The Delta independent., 1902-08-29
AsscssIIi ent '1an"ie.

Canon City Clipper.
AT the meeting OF the assessors OF the
State at Denver last week they decided
that the assessment of tho railroads Of
the State by the State board OF equal
izers was lower than their assessment
of the other property of their counties,
and it is reported that they will make a
horizontal cnt in their assessments to a
figure to correspond to their idea OF
justice in the matter. By such an act
ion the State will receive less revenue
than it ought to have.
This brings up again tho contention
of tho Clipper OF last winter that the
only solution OF the assessment problem
is to have but one assessing body. No
satisfactory results will ever be obtained
under the present system. The county
assessors are the constitutional assess
ing officers of the state and they can not
be legisated out OF their functions, but
in the discussion of the question last
winter at tho special session the pre-
ponderanco OF authorities appeared to
sustain tho point that tho assessors
could not be made state board OF ass
essor5 for the purpose of assessing the
railroads and other corporations OF the
State.
Whether that point was we'll taken or
not it had u controlling effect on the
members OF the legislature, who did not
cars to take the chances of creating an
assessing board. the legality Of which
would be questoned and the objection
possibly be sustain ed. So it was ar
ranged to have the corporations asSess-
ed by the State equalizers. Said board
could not be given the authority to per-
form the functions OF the county assess
ers, so we have a dual assessing system.
which can never be satisfactory.
We believe that tho revenue law is
now in good shape to provide plenty OF
revenue for State purposes IL it be
properly executed. The only remedy il
seems to US, is to adopt constitutional
amendment authorizing an assessing
CONT ission so there will be one head TO
all the assessing business. By constitu-
tionai amendment the Office Of county
assessor could be abolished, aud thon
with = commission for that purpose.
with authority to employ persons to
assess, there would be one method. An
other and perhaps better way would
be to retain the assessors and have
commission with authority to direct the
a in ha RI hnr prt bni Irt
Then the commission would assess the
corporations and direct tho assessors us
TO the valuation to be placed on ditferent
classes OF property in their county. BY
that means the game class of property
could bo assessed ct q uniform Talua-
tion throughout tho State. and a much
fIirer assessment mado than ever has
been made iu this State, whore cattle
have been assessed at four dolars per
bead in one county. and al all other val
uatlons from that price up 10 thirty dol
lars in other COUNTIES.
The commission would be the head Of
the assessing system and would have
the responsibility Of seeing that a uni
form system OF Assessment prevailed,
aud that The valuations should be such
as to provide the revenue necessary to
run tho State and county atfaiss in M
II
is disgrace to tbs State to be unable
,~to pay its just dobts. That condition
has prevailed, however, for number OF
years. Tho people are tired of advanc
ing money to help the State out in it's
extremities, us experience Is teaching
them that there is no assurance under
present conditions OF ever getting their
money back, for it is impossible for the
State to pay il 1t hasn't got the money !
Tho scramble going on now TO get
back monoy advanced by the clearing
house and individuals during the Thom |
IA Administrations is sn illustration. Un /
der existing conditions there Is no legal
way OF their getting their money II
they should be paid, money would have |
10 be paid that has been regularly up-
proprated for other purposes, which |
cannot be done under the law. Should /
the railroad tax for 1901 be paid there
would probably be money enough to pay |
the deficiencies OF the State institutions |
during the Thomas and Adams admin |
istrationg. but without that railroad tax
those deficiencies cannot legally be paid |
during the present administration. And. |
what is more, thoy can meyer bs paid |
until the revenue matters arc put 10 |
better shape than they hsvs been.
Bold Trick.
VIM. Vest Of Olathe had horse and |