The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-08-02
IDAHO'S BIGGEST NEED

If there is any one thing that tn
next legislature of Idaho ought t,
make a study of and relieve the bur
den upon the people. it is the question
OF just and equitable revenue law
Just to show how far reaching, and t,
what extent our present system il
being used to keep settlers and inves
tors out Of Idaho. The writer re-
Gently met party of eastern men who
intended to look over the different
SECTIONS Of Idaho and invest in irri.
gated lands.
n Seattle the party visited a prom
ineht real estate firm and incidentally
remarked that they intended to make
some investments in southern Idaho
presumably the Boise valley. Where
upon u the enterprising real estate
dealer pulled out large bundle OF
papers, Idaho Statesman and Capital
News), showing article after article
on the question of taxation, and the
same thing happened in Tacoma and
Portland, the result being that the
prospective eastern investors changed
their routes and came east through
Montana, without even passing
drought the great irrigated country
OF southern Idaho.
& And this same question of excessive
taxation for state and counties in Ida
no is well known all through Montana.
where general taxes are much lower
and in the face of more general i'm
provements being made than in Idaho.
We hope the members elect from
canyon county will get together, Law
aside all local differences, make a
study OF revenue, and take the lead
on that question in the next legisla
ture. This question is of more i'm
pprtance to the people and our future
prosperity than a railroad commission
Cary Act commission, prohibition
initiative, referendum, recall or any or
ALI questions put together.
We are inclined to think from =
casual investigation that our Can
adam cousins have much better
system OF revenue than is in force
anywhere in the United States. From
report recently made by the tax
commissioner Of the Provence Of
Alberta. Canada. we have the follow
ing: @@ ~.
more than a hundred agricultural
communities in the Provence of AL
Derta will be organized this wear
under the rural municipality act,
passed by the last legislature and
effective in 1913. The department
OF municipal affairs has SO far received
requests for petitions to organize
municipalities, and it is announced
that elections will be held in IS local
tues this month and that plebiscit;es
may continue to be taken until Nov
ember. w .....
"Chas. Stewert, Minister of Mimi
cipal Affairs, announced in Edmon-
ton that-the affairs of all local i'm
proVement districts in the province
or mot they are to be or
sanized' must be wound up the coming
'aii' when an official audit will be
made OF the books of the authorities
Any balance shown on the debit q,
credit side will be taken over bv tbe
new organization.
The new system provides that
axes shall be levied equally upon all
"aterable land in the municinaI;tv
according to the assessed value oil
'uch land. The assessment plan is
'aSea upon the following provision
n the rural municipality act.
Land shall be assessed az its act,,,
ASH value as it would be appraisedl
n payment of a just debt from a COL
'ent debtor, exclusive OF the value of
my building erected thereon or oil
ny otner increase of value caused bv
ny other expendition of labor Of
apital thereon.
..ar .sl-as