Lewiston daily teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1901, 1900-11-01
Wise (?) Economy
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in many cases they assessed property at
double the prior assessments thereof, yet
the State Board OF Equalization in many
counties added to the assessment made
by the county assessors, in some cases as
high as so per cent; in Latah county 40
per cent was added to the price of mer-
chandise and rs per cent to the assess
ment of decided lands. While this year
the state board has again raised the
assessment on decided lands in Latah
county, IS per cent, in Kootenai county,
50 per cent, while at the same time the
assessment on railroads in Latah county
has been reduced $25o per mile, while
the State Board of Equalization has en-
tirely failed to assess that part of the
railroad between Juliaetta and the Nez
Perce line. also warehouse property of the
Mp K Company, in Moscow, Idaho,
has absolutely escaped assessment, al
though that company has there one Of
the finest grain storage warehouse in the
state.
Thus as will be seen, beyond the posi-
hility of contradiction, while the farmer
and business man of this county has had
his assessment so outrageously Increased
that it has compelled many to retire from
business, the railroad corporations who
are now doing more business than ever
before, have had their taxes lowered by
this wise and economical administra-
tion." Under the republican admins
tration on the Boise branch which runs
from Nampa to Boise city, was assessed
l4.4o miles at 5000 per mile, So 300,
while under the present administration it
is assessed for $6.25o per mile, or an in
crease of $I25o per mile, more than here
tofore, but, the present administration
has strangely enough shortened the line
four miles and the aggregate assessment
thereof is now only for 1916 miles, as
against II as heretofore; thus the az
gregate assessment Of this line is lowered,
In tact, from $72 400 to $65,375. The as
sessnent was possibly made while the
Ice trust' was on the rampage, and
thus the shrinkage in the iron was an
actual shortening of the line as the dem
ocratic board has evidently established.
In Bannock county. the railroad com
pany paid taxes in the last year Of the re-
publican administration amounting 10
$4,000, nearly. While during the years
1899 and 1900. their taxes amount to but
trifie over 81, 900 each year; while the
assessment on stock, farm property and
merchandise has been in some cases
raised 100 per cent or double what it was
under the republican administration. AT
'he same time it is we'll known by every
one the railroads have widened and i'm
proved their roadbeds, replaced the rails
with heavy, new improved ones, as Is
also we'll known by everybody during
the tour years which preceded the incom-
Ing OF the present fusion administration
'he roads were in the hands of the re-
ce'vers; but few freight trains were run
ana the passenger cars were usually
empty; only one passenger train being
run each way every day; while now the
service has in every instance been doub-
'eo and the traffic fully quadru-
pied. Yet this ''wise and economical
administration" has relieved these
CORPORATIONS of approximately one hal
VI Tue taxes they should pay and has
sSoaled this burden upon the home
builders.
Mr. Hunt. the democratic nominee for
governor, as we'll as other speakers for
tue fusion ticket. are making reference
wherever they go to the difference in the
"'nouht OF money collected for the
'eaoal fund from the rental of state
s'hooi lands, the figures are approx
n'a'eiy correct. 1t is true that the last
republican administration collected but
very small amount of rent from school
'""us' For the reason that approx