The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-04-25
L. E. MORSE.
Letter From Assessor Schmidt.

Democratic Candidate for Joint Represent
ative from the Counties of Waseo, Crook
Klamath and Lake.
Letter From Assessor Schmidt.
J. w. jenkins, Hood River, Ore.,-
Dear Sir: Your letter of the Sd inst,
to Sheriff Kelly, regarding inequality Of
assessment was handed to me, and care
fully reading over your statement, must
admit that the property in Hood River
valley has not been equitably assessed
the last year, nor any previous year, and
propably will not be so in years to come
in the eyes of the majority OF the tax
payers; for when the assessor comes
around to value the property invariably
it is not Of much value, so the taxpayer
says about $50 or 800, but the very
next day, week or month the very same
property is sold for 81 900 or more. You
know this defect in human nature, self
ishnes, is SO prevalent and predominant
in mankind. For explanation, when
the county assessor enters upon his du-
ties he generally consults the county
court as to the pro rata OF valuation,
in said county. In our last years consul
tation it was agreed to assess the prop
erty in Wasco county two-thirds on its
| full valuation, allowing one-third on
depreciation of value, failure of crops,
ETC., but the valuation of property should
be the same or as near so as possible,
according to the location, ETC., all over
the county.
The assessor divided the county into
different assessing districts, in this county
we have seven assessing districts, as fol-
lows The Dalles, Hood River, Mosier, Du-
fur, Wamic, Kingsley and Antelope. From
each district one deputy assessor is APP
pointed by the assessor, subject to the
approval of the county court. In The
Dalles district the assessor himself asses
ses the property for Hood River district,
NJ. II. Nickelsen was appointed, being
favorably recommended by several citi-
zens of Hood River, among them G. L.
Gilbert and County Commissioner n. @.
Evans Each deputy gets verbal and
written instructions alike to the effect
that each kind Of property in this coun-
ty may bear its just share of the burden
of taxation. The assessor went to Hood
River and in company with Deputy
Assessor M. H. Nickelsen viewed the
different parts OF Hood River valley and
the town of Hood River, in regard to as
sessing, to conform with values of other
property in Wasco county
In due time, later in the season, the
assessment slips were brought to this
office from the different assessing dis
tricts. In comparing values it was found
that property in Hood River valley dis
J trict was greatly undervalued in almost
t every instance, as the county records
; of transfers of property verified. TC
call on Mr.. Nickelsen to correct the
4 whole assessment in his district was out
of the question, as only few days re-
, mained to enter the contents of assess
ment slips in the tax roll records accord
ing to law ina specified time. After due
: consideration and to do justice to the
other taxpayers of Wasco county, sen'
another deputy to Hood River to take
: cognizance and re-assess the most note
worthy cases of undervaluation and re
! port to this office This was done anC
resulted in the present situation
and just complaint Mr.. Nickelsen
although good and honest man, in as
sessing did not take into consideration
the weak spot in human nature, that is
selfishness, but simply believed wha
people told him regarding values o
property.
, 1t is to be regretted that Wasco coun
' ty has such heavy debt hanging oil
S its shoulders, for last fall after collec
0 tion of taxes, county clerks official re
port showed this county's indebtedness
. to be Sill 900 and accruing interest. i
q seems to me that if our county courts il
former years had levied sufficient take
to pay current county expenses, the pres
ent state of finances in Wasco county
would not exist. The present assessor
y last year has succeeded in increasing
e the amount of taxable property on thu
u tax roll for 1901 about 80 per cent, most
y ly by raising valuations on railroads
r steamboats,, warehouses, banks and 9th
e er corporations, in order for them t,
:, pay Just share of the burden o
e taxation, and the sheriff and tax col
J. lector will have about $4,000 more tax
u es to collect on said tax roll than on thu
S tax roll of previous years.
The county court last January, beinj
anxious to reduce this county's indebt
edness, made high tax levy (25 mill
on the dollar in order to pay off largt
r block of this county's indebtedness
n about S25, 900, or more, besides curren
g county expenses. 1t is the opinion o
i. many good citizens that ageneral reduc
ton of Indebtedness would answer th,
: purpose, in order that the pioneer tile
! of the soil as also the rising industries
. may not be taxed to death.
{ In conclusion | wish to state that thu
present assessor has lived in Wasct
county for the last 2S years and ha
gained a pretty fair knowledge of value
of property in Wasco county, but it il
= impossible for him to view and asses
: every piece and parcel of property al
! over the county, and must trust to hi
! deputies to great extent for fair ant
Just assessment. With this object in view
! the several deputy assessors receive full
instructions. Again you will remembel
. that last years assessment was the frs
assessment made by the present asses
: sor, and errors committed may an,
{ should be avoided in future assessments
; for it takes time, good will and arduou
I labor to acquire the routine of Ufiic
! work and necessary knowledge so essen
: tial to success. Very respectfully,
{. l., SCHMIDT.
- Aga