Mr.. c. H. Bassett,
assessor of Bannock county, did.
he informs us that Governor
Steunenberg appeared before the
assessors and urged them to com
ply with the new law, which calls
for an actual value assessment.
The question of the railroad
assessments was then raised, some
OF the assessors stating that If they
went ahead aud made their assess
ments on an actual value basis
and ii then the State Board failed
to make a propor,ionate raise in
the assessment OF railroad property,
the people would get a whole lot
the worst of the tax proposition.
In answer to this argument, Cover.
nor Steunenberg assured the
assessors that the State Board
would raise the valuation on rail-
road property proportiouately
With the raise made in other prop.
e;ty.
The Tribune is we'll satisfied to
see the railroad companies favored
in every way possible, but would
like to see such favors stated frank
iy in order that the railroad COM
panies and the people may under
stand their relations and work to-
gether in harmony and tor the up
building of the state. What the