The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-03-24
Now Wiz You De Gooo?

nc lollOWlub letter was re-
ceived through Hon. Glenn Nj.
De wey ,ex-officio tax collector. of
Albion, Cassia County, Idaho:
STATE OF IDAHO,
Governors Office,
Dear Sir:-The evils of lowv
uation and d high rate of taxa
.ion have been the bane OF Idaho
III the past and retarded our de.
velopnIent, prevented a proper
Increase la our population and
created d condition that must
be absolutely aud at once RENE
died. The submission to the
people OF d constitutional amend
menr provided for by the late
Legislature limiting the amount
oi the bonded indebtedness OF
the State, has removed the only
valid objection that can be made
to a retDrm III this direction.
The State Board of Equaliza-
ton has, alter due elaboration,
by unanimous vote, resolved
tnat TINS great reform sho id be
at once lnaugurdted. A copy OF
the re utions of the Board to
that effect are here with enclosed. .
Under these resolutions it be-
comes tue duty of the Governor,
and the Attorney Gene al and
myself have resolved to take
every me ISure, now or IN the
future, no matter how uDpleaS.
ant such measures may be to us
or what effect it may have upon
others affected thereby to com
pei an exact obedience to the
law. | positively assure you
this will be done. The law is
explicit. Section 1862, Revised
Codes, provides: "All taxable
property must~be assessed at It's
iull cash value" This provision
OF the law must be enforced both
IN letter and in spirit. No devil
alton from this rule will be toll
Grated. We will insist upon an
exact compliance with this sec
ton OF the statute. If {, given
piece OF property has a cash val
ue OF 81 900, we will expect it
to be assessed at 81 900, not at
$500 or $500 or $500 or 1895.
The exact value must be assessed.
In order to have this full as.
sessment which will be insisted
upon, much depends upon the
assessors and their strict com
pllance with official duties. The
machinery of the law, when
properly put in motion will
work out this problem. Section
1852 makes it the duty of the |
assessor to exact from each per
son a sworn statement specifi-
cally stating all the real and |
personal property owned o.
under the control OF such person
on the second Monday in Tanu
AIRY OF each year. A practice has
grown up under which these
statements in many cases are
noc exacted from the person as
sessed. To omit this is a dere-
LECTION of duty upon the part of
the assessor that is a cause of
removal from office and subjects
aim 10 criminal prosecution as
well. To exact this statement
from the taxpayer under oath
makes such taxpayer liable un-
der the criminal statutes. | in
sist. therefor, that you require
this statement to be made and
norm to and no deviati from
this rule will b. tolerated or ex- ;
cused bv myself or the Board of ;
Equal zatio |. A thorough read ,
ing OF the section Il st cited will :
give you full insight into your !
iuties In this regard. The de- !,
1uctiOn of debts not secured bv +,
or trust deed on real s
~, permitted IN making up the !,
amount of credits to which the !,
.axp aver is entitled under the :.
provisions of Section 1888, is an :
matter to consider IN ;
he assessment of persons en- :
ragged in certain lines Otbusiness. =
t is contemplated by the stat !,
ties that the assessors shall =
make diligent inquiry in regard =
o such matters and Section +
-6S7 gives you the power to adj :
Minister oaths and take evidence ;,
n regard to such matters. If :
my person after you so demand
-efuses to make statements un- :,
Ter oath, you are privileged un- :,
Ter Section 1858 to make your =
'wn estimate as to values. and ;,
uch estimates cannot be inter :
cred with by the county boards :,
It equalization. You are, there =,
oxa -, - i