The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-01-25


Judgment Of the, Legislature. It
is their province to say whether
or not the additional expense
that would be created by such
"a commission would be justi-
lied.
| But what utter imbscility it
conveys to an analytical mind
to say that, while property
must be assessed at its full
cash value, the levy shall be
made on 40 per cent of such
value. What difference does it
make to the farmer whether he
raises 81 on a full valuation, or
81 on 40 per cent Of that valua-
ton 7 There is a certain amount
expressed in dollars and cents
that must be raised for the
purposes of government each
year. SO long as there is an
equitable valuation what diff
ference does it make whether
or not ii is raised on a valua-
ton of 100 per cent or 40 per
cent?
1t costs the Farmers Coop
erative Ditch company, in
round numbers, $4,000 per
year to run its ditch. There
are, IN round numbers, 5000
shares. The taxes are found by
dividing the cost by the mum
Der Of shares to be $3.50 per
share, and the water users pay
that amount on each share
owned. We well remember
when those shares were worth
$40 per share, and know that
you can't buy one Of them to-
day for less than $50, but the
value Of those shares makes alb
solutely no difference to the
farmer when he comes to pay
his assessment.
When the county commits |
sioners met last summer it was
found necessary to raise, in
round numbers, the sum of
$345,000 for state and county |
government. The number of |
shares Of property owned had
been ascertained by the asses
sors to be 24,592,000, and the
cost per share was therefore
practically IA mills.
Had the directors Of the
ditch company, or its bylaws,
provided that only 4-10 of a
share should be used for assess
ment purposes, that 4-10 would
have had to pay 1915; had the
laws Of Idaho provided that
only 40 per cent of the value of
property should be used for
purposes Of taxation last year, |
each. 4-10 of a share would
have had to pay 35 mills. Sim
pie. isn't itl
Yet full grown men, in whose
intelligence you had confidence
enough to send them to Boise
To make laws for you, are there
arguing as a relief for the over
burdened taxpayer that, while
property shall be assessed at
its full value, only 40 per cent
Of that value shall be used for
( purposes of taxation. They are
not figuring ON how to reduce
that $345,000 per year that
Canyon county taxpayers have
to raise. They are not figuring
ON how to bring from their hid
ing places other millions of dol
lars of covered property. They
are not figuring on how to Sc
cure an equitable assessment,
and make each share of proper
ty pay its just share of tax;
they are figuring as to whether
100 per cent or 40 per cent shall
be taxed, and-playing politics.
But the remedy for the high
tax disease lies, not with the
legislature, but with the people,
| We have been getting along
for a good many years under
the present laws without hay
ing our property confscated
for taxes. IL the stockholders
of the ditch company found
that year after year their ex-
penses were being enormously
increased they would change
that board Of directors so quick
it would make your head swim
The remedy for your high taxes
is TO put men in charge of stat,
, and county and school govern
ment that will conduct the gov