The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-10-30

1t is not generally known that
the democrats are pledged, by their
platform in this state, to the enact
ment OF law that will exempt from
taxation practically all the residence
property in the cities and towns,
says the Vermillion Republican, and
this, too, at the expense of the farm
ers. One OF the planks in their
platform, reads as follows: 1--WE
favor the enactment of such laws
las will exempt from taxation the
"house occupied by it's owner, and
other improvements upon land in
| connection with the home, to the
total amount of $2,5OO.OO." This
was evidently put into the platform
as sop to catch the voters before
they realize its Significance. 1t will
be noticed from a reading OF the
plank that 1t is only the buildings
and not any part of the land that is
to be exempted. The land will be
assessed at its value exclusive of the
value of the residence and other
buildings used in connection there
with; but unless the buildings are
worth more than $2,500.00 they will
not be assessed at all. In the case
of farmers the land Is usually many
times the value of the dwelling
house, SO there would be no material
reduction in the assessed value Of
farm property. On the other hand,
the value OF residence property in
the cities and towns consists almost
wholly in the cost of the buildings.
The assessed value of building lots
in the cities and towns average
$4,000; but are occupied, II oc-
cupied at all. by buildings worth
many times that amount. But un-
less the house has an assessed value
OF more than $2,5O0.O0, it is to be
wholly exempt from taxation. In
the city OF Vermillion there are prob
ably not more than six or seven
residences that are assessed as much
as $2,500,00. The result OF the
proposed law, therefore, will be 20
exempt practically every dwelling
house in the city, and the same is
true Of all the cities and towns in
the state, from taxation. But the
amount OF revenue necessary to
carry on the business OF the county
cannot be cut down. It requires
a fixed amount to be levied and col
lected every year; and whenever one
piece Of property In the county is
exempted from taxation the amount
Of taxes on all the balance of the
property in the county must be In
creased proportionately; so that
when residence property in cities
and towns Is exempted from taxa
ton. as the democratic state OH
Gals are pledged to do IL elected
j the taxes on other property, which
consists principally OF farm lands
will have to be increased propor
tionally. In other words, tbs dsmo
Gratis are pledged to exempt all Thu
residence property In this stats from
taxation at the expense OF the fafasEt
Perhaps not before has 20 tnuel
4 care been required to enable Tho y0t
] Ter to- act intelligsntly ~ the polls
AZ least four separate ballots will b
siIhanded to him. The hrst Will be tn
,l,big political ballot containing tn
1 names OF All party candidates for tn
/ lsenerals election. The easy and wis
u method relating to this ID to and tn
3 lrepubaican ticket upon this ballc
!. md mark the circle at the top. Al
1 Iother ballot printed on . small Sci
I lsrate shest 81 PAPER provides for III