Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-05-25
p.nl;es to. Misrepresentation OF
Partisan Papers.
Full VALUE FOR RAILROADS
Ponies Governor to Tour State
and Talk to Citizens.

The course Of the Idado Daily
st.tesman and the Evening Capital
News in the matter Of assessment
If property at its real value continues
to he an invitation to the assessors of
the state to disregard their official
duties, and the absurd misrepresenta-
tons continually repeated in these
newspapers possibly demand some
answer.
That the plan Of assessing at low
value, which necessarily entails high
tax rate, is against the best interests
Of the state, is not denied and cannot
successfully be denied, nor can it be
denied that it takes the same amount
Of money to carry on the state gov
ernment and the various county gov
ernments no matter whether the as
sessed value is high or low.
False Representations.
We are compelled to raise so much
money for governmental purposes,
regardless of the valuation for proper
ty in the state. After having persist
emily misrepresented the attitude of
those who desire to enforce the law,
these two newspapers have at last
fallen back on the sole argument that
compliance with the law will relieve
the mining companies and railroads
from their share of the burden of
taxation.
Not satisfied with attempting to in
fuence weakened assessors to vio-
late their sworn official duties, these
papers are now trying to develop a
feeling Of resentment on the part of
the people towards those who favor
the enforcement of the law by abso-
lutely false representations as to the
effect Of the proposed raise in as
sessed values.
Insult to the Board.
So far as the railroads are concern
ed, it is the announced intention Of
the State Board of Equalization to
assess this class of property, and all
other classes Of property coming un-
der their jurisdiction, at its full value.
Tointimate that the State Board Of
Equalization will not do this is an in
suit to every member Of the board.
1t is a statement absolutelw false and
without any foundation on which to
build.
Speaking for myself personally, and
believe for every other member o.
the State Board Of Equalization,
will see that the railroad, telegraph
and telephone companies will have
their property assessed at its full
value and will not be permitted t.
eyade their full share of the burder
Of taxation.
Assess Net Income.
These newspapers, however, con
tend that the mining companies vii
escape their share of taxation if pro
perty is assessed at its full value. Al
inspection of the law and especially ,
consideration of the so-called argu
ments Of these papers upon this prop
sltion will convince any reasonable
man OF the absurdity Of such con
ton.
Inc statutes Of this state prescrib
'nat mining companies shall be as
sessed upon the net income derives
:rcm their mines. This is a positiv,
injunction of the law.
very many of our people believ'
Tue wrong principle is involved il
.nls method. That is something
however, that the legislature alon
lAn IAN control. As long as this is til
law the assessment must be made il
sils way, and no good citizen ca
eomplain is the law is enforced i
.nls OF any other respect. There is n
sangloie reason that can be given i
.avor OF the belief that the minin
eSmpanies 70 will escape their full shar
J., la taxation by a compliance with th
-" On the part Of the officers.
Enforce Law Strictly.
n,I. me matter is comparatively unin
rol'ant anyway, as in only two coul
'eS OF the state have the mining con
ao. pa"nes paid taxes, because in only tw
oouht'es has there been any net il
Iyae Thn derived from mining propertie
~" e pest way to compel change
~ Jaw IN this regard, if the presel