American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-04-29

N""'E Vi tHt ldtL III al ne mas Deen
investigating the entire proposition
Tor himself, and that he has ascer-
tanned that under the present plan.
large amount OF school money will
be brought into the state treasury
which is unnecessary TO have. and
that in the beginning, being a new
member, he relied largely upon the
governors legal knowledge and that
his careful investigation conse-
quent to the wide agitation of the
subject leads him to the belief that
the plan is not to the interest Of the
people at the present time and that
for this reason, he will take the po-
sition occupied By Auditor Taylor.
Dir. Clifford said to a representative
Of the Capital News:
At the time the resolution was
presented | was only entering upon
the duties of my office and was not
very familiar with the duties Of the
state board Of equalization, OF which
| am a member. and Governor Haw-
ley being lawyer Of wide reputa-
don. assumed from his statements
and attitude on this subject that
bAC SLHL- BDdl u vi t-tl a4lLd L4DIl. Oh
which the governor is chairman. was
charged with the duty OF directing
the assessments OF all property in
the state and it might likewise con-
trO or direct valuation that shall
be placed on any and all property
but after more carefully inyestigat-
ing the matter on my own account
find that I was mistaken as 10 the
duties OF the board | find that
the board has 10 power TO assess
or fix the value of any property,
except telegraph and telephone
lines, rail road tracks and rolling
stock and franchises"
IN speaking Of the outcome of
the mater State Auditor Taylor said
The people of Idaho are to be
congratulated upon the fact that
majority of state board OF equali-
zation is now against the full cash
valuation scheme While | have
stood alone on the board for some
weeks I have never had the slightest
doubt in the world as 10 the final
outcome From the time that We be
gan 10 dig beneath the surface and
expose TO view the evil consequences
OF this sudden and radical change
Il has been plain in my mind that
the action OF the board must be
resoinded or incalculable damages
must be done 10 the state. While
some OF the fixed levies might be
avoided by violating the law other
leyies could not and the result woul
be that vast sum OF money would
be taken from the people in exces
OF the needs of good government.
In addition TO this the scheme was
working out to the vast detriment
OF the farmer and home builder
with the result that he would have
to pay twice the amount OF taxes
IS formerly. The great mines OF
the state would get off with frac-
tion OF the taxes formerly paid,
while the average tax payer would
have 10 make il up.
While the public announcement
that the majority of the state board
OF equalization is on the right side
OF the question viii help, ii will not
repair the damage, for the reason
that the assessors OF about one
half the counties of the state are
working on full cash valuation
basis and this will lead to endless
confusion and probable injury 10
the taxpayers of those counties.
BY the time the county boards
of equalization and the state board
of equalization set through with
this question conditions Will be
greatly modified. but I want to
state now. as I stated at the begin
ming of this controversy, taxes will
increase by reason OF the fact that
this administration will cost the peo-
ple over S1,000.000 more than the
expenses OF the last"