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

The vicious campaign against Gov
ernor Hawley's full cash value assess
ment plan has suffered a complete col
lapse, and the Statesman and Capital
News are wearing huge badges of
mourning Taylor's boom for the gu
bernatorial nomination is likewise in
eclipse just now. As predicted by
Hawley, the rate has been lowered in
the proportion to the raise in valua-
ton, and the fixed levy myth has
vanished into thin air. Last Friday
the state board Of equalization fixed
the rate for state taxes at mills, as
against IL mills last year. On this
basis Canyon county will pay for state
taxes S8,549 more than last year, and
other counties will pay proportion
| ate increase, caused by the excessive
| appropriations of the last Republican
legislature. The Statesman of Satur-
day comments on the final action of
the board as follows:
Wholly disregarding the fixed tax
levies as established by statute and
the constitution, the state board of
equalization yesterday completed its
work for the year by establishing a
levy of mills to meet the demands
Of the general fund, interest and sink
ing fund and interest on capitol bonds.
This, on a valuation Of $330,000,000 is
expected to produce 100000
There was an increase of practical
| ly $l25,0O0 for the general fund and
| a decrease of practically $4,000 in
the interest and sinking fund levy.
| This decrease was due to the fact that
there are not so many bonds to be re-
deemed this year
When the board met yesterday aft
ernoon in the office Of Secretary OF
State Clifford all the members were
| present and the best of feeling pre-
vailed. 1t was set forth that the APP
/ propriations made by the last legisla-
ture amounted to $191S,312, after de
ducting the S3l5,O00 vetoed by Cover
nor Hawley Half of this amount, ol
So5o,156. it was agreed must be pro
vided for by the tax levy of this year
as the appropriations cover a perioC
Of two years.
1t was agreed also that there shoulC
be a working margin. for the reason
: that some Of the counties were in tn
habit of being delinquent with thei
share Of the taxes for state purposes
After much figuring and investigat
), ing levy Of 2 Is mills for the gen
eral fund, 3-5 of a mill for interes
and sinking fund, and Is of a mil
for interest on capitol bonds, or to
tai Of 3 mills for all purposes, wa
agreed upon.
l. The vote for the 3-mill levy was no
unanimous. State Auditor Taylor dc
n clined to vote.
e My reason for declining to vote,
It he said. "is that l am convinced tha
t, in reducing the fixed levies the boar
3f is usurping the functions Of the legi.
It lature. At the same time I am gla
% to see the board take any action tha
re will tend to relieve the state from a
e unnecessary tax burden
J. Attorney General McDougall wa
is satisfied that the state board of equa
ization was wholly within its rights j
Is making the reduction in the fixed ley
IT les. He said the state was bound t
re saise sufficient revenue to meet II
obligations; that when it had don
if that ii had complied with the law. H
a said he had consulted 20 leading a
ID torneys on the subject, and they a
ie agreed that the board had the Leg
right to reduce the levies.
Of Governor Hawley expressed himse
l. as fairly well pleased with the wor
IN of the state board
h Il would have preferred he san
le "that the valuations OF the counti'
had been raised instead of lowere
<. This would have made no differenC
<. as between the counties, but it woul
+, have raised the total valuation aboS
o. S400O000e0, and it would have bee
better in many ways. | never had an