The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1911-12-19
EXTRA SESSION NEEDED


The Merchants Association of Occur
dAlene, is taking steps to unite the
business men of the state in a demand
for revision Of the revenue laws of the
state. The movement is in the nature
of a demand for special legislative
convention to take up the present tax
tangle and devise ways and means of
tightening the burden now imposed
on. every taxpayer by reason of the
cash value plan which has raised
values without a proportionate reduc-
ton Of the levies in a great MANY
cases. The purpose of the extra SEES
sion is not only to change the law
with regard to the levies, but TO also
change the methods of payments. I'm
der the present system the whole
amount falls due January first with a
ten per cent penalty added for delin-
quency At that time Of the year. fol-
lowing the Christmas season, the aver
age taxpayer is nightly handicapped
to meet his obligations. The sugges-
ton OF making the payments fall at
two different periods of the year would
render a great service to every tax
payer and the demand for an extra
session should be forced to the atten-
tlon OF the governor by every county
IN the state. The following circular
from the northern city explains brief
ly how the matter can be adjusted:
The special committee appointed bv
the Occur d'Alene Merchants Associa-
tlon to investigate the matter of the
payment OF taxes semi-annually. beg
leave to report as follows:
That Section 1897, of the Revised
Codes of the State of Idaho, provides;
That on the first Monday in January.
or each year all unpaid taxes are de-
linquent, and thereafter the tax col
lector must collect thereon for the
use OF the county and city-town. viii
lage and Independent school district
authorized to collect revenue in the
manner provided by this chapter.
penalty of ten per cent and other costs
provided by law; and, that by reason
OF the foregoing law, the payment of
taxes semi-annually by the taxpayers
is unauthorized, unlawful and could
not be done until the legislature of tba
state assembled and made new proyi-
slons, relative to the collection of
taxes.
That Section 8, of Article 4, of the
constitution of the State of Idaho, pro-
Vldes: That the governor NAV. on ex-
traordinary occasions convene the leg
stature by proclamation, stating the
purpose for which he has convened il.
We believe that the present onerous
axes and complications attendant M
IN and growing out of the collection
1f the same, have brought forth an ex-
state of affairs in Idaho |
Which justify and make imperative the
'alllng OF special session of the leg
stature by the governor for the pur
pose or passing such revenue laws, as
VIII remedy the present chaotic state
II affairs, and since the present laws
ire such that relief from the present
conditions cannot be had by the paw
nent of taxes semi-annually, and since
he governor has authority to convene
ne legislature, we recommend that
defchants' Association petition the
governor of the state to assemble the
legislature at the earliest possible mo-
nent, that proper steps may be taken
o pass laws, remedying the present
manner of assessing property and col
Getting taxes thereon.
we further recommend that the as
oclat1on communicate with the husi-
Tess men of Wallace, Standpoint, Lew.
ston, Moscow and such other towns
S may be deemed necessary, with re-
erence to having them join us in our
memorial to the governor of the state.
Or the above purpose.
Respectfully submitted.
j. L. ROBINSON, Chair.
W