The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-04-14
governor GIVES
UP HIS Cash IDEA
GOVERNOR EXPLAINS THE
MATTER OF FIXED LEVIES
BY THE LEGISLATURE.

Bank Deposit Assessment Abandoned
AS Impractical by State Board
Assessor Christopher Sheds Light
on Difficult Taxation Problems
Agitating Public Mind.
Assessor A. o. Christopher is in
| receipt of a letter of instruction from
| Governor Hawley in regard to as
sessing at the cash value and also in
regard to the assessment of moneys
in the banks of the state. We think
it only fair to the state officials and
to the public that the position of the
state officers be set forth. The
governor says it is simply matter
| of conscience whether the taxpayer
shall truthfully report the money he
has on hand whether it is in his per-
sonal possession or in a bank. He
admits that the banks cannot be
made to give the individuals deposits.
In other words, money will be as
sessed as in the past, that is, not at
all. On this question the governor
says:
an regard to the bank deposits
upon which you particularly question
me, would say that the proposition
is difficult. The assessor cannot un-
der our system compel statement
from the banks giving the amount
of deposits of any individual or even
requiring the names of deppsitors.
It is the duty, however, of the tax
payer. to give in to the assessor as
a part of his statement all moneys
he has on hand 1t cuts no figure
whether this money is in the bank
or in his personal possession or is
outside of the state it is his duty to
nav the assessment on it here. A
man is Just as responsible here for
taxation on money that he has on
deposit in an Oregon or Utah bank
as he is on money placed on deposit
in one of our home banks. You can
readily see, however, that property
of this kind can evade its full share
of the burden of taxation; that it is
easv for the taxpayer to evade this
{ question. 1t is matter of conscience
| on his part to a great extent. Our
I law is incomplete in this regard
| You will do the best you can, under
! these circumstances to obtain the as
: sessment of this kind of property.
D "a good deal of fear has been ex-
: pressed on the part of many of an
n accumulation of funds by reason OF
s fixed ievies. You can assure the peo-
: pie of your section that there VIII
r he no accumulation of state funds;
that the fixed levies will not be re-
s garded but only enough money will
/ be raised to carry on the expenses
d Of the government The law in re-
= gard to fixed levies is simply direct
: orv Under our constitution the leg
y islature cannot put tax upon the
n neopIe that would raise an unneces-
sarv fund So far as the fixed levies
a in the country are concerned have
r about come to the conclusion that
# they are on the same footing, and II
y the county commissioners are salts
h fed that literal compliance with
Ie the statutes will raise an unnecessar-
It ilv large fund. it will be their duty to
ie disregard such statute and raise such
if fund as is necessary by lowering the
E minimum rate fixed was in doubt
ID about this matter for long time
~ and while I do not feel as certain
t, now on this as do feel in regard to
10 the state fixed levies, still I am pref
to ~ we'll satisfied as to the correctness
e of this position. repeat that the
lie people need have no fear of the ac-
emulation of great fund anywhere
II cuts no figure whatever so far as
the assessment and the amount Of
taxes is concerned, how much OF
- raise there is in the assessment. Il
~ REQUIRES Just so much money to rur
" the state and the county and whether
!" the assessment of the state is one
~ hundred million or one thousand mil
u lion dollars cuts no figure in thu
eS amount each individual taxpayer ha'
M to pay providing each one returns
ay the full amount of his property"