Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1905-03-02

The eighth session of the legisla-
ture has wrestled with road bills,
insane asylum bills, liquor license
bills, and appropriation bills galore
and indeed so much prodigality
has been INDUCED in, that all the
revenues in sight have been ex.
hausted and bonds are to be issued
to pay for the balance of the pie
and the governor is greatly exer-
cised because of constitutional re-
strictions on the tax gathering
powers, fearing that the state will
not be able to meet its obligations
in the future. Now section nine
of article seven of the state consti-
tuition provides that the tax levy
for state purposes shall never ex-
exceed ten mills on the dollar,
when the valuation amounts to
fifty million the rate shall not ex-
coed five mills, when the valuation
amounts to one hundred million
the rate shall not exceed three mills
and the governor would like to have
this section amended SO that
higher rate could be levied, the
valuation being now about sixty
eight million. We believe, how
ever, that the present constitution
al provision will afford sufficient
revenue for the state if eco
nomically administered and that
righteousness should be blasted in
the bud. But among the chaff
some wheat is found and it is
pleasure to be able to announce
that semi-annual tax bill is be-
fore the house for consideration.
The bill referred to is house bill No.
121, by Addison. This bill has
more merit to it than any bill of
this session that has came under
our observation in that it is more
far reaching and revolutionary in
its character. 1t is an amend
ment to the 1901 revenue law and
provides that taxes shall become
delinquent on the first Monday in
December but if one half the tax is
paid at that time, the other half
will not be delinquent until the
first Monday in May
Under the present law all taxes
become delinquent on the first
Monday in January so that during
the month of December large per
cent of tho money in the county is
withdrawn from circulation until
it can again return to the people
by being paid out on county war;
rants. Besides there is no time of
year when farmers and business
men are hampered in money mat
tiers more than on the first of JAN
uary. If the Addison bill should be-
come a law the December payment
will be lightly felt and in January
when store bills and nearly all other
forms of liability, are expected to
be met, the debtor will not also have
a big tax bill staring him in the
face. This bill would also be Of
great benefit in that it regulates
the tax lien so that it will not at
tach until the tax becomes delin-
quent, while under the present
law the lien attaches on the first
Monday of January,or day of as
sessment, and thereby causes in
finite confusion and dissatisfaction
In realestate transfers. The law
that now obtains is so foreign from
equity and justice that the people
have practically rejected it by
adopting a rule whereby if trans
fers are made before the rents are
collected purchaser pays the tax
and If a transfer is made after the
rents are collected the vender pays
the tax, and this rule is often in
cluded as stipulation in the deed.
We fear the bill has too much
merit however to succeed in run
ing the gauntlet of the eight ses-
sion. Il
II the old saying is true that at