The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-05-31
THE TRUTH ABOUT MOSCOW PAVING

third paragraph, which says the cit,
ordinance provides for issuing $3u,75:
of bonds. This is false as only $50, 00t
of bonds are provided for in the ordi
nance, and the amount to be issued
will be less than this amount in just
the proportion that the bid accepted
by the council is less than $210 pei
square yard.
The third false statement is in the
fourth paragraph, which says bonds in
the sum of $4,000 will be issued
(which will be a special assessment
against the property benefited" In
paragraph eleven it states these
lien. equivalent to mortgage, upon
each individual lot within the paving
district" In paragraph eighteen the
amount of these bonds is calculated as
binding on the council, and that it
might cost more or less than the
estimate. This is false. This fixes
the maximum amount that the city
can pay for paving the street inter
section. At a higher rate than this the
amount of bonds issued could not pave
all the street intersections in the paw
| ing district, and the council would be
part of the Indebtedness of the city,
making a grand total of $339,752, Of
Indebtedness for the city and that
part of the school district within the
city limits These statements, besides
conflicting with each other are false
in many respects and very mislead-
ing. The truth about the bonds is this.
,rr11.z wi, I'M,
basis of $210 per square yard for
paving, and will be reduced in amount
in proportion as the cost of paving
is less than that figure. They are not
lien on every lot in the paving dis
trict. but only such an amount of the
bonds as each such lot should pay for
its own paving, and no more.
The amount due on each lot is a
separate lien en- that lot, and it can
be paid up at any time. or be run the
full ten years, and if it is paid up that
lot is released from any further liza
bility for any of the remaining portion
of the so-called $4,000 of bonds.
They are not city bonds in any sense
and the city is not obligated single
dollar by them. The city issues a
specific lien on each lot for its share
of the paving. The paving contractor
accepts this as his pay, and the owner
of the lot makes his payments on
this lien to the holder thereof, through
the city treasurer.
Sec. Art 8 of the Con. of Idaho
prevents cities from loaning its
credit for this purpose. The Tax
payers League" have just as much
right to go to the county records and |
figure the total mortgage indebted
ness on all Moscow property and in
clude that amount as a part of the
citys Indebtedness as to include these |
bonds as they have done. This show
ing of city Indebtedness is false and /
Interest on Bonds
In paragraph ten Taxpayers
League" states that the bonds draw
u rate of interest not exceeding Z per
cent. This is false. These bonds can
not draw higher rate of interest than
6 per cent and may draw as much
less as the council may be able to
make a contract for with the paving
The Assessed Valuation.
Another misleading statement is in
II in which it is assumed
that the assessed valuation of the
city for the present year will be $780,
D00 This is a guess at best, and q very
wild one at that. No property has
been valued at this time and the valu-
alton will not be known till Septem-
ger 1st. Until this is known the 1911
valuation is the only safe basis for
iguring. The following certificate may
De verified at the Assessors office:
81, e. j. Gemmill. assessor of La
ah county, hereby certify that the I
assessed valuation of all property
within the corporate limits of Moscow i;
is shown on page 239 of Roll of {
he 1911 tax rolls of Latah county, is
Il ,7S5,14S. {
E. J. GEMMILL. t
BY Theo. E. Martinson, Deputy r.
This valuation is not on a cash ]
'asis by any means. At the meet s
ng of the State Board of Equalization I
asst year it was estimated tina. the
tate was assessed at about IS per
ent of its full cash value. Since then
he law regarding assessment of +
rcperty has been changed, providing r
or assessing at 40 per cent of it's full 7
ash value. The Taxpayers League" n
4 making their guess as stated above +
ave undoubtedly assumed that the q
ity was assessed last year on "a full q
ash basis at $1,785,1 4S; that this year q
would be 40 per cent of that amount v
+ 100000 On the basis of this val 6
alton, they have tried, by adding s
le city bond Indebtedness, which is
least $4,000 too high and the city
arrant Indebtedness, without sub
.racting the money on hand, enough
, pay it in full. the proposed bond is p
lie of $30,752, instead of the amount j.
lat will be actually issued, and the 81
ltire $4,000 of liens against speci- 81
c property, which is all false, they re
ave tried to make the percentage of d
ty Indebtedness so high that it would il
row scare into the people of Mos W
w, and get them to oppose the bonds. a.
0 not be fooled by these false state vi
ents and wrong conclusions. The pI
cts are as we state them, and any fe
,e of us will take pleasure in making az
EN- clear to those who doubt ia
The City's Indebtedness. f.
In paragraph IS, after Juggling with ~,
e figures of the city's bonded in -,
btedness the Taxpayers League" W W
we figured out btahomhlua -
we figured the total indebtedness =.
$339,752. On the basis of supposed 20 20
luation of 100000 they figure that 20 &c
, are going to bond ourselves for 90 90
per cent of the assessed valuation - ~