The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1911-09-07

fOr the nrSt time IN the history
of Idaho the state board of equaliza-
ton this year had real data on which
to depend. Not only did we give
patient hearing to representatives Of
the public utility corporations as
sessed By the state board, but we had
before us many assessors, county
commissioners and other citizens OF
the several counties and secured
from them much valuable informa-
ton We had also for several weeks
prior to our meeting several tax ex
perts in the field, who accumulated
and impaired to Us much valuable
information.
while we were not able, perhaps
to absolutely equalizc the rates be
tween the several classes of property
or between the various counties, We
have advanced a long ways on thai
line, and will next year have the sys
EN- perfected. Many inequalite
have been pointed out by the hosti
,ress and, while mostly corrected
undoubtedly many still exist Thes,
however. are but small fraction
he gross inequalities of the pas
Under the new system the inequali
les are in the public eye and can II
he future be easily corrected; unde
he old system they were only dis
overed by those few who made care
full search
Il have PROPOSED to the stat
board, and the idea has been ap
proved. that in 1912 we will emplo.
Two reliable and competent experts
whose duty it shall be to visit ever,
,ounty in the state, ascertain the
method OF assessing, the basis O
aiuation and all other essential mat
ters; ascertain property not hereto
lore assessed, advise the various as
| SCISSORS as to proper methods, and re
port to the state board the relativ,
| yalues of all kinds of property in eaci
| county. There will thus be no futur,
| question in regard to the same classe!
| Of property being valued at a correc
| ratio in each count This will Civ
| the board positive data upon whici
to proceed, and enable a perfec
| equalization to be made The smal
| expense incurred will be many time
| covered by reason of the propert
that has heretofore escaped taxatio
being added 10 the assessment rolls
. This will result also in the fu
cash value of all property in the stat
| showing upon the next years rol
With the natural increase in value
nd pew property added, the nes
oil should show nearly S5O0OOOOO
| corresponding decrease in the ia
ate will necessarily result
"The state board has nothing to
With the cash value of property.
the duty of that board to equaliz
alues as between the several class'
# property and the different coui
les, and to assess property Of certa
,ublic utility corporations. 1t is tri
hat called upon the state board la
ipring to assist me in enforcing Il
ash valuation plan I did this b
,ause I desired their moral suppoi
s md for the further reason that
,arnestly desired to remove from q
eform any suspicion of its beii
q brought about by political or person
b considerations 1t was and is n
G iuty as governor to enforce the la
d THE assessors OF the state have
is iearly every instance tried to OBJ
he law Opinions as to values va
p greatly We had really provided
:, positive method of ascertaining su
a values. although we supposed we hs
:, It became necessary. therefore, (
r the board to make many chang
be when values were equalized. Unfc
IS tunately the equalization was dow
IS ward instead OF upward. or we wou
n. have shown a valuation for 1911
Il over S4OO.OO0,O0O After this meth
ie had been commenced it was impos
ld L bic to change it without a Va
Aamount Of work in the state audito