Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-03-17
GOVERNOR TALKS :: :
ABOUT TAXATION !:
Addresses an Open Letter to the People upon the >
Question Of Assessing at Fair Cash Value
Insists on the Law Being Enforced.

exercise the civil and criminal remedies
provided for by statute for its enforce
ment. | realize, however, the difficult
position that the county officers men
toned, especially the assessors, will be
placed in. Property values Will be in
creased on an average four-fold in this
state. Many citizens will believe at
first that their taxes will be increased
on account of such increase in nvaluation
and, unless the matter is thoroughly
understood, pressure may he brought to
bear in the different localities upon the
| officiers. named, urging them to over
look the duties imposed upon them by
statute and SUI plying reasons for such
requested violations of law Such
course would only result in serious
trouble for the officers without reliev-
ing the individual so urging because
the officers composing the state board
of equalization are deadly in earnest in
this matter and propose the law shall
be absolutely enforced in it's entirety at
once, and thus cause its enforcement
for the years to come. A certain given
amount is necessary to pay the expenses
of the state government and of the var
ious county governments. This amount
is not increased or decreased by the i'm
crease or decrease of the assessment roll
of the state or of the several counties
II man who has property of the value
of 800 is required under the present
system to pay per cent of such valua-
tions, his taxes tor the current year,
the sum Of $50 SO paid will be the same
sum that he is compiled to pay for such
purpose if such property Of the county
is assessed in the same proportion, be-
cause in such event the tax rate would
be 1t per cent instead of per cent un-
der the old system.
This great reform when carried out
will greatly advance every material In
terest in the state, will cause vast sums
of money to be invested in enterprises
within our borders, will impel thous-
ands of immiI rants each year to make
their homes in out midst and will
inaugurate an era of prosperity in the
state that will soon make us as Of right
we should be, the foremost community
of the northwest. Instead. then, of
hampering or impeding the county Of
ficers in the discharge Of their duties,
instead of endeavoring to secure petty
advantages for individuals or localities
by urging violation of duty on the
part of assessors, let each and every
citizen of this state rise to the full mea-
sure of good citizenship; uphold the
express intention Of the state board of
equalization and the efforts of the
county officers, especially the assessors,
in assessing all property at its full val
uation; give such officers your active
assistance and your hearty support in
the discharge of their duties; be ready
to supply them with al required infor-
nation; see to it that not only your own
property is legally assessed but that
others in the community are compelled
TO bear their full share of the public
burden; place full confidence in the
state board of equalization, fnlly sup
plementing the efforts of the county of
ficers in securing a full valuation of
taxable properly by seeing to it that all
property assessed by such board will
also have placed thereon its full cash
value, and thereby do yonr full part in
assuring the future developing of Idaho
and the prosperity and well being of it's
people
"Yonrs respectively,
JAMES II. HAWLEY.
Governor.