Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-12-12

NoAC uAS Juce WV PioOiChS IL soN
eminent. One is to secure in an equit-
able manner the funds necessary to
provide for the welfare of our people,
and the other to expend those funds
wisely and economically, in order to
secure the benefits for which govern
ment was instituted. All other asser-
tions are mere claptrap promulgated
for the purpose of gaining votes in the
heat of political campaign.
To the state legislature, in the mat
ter of state taxation, is entrusted the
duty of providing an equitable and just
system of producing the necessary rev.
enue; to Constitutional and legislative
executive boards and officials is dele
gated the duty to see that that reve-
nue. brings a dollars worth Of benefit
for every dollar expended.
Have you selected the right people
for this work9 If we were sure that
you have, this would be day Of gen.
uine Thanksgiving with us. However,
"AAAC We oiC NV wv cohS uihC1 We a. o
going to hope for the best.
There has been much said about tax
alton during the past two years. From
one end of the state to the other Gov
ernor Hawley has been cussed for
causing your high taxes. The fact that
he had nothing to do with the matter
didn t stop the storm of abuse. He
called special session of republican
legislature together to assist in lessen
ing your burdens. By your votes you
have endorsed it's action. Are your
taxes lessf
After the adjournment of the special
session the state board Of equalization
appointed three men, two republicans
and one democrat, to secure data for
uae in remodeling our revenue system.
The Herald is in receipt of their report
asd is going to publish it for your bene-
fit. These men are all men of integri-
ty, and of wide experience in matters
affecting taxation, and we are going to
- yOu w AOou bhOiA iCROlG CdIc1 ully .
and tell your members of the legisla-
tnre what you think about it. The re-
port is too long for this issue, but the
first installment will give you enough
70 think about for one week anyway,
and the balance will be published in
subsequent issues.
Report of Tax Agents.
Dated at Boise, Idaho, Oct. /, 1912.
To the State Board of Equalization:
In previous reports we have fur
niAhed you with data upon which to
base your action in equalizing assess
ments and have informed you of fail
ures on the part of county officials to
comply with the requirements of the
existing law. This data has been gath
cred from all available sources. We
have visited every county in the state
and have examined the assessment roll
and other records and the system in use
In each county. We have conferred
with every assessor in the state and
have invited an opportunity to assist
him in attempting to solve the prob
lens confronting him. We have also
visited the several sections of each
county as far as possible and conferred
with individual taxpayers therein.
In this report we will briefly detail
our findings on the operation of the
present revenue and tax laws, pointing
out what we consider defects in exist
ing laws and suggesting remedies for
such defects.
We believe that the development of
the state and the prosperity of its
citizens depend, in large measure,
upon safe, sane and sound revenue
law, and while we believe that certain
Immediate changes in our present laws
are necessary, we do not recommend
any new or untried theory of taxation
or any radical changes in our system
of taxation without a thorough under
standing and full discussion thereof by
the taxpayers of the state.
Under our system of general prop
erty tax, three points must never be