Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-11-09
ACCEPTS REPORT
OF ASSESSOR
Investigating Committee Acquiesces
and Then Wants More Time

The city council held its regular ,
meeting last evening. barely
a quorum being present. citing to
sickness OF some. while Others we're
out OF the city. Il vas late when
Mayor Hamilton called the session 10
order. There was but little business
transacted during the meeting other
than the regular FoutIne Of reports
OF the different city oflcers.
At the last meeting OF the conacii
the matter OF high taxes came up for
discussion. as has been previously
mentioned In the Press. and 81 that
time q committee Of three OF the
aldermen was appointed 10 call at
the assessors ONCE and look over the
books aud consult Assessor Smith re-
garding why some should pay more
pro rata than others. and during the
Intervening time the committee,
which was composed Of MessFs.
Daughters. McCleaF and StoneatFeet.
went to the ONCE of the assessor.
and in company with Assessor Smith
weat over the books and made, to
their satisfaction. in inspection OF the
books. preparatory 70 giving a report
at the regular meeting last evening.
After the committee had visited
the ONCE Assessor Smith thought II
would be best 70 prepare Q report
Of his own. perfectly independent
from the one which was 10 be- pre-.
ssnted by the compittee. 10 be eouId
do this to a far better advantages
than he could answer questions
which were being and probably would
continue to be asked him regarding
the matter on taxes for this year.
The report presented 10 the eoun,
ell by Mr.. Smith last evening wa.
given In detail and covered the Ia
matter fully. II was In every way
complete and after II had been given
all 81 the eouneiimen present. IneIud.
Ing the members OF the investigat.
Ing committee. accepted II ~ being
correct and satisfactory. notwith
standing the fact that near the clos
Of the session the committee Init
mated that 3 still more thorough in
vestlgation should be made By them
Assessors Report.
The report was In the nature OF
statement regarding the taxes OF IN,
city. He began BY saying that ther,
were four distinct parties responsible,
for each individuals tar. The boar.
OF county commissioners which lev
led the state and county tax. tn
school board which levied the schoo
tar. the city council Whleh leyiei
the city tax and the assessor VIII
made the assessment and collects
the taxes and that each attempts
TO throw the responsibility on IN
other, aud they all tried to throw
upon the assessor when In fact h
had nothing TO do with fixing th
amount OF the tar. bat only IKE
the value of the property.
Mr.. Smith did nos elaRn that II
assessment waE absolutely correct
some property might be assessed to
high and others too iow. bat he b
lieved the assessment this year va
the fairest that had ever been mad
: In the county. He took up the eft
. b. additions. giving the valuation I
1898 after they had been reduced !
per cent by the state board and con
, pared them With the 1893 assaamss
g and showed that in an bat two II
: stances the 1903 assessments vel
: lower.
. The following Is the valuations /
7 additions. the 1s0s being given Or
: and thea 1903:
: Occur d'Aiens town. sssses
{ s5s3.s7s: decrease. st5.Ios. coe,
d'Alene city. ss3.ssI. s2s.472; q
crease. sfo.sss sims'. s32.s3
t2s.os2; decrease. s77ss. shermi
!. Park. s47.I1s. tss.7ss: deereas
s4ss5. Forest Heights. tse.s2
: s33.25s; increase. s242s. Rrotz.
Si4.ss1. t12.2s2: decrease. 1855
Russell. s22.sst. 1is.se4: decreal
, t3sso. North Park. aib.Ti0. 81
r tI7g. Increase aagE auakas
e 1855, t2sT0; decrease. sf77
!. o'Brisn's. st57.s27. s12s.s0e: 1
10 crease. ss32f Lakeshore. tz1.sT
d t2s .sss: decrease. s37s. Glsnmo
, scare. ss4ss. decrease. ss3e.
4 NJ Smith hrougAs aat sha p.