Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-10-12
COUNTY ASSESSORS
Tax Law Revision Commission
Make Radical Recommendation
TO FIX THE RESPONSIBILITY
Tax Experts Would Relieve Super
visors, Also Urge That General
Assembly Make the Tax
Commission Permanent.

the state executive council of the
duties of making tax levies will be
recommended to the next general as.
sembly in bill prepared by the tax
commission provided for by law
passed by the last general assembly
to recommend changes in the Iowa
| tax laws.
These two reforms, which the
members of the commission deem
most important, were decided upon
| at the meeting of the commission the
past week at the state house.
All business of assessing will be
consolidated in each county under
one man, II the recommendation Of
the commission Is carried out. The
Office of township assessor and city
assessor will be abolished.
Recommend County Assessor.
] The five members of the temper
airy commission are agreed that the
| establishment of the office of coun-
! ty assessor is one of the best reform
steps the state can take in its tax
business.
Many states recently have made
| the change and in every case the
| work has been expedited and all con-
cerned better satisfied with the re-
suits. The plan fixes responsibility.
Where one man has charge, of the
entire county, the little troubles that
are continually cropping out under
the present system will be done away
with. Any irregularities will be cas-
lily traced. The county assessors Of
fee will have sufficient salary attach
ed to insure the service of the most
competent men. ! am sure the tax
business of the counties would be
handled better under the proposed
method.
Permanent Tax Commission.
Iowa win be following the lead OF
other states in the establishment of
a permanent tax commission. Where
ever tax commission has been es-
tablished, the benefit of the plan has
been apparent within short time in
better equalization of taxes and in
most cases a reduction is the rule.
A tax commission devotes its entire
time to a study of the question and
undoubtedly can give better service
than the executive council, for in
stance, which is composed of state
| officials who have their time well
employed by other important state
business.
Sonly Temporary Board.
The present tax commission IL on
ly a temporary board. empowered by
the legislature to work over the tax
laws of the state and make report
of its findings. Its life will expire be-
fore the next session of the general
assembly. A report of all its rec
concentrations will be made to Gov.
b. F. Carroll not later than Oct. l,
1912.
The members of the commission, all
of whom have been in attendance at
the meeting, are: NJ. H. Cohen of Des
Moines, chairman; Andrew C. Rip
ley of Garner, b. e. Stonebraker of
Rockwell City, j. II. McConologue of
Mason City and Charles n. Voss of
Davenport.
Barney Plans Picture Display.
Illustrated lectures on food and
dairy products and their care in the
home and on the place Of production
is the newest move of Commissioner
Barney to bring home TO the people
of Iowa the need of strict obedience
to the food and dairy laws of the
state
Commissioner Barney is gathering
photographs of proper and improper
methods of preparing food products,
of handling food and dairy products,
of dairy farm sanitation, of caring
for food in the home. and, in fact, of
every phase of the pure food problem
which can be illustrated.
These lectures will be given free
of charge at state and district con-
ventions, at fairs and wherever pos
sible to show them. Their first APP
pearance will be at the state teach
ers' convention In November.
New Law Source Of Trouble.
The revenue department OF State
Auditor Bleaklys office is having all
kinds of trouble over the new bank
assessment law which was passed
by the last legislature. Under the
new law the assessors when they as
sess bank stock must not deduct the
Indebtedness. Many of the asses
sors have sent In abstracts without
complying with the new law in any
way, shape or manner Many of them
have also assessed monies and cred
its under the new law when 1t does
| not become effective until next year.
Reduced Rates On Eggs.
The state railroad commission has
ruled that egg case filters shall take
minimum weight of $4,000 pounds
instead of 10000 pounds as is now
the case. The rule becomes effective
at once. 1t will mean big saving
In freight rates to Iowa egg shippers.
For instance, under the old rate II
shipper sent only $4,000 pounds in
car he had to pay for the extra 5000
because $4,000 pounds was the mini
mum. Now he has no extras to pay
for because his $4,000 is the mini
mum.
Better Watch Those Scales.
Next Monday has been fixed by
Commissioner Barney of the food and
dairy department as the last day of
grace for merchants and dealers OF
all kinds to procure scales which
come up to the standard required by
the Iowa laws. On that date the en-
tire corps of inspectors in his de-
partment will spread out over the
state to begin the testing OF all
SCALES ana the nrosacnfion of sll