Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-03-17

Governor lIawley has addressed
IN open letter to the people Of
Idaho, urging that they give the
state board of equalization and
county officials, especially the asses
sors, their unqualified support in
the movement lnaugurated to assess
I'll property at its cash valuation.
80 the people Of the State Of Idaho:
THE development of the state has
been heretofore retarded by the fact
hat an excessive taxation rate has
frightened capitalists from invest
ments in enterprises sought to be inaug-
urated and carried on in Idaho. Immi-
grafton TO our state has not been in the
same ratio as immigration to our sister
states of Washington and Oregon, on
account of our tax rate being several
hundred per cent greater than the tax
rates in the states mentioned. The en-
tire assessment roll of this great state
is now $127, 900, 600 only, sum that
loes not represent the value of the in
lividual holdings of scores of citizens
,e the United States. The impression
mas gone abroad and will continue to
remain until the evil is remedied that
property of different kinds in Idaho is
iery low in value and that the tax rate
is greater than in almost any other
state in the union. While we have no
extremely rich men, still it is fact
that the aggregated wealth of our state
In. proportion to its population is greater
than in most of onr sister states, and
the equal distribution Of this wealth
should make us happy, prosperous
md contented community.
"The evils of low valuations and high
taxation had but one excuse for their
existence, that being the constitutional
provision permitting our legislature to
increase our bonded indebtedness to II
per cent of the assessed valuation of the
state and thus enable a vast permanent
lebt to be entailed upon us should we
,e afflicted with an improvident or
areless legislature. This condition
will no longer exist after the next gem
sral election because the legislature ut
ts late session wisely adopted a resolu
ion providing for the submission of a
constitutional amendment limiting the
mount of bonded Indebtedness of the
tate to fixed figure. This proposed
amendment will unpoubtedly be adopt
ID by practically unanimous vote of
,ur citizens In view of this the state
)oaFd of equalization has already me-
md insisted that the evils complained
If should at once and in their entirety
le remedied and that the laws of the
,tate, which explicitly declare that all
axable property shall be assessed at its
.eal cash value. shall in the future be
Itrictly followed and ABSOLUTELY complied
With. The board is taking all possible
measures to secure full compliance
With the law and our course in this re-
gard will not be devlated from IN the
,lightest particular, nor will exceptions
1e made in favor Of any locality or any
branch of business.
"The strict enforcement of the hither-
co ignored laws Of the state depends to
great extent upon the comfy assess
lrs, the boards of county commissioners
ind the prosecuting attorneys of the
several counties. II each and every Of
5hese officers does his full duty, this
great reform will be inaugurated In its
entirety during the present. year My
self, as governor, and the attorney gem
eral and his assistants will strenously
endeavor to have strict compliance
with the provisions of the law and will