Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1908-07-24
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

day is one carrying a heavy responsibility
with it. They are between two fires and
may feel some obligations in both direc-
tons. The assessors at their meeting in
augurated movement to bring the valua-
tons in the state up to what they should
lie. They had some assurance from the
state board Of equalization st the time that
railroads, telephone and telegraph lines
would be raised accordingly, and returned
to their homes, determined to keep good
faith in the movement and of course the
success of their resolution will depend
largely upon the good faith with which each
county carries out the plan outlined at
that time. Assessor Floyd has acted in
good faith and has raised the valuation in
this county. Now if the commissioners re-
fuse to allow the raise to stand it may APP
pear that they are not willing to live up to
the agreement, IL this much they may
feel some hesitancy in refusing to let the
raise stand.
On the other hand the commissioners are
the chosen representatives of the people of
Bear Lake county. They are placed in
office to safeguard the interests of the
people and to see that they are protected.
They are the guardians Of the peoples
rights. In this issue Of the Examiner APP
pears a representative statement of the
business interests of Montpelier, the metro
polls of the county. In the columns of this
issue are given the opinions of some com
petent, careful business men and also men
of Deep careful thought who have studied
the situation carefully before passing an
these men are opposed to raising the valua.
tion at this time.
This paper does not contend that the
voice of Montpelier should be taken for
more than it is worth in the affairs of the
county Montpelier is only small part of
the county it is true, yet the fact that
Montpelier is unit in opposition to the
raise is a fact of strong significance Such
unanimous expression on the part of Mont
pelier may be regarded as good index to
the feelings OF the entire county
Again the arguments submitted by the
Montpelier people ARE strong and convinc-
ing and should not be regarded lightly by
the commissioners in the discharge of their
duties. The railroads are now paying taxes
on only 20 per cent of their just valuation.
The property owners in the county are now
paying on 33b per cent. Is there any good
and valid reason why the Oregon Short
Line, the best paying road in the United
States today, should escape paying her
share of the county expenses in the counties
where she owns property? Is it not the
proper position for the commissioners and
assessors of various counties to demand
that the railroads and other corporate prop
erty be brought at once to IA valuation of
33t per cent the same as the counties are
now assessed upon? If the state board of
equalization wishes to prove its good faith
with the counties lot the members of that
board at once raise the railroads to the
same basis the ordinary business man or
farmer. After both are on an equal basis
then it is time to talk of a commensurate
raise. If we now raise 1863 percent and the
railroads raise the same the ratio is still
unjust. Tt is certainly the state boards
move.
Steps have been taken to get information
from every part of the state as to the action
that will be taken. This information will
be laid before the commissioners at their
meeting. Before the commissioners should
allow Bear Lake valuations to be raised
they should be so positively convinced that
both railroads and other counties were to
be raised that there was left no shadow of
a doubt in their minds. IF after refusing
the evidence laid before them they could
find a reasonable doubt if they could find