The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-01

lands are sold, leased, fenced and
monopolized by individuals and cor
porations, it be recommended that
the lands be placed on the tax rolls
and left to the courts of the state to
decide as to the legality of the col
lection of taxes.
Chairman Wegner stated that the
object of the meeting was the discus
sion of the proper valuation of the
railroads in the state and to come to
some definite agreement to present
some definite plan TO the state board
of equalization and to Governor
Toole.
Chairman Clark of Silver Bow
county said: Every commissioner
who has sat in an equalization meet
ing knows we'll that the railroads are
not assessed in the same ratio as
other property.
"At this time it is for us the better
plan to petition the state board of
equalization to bring up the assess
ment of railroads to a fair and
equitable basis. | don't believe any
wants to be radical in this matter,
but each and every one wants fair
valuation of railroad property, and you
all know that such a fair valuation of
railroad property is not being given
now.
Here's a man working for liv-
ing who owns a lot and four or five
room cottage, which it takes five
stoves to heat this kind of weather,
and he is assessed $500 room. The
railroads are stocked from $4,000 to
$50, 900 per mile and their assessment
runs about $4,000 to $1,000 per mile
When the miner is paying a big as
sessment on his property on home,
it is pretty hard to see the other fell
low getting off with such a small per
centage of value.
81 am willing to join in petition
to the state board of equalization ask
ing that board to bring up the assess
ment of railroads to fair and
proper figure. [ believe that if the
board wants to be unfair in this mat
ter, it is within the power of the as
SCISSORS of different counties to cut
down the valuations on property; and
then where would the state be?
am satisfied it rests with the board
to equalize this matter of railroad as
sessments, and if the board does not
do it, it rests with you to cut down
other valuations, which will deprive
the state of big revenue and force
the state board to put up the railroad
assessment"
Assessor Larson of Teton county
said: 81 was present at the meeting
of the state board last year. and the
board seemed to be at a loss to find
the correct valuation in each county
The railroad attorneys said the coun
ty valuations were low and that the
railroads were assessed too high in
proportion and for that reason asked
for a rebate. Would it not be wei
for the assessors to make an est
mate showing the figures in each
county. | have figured the railroad
valuation in my county at from $50,
J 900 to $4,000 per mile. I am not {
railroad man, but I do not think E
valuation of 100000 per mile eXces
sive."
Chairman Clark of Silver Bow
! moved that a committee be appointed
J by the chair to draw up a resolution
, to be presented to the association
meeting this afternoon, and as far a.
it was in it's power to present facts
- H. a1JI1n ~
the petition to the state board.
Assessor z. H. Daniels, Park coun
ty, was of the opinion that the stat'
board would turn down" the peti
ton. 81 have been turned down b.
: the board and | must confess that
t don't like being turned down." SAT-
e Mr.. Daniels.
=, Assessor Brown of Silver Bow triet
to get the committee to take up othe
property that should be attended to
4 but it was decided to take up the rail
0 roads alone. Mr.. Brown made tn
i statement that millions of dollar
. were loaned annually in Silver Bow
county on which no taxes were paid
He wanted this included.
The assessors will vote on the ar
pointment of legislative committe
to attend the next meeting of the leg
islature to lobby for changes in tn
laws governing assessors.
Among the changes asked is tn
l. extension of the term of Office fror
:. two years to four years; the exter
e sion of two weeks in time for maxim
i returns, and the allowing of perqu
sites, such as mileage etc.
There was small sized squabbl
a at the afternoon meeting of the live
2 stock committee. These valuation
s were agreed to by the committee t
be reported to the association NEE
ing:
Stock sheep, $2.25.
Lambs, straight punches, 81.
If Stock cattle, $23.