The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-01-12
and the board for their kindness In
entertaining them at that time.
Oppose Exemption Plan.

anu Tie UOdTu lOT IutlI III
entertaining them at that time.
Oppose Exemption Plan.
Governor Hawley's plan of a $500
exemption on the improvements on
the home of a taxpayer received its
first setback when the county COM
missioners in convention overwhelm-
ingly voted against it yesterday and
favored an exemption of $1,000 by a
vote of only Is to IL. The commits
sioners declared themselves heartily
in favor of the exemption of the per-
sonal property of a man who has no
other property, believing that the
governors plan to help the poor man
would be better served by such a
scheme as that rather than by the ex-
emption Of the homes of the taxpay-
ers.
]. E. Kerrick, chairman of the leg
islatiye committee, also brought his
feet down on the law in several re-
spects where he thought that it was
too sever in it's terms. He declared
that under it's provisions, the asses
sors would be forced to place a value
on the property of the taxpayers
which they know to be in excess of
the real value in order to protect
themselves from the $500 fine and
forfeiture of $1,000 on their official
bonds that the proposed revenu law
provides. He pointed out that the
bill requires the assessor and the
county commissioners to assess the
property at full cash value and pro-
vides a severe penalty in case they
fail to do SO.
Kerrick Scents Trouble.
In his argument, he said that the
difference of opinion between two
men as to the actual cash value would
have to be more than covered by the
assessor and commissioners in fixing
the values in order to prevent ONE
persons filing complaint against them
and reaping so per cent of the fine
that would be assessed against them.
The result would be, he said, that
all of the property of the state would
be valued at so much more than it's
real value that the people would suf-
fer with the real burdens of taxa
ton. He declared that he wouldn't
have the job for $4,000 a year un-
der such conditions as that.
Too Many Bosses.
In his talk, he also came out for
the application of severe penalties on
the employees of the state tax commits
sion which, although they are apt to
make the assessments in case the
local authorities don't do their duty
to the satisfaction of the commission,
are not now included in the penalties
If they don't assess at full value. In
this connection, he said, that there
are too many authorities in this and
other state laws. He said that the
counties have school trustees, county
superintendent, probation officers,
and above them all, a state health de-
partment, and the duties of every one
of them require the supervision of the
school buildings Of their districts.
What Would Cassia Do?
Commissioners from Cassia county
pointed out that, outside of the town
of Burley, not more than $500 would
be collected in taxes in of the dis
tricts of their county, ever under the
$1,000 exemption. The fact that the
land there is in the government recla-
nation service and exempt from tax
alton, leaves them only the right to
tax Improvements, which consist
largely of properties under $1,000 in
value. They declared that they would
not be able to maintain their schools
not considering other county business,
on that sort of taxation principles.