Williams news., 1905-04-22
SHEEPMEN MAKE
 STRONG PROTEST

A iOC O1 Sneepmen are Tn PreS- colt, says the Herald of last Wednes- day, to protest against what they deem the unjust action on the part of the assessors office in taxing their wool, which is stored at Cor des, ready for shipment to market. In all, about $500 is involved.
 The sheep owners wish it dis tinctly understood that they are not trying to dodge their just taxes, but are simply protesting against paying taxes that they consider to be a hardship on the sheep raising business. The sheep owners claim that their sheep are taxed at a fair valuation, and that it would be an imposition to watch the sheep and tax the wool as soon as the clip IS taLcn from the backs of the ami. mals.
 The men involved in the matter are Messrs. Colin Campbell, w. Fl. Campbell, C. c. Hutchinson, Yef- ger x Yeager, E. L. Patterson. g. Poquette, J. I. Roberts, Josepk Rice and H. J. Gray. Patterson, Hutch inson and Gray own sheep in Yav- apai county. The other men claim Coconino county as their places of residence, but have their sheep in Yavapai county in the spring of the year during fambing time. Cordes is great center for shear ing, and many sheep owners drive their focks there in shearing time.
 The men, in discussing the mat ter, said that in Montana the wool is never taxed, and that there are about 8,OOO.OOO head of sheep in that state. Arizona has about ; 100000 sheep, according to the esti- mates of these gentlemen. They believe that to tax the wool would discourage the business of sheep raising in the county.
 It would have tendency to drive the sheep owners into other coun- ties with their focks. They also argue that if the wool is taxed the farmer should pay tax on the hay that he cuts and stacks; on the milk from his COWS, eggs from his hens, hides from his cattle, fruit from his trees, cheese from his dairy, feathers from his geese, and, in fact. double tax on everything. They also claim that no taxis lev jed on wool in Maricopa county. where a large number of sheep are sheared annually.
 The men are willing to give bonds for the payment of the tax provid- ing that they are forced to pay it, but they also say that they wilt carry the matter to the highest / courts if necessary, as they want 1t settled once and for all
 Yavapai county in the past has been receiving not a cent from the sheepmen who have been grazing their flocks in the county two to four months in the year. The law law prescribes that the owner of sheep shall file statement of the number of sheep he has in the county within fifteen days of the time he crosses into the county. The county where the sheep are taxed is then to pay the county where the sheep graze a certain per cent of the taxes. This has never been done yet, and Yavapai county has never reaped any benefit from the sheep that are driven Tn to eat the grass several months each sea- son. The counties where the sheep owners reside derive the entire benefit, and Yavapai has to furnish feed for the flocks portion of each year. The question has been serious one and has been very vex- atious for several years.
 Later.-The protesting sheepmen gave bond, but with the understand ing that they make no admission of the claim against them being legal one. The legality of the as-..