Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1912-01-13
LEGISLATIVE
EXTRA SESSION
The Most Striking Feature Of the
Proposed Laws is the
Tax Commission
MEN IN LINE FOR STATE OFFICES


BOISE, January 1O.-With the
meeting of the special session OF {
the legislature only few days off,
puhiic interest in the work OF the
special session is rapidly focusing
in that direction. A number OF
senators and representatives have
already arrived, with view to get
ting their bearings on the work
that is before them. 1t is ackpow-
ledeed on all sides that the work OF
the extra session will be of far
reaching Importance
The Governors special commits
sion, appointed to provide rever
nue. system and revise the revenue
laws, has reported, and their report
is accom- anied by "a bills for en-
actment, and in addition to these
bills reported by the commission,
it is probable that great many
other measures containing the pet
ideas of individual members on the
revenue question will be introduced.
The revenue laws of the state are
antiquated, and were put together
bv piece-meal, end no one questions
the need of revision The most
striking features of the proposed
laws are the tax commission and the
$2,5OO.OO exemption on improve
ments. At the last session of the
legislature tax commission bill
was introduced by Representative
Farmin of Bonner county. This
bill followed lines suggested by
Governor Brady, Attorney General
McDougal., State Auditor Taylor
and a committee from the County
Commissioners Association. 1t WAS
rejected by the legislature on the
ground that it was too radical and
drastic, and in this opinion tbs
Democrats were practically unit
and the Democratic opinion gas
concurred in by a number of Re-
publicans, 1t was. therefore, re-
freshing to find that commission
appointed by a Democratic Cover
nor has reported a tax commission
bill that for radicalism puts the
Farmin bill in the shade. 1t 10
understood that Governor Hawlev
fully concurs in the recommends
ton of his commission. The Far
min bill was, beyond question,
somewhat radical and drastic, but
it provided that at all times the
work of the tax commission should
be under the supervision OF the
State Board of Equalization. an
elective body responsive to the peo-
pie The Hawley bill provides that
the tax commission shall he su-
preme, responsible to no one. and
removable only by impeachment,
It is pro bable that the proposed
laws will be the subject of warm
debate, As an indication that all
will not be plain sailing, it is noted
that the County Commissioners
Association. which met in session
here last week, took strong ground
against some of these proposed
laws. While they adjourned with
out making any recommendations
upon the tax commission bill, it
was evident that the county COM
missieners were opposed TO it The
proposition to place an exemption
of 80, 800 90 upon improvements on
farm lands and all residence prop
critics in cities and towns, was dis
approved by the commissioner by a
unanimous vote. They voted to
recommend 100000 exemption,
The exemption bill proposes an ex
emption upon improvements only
and does not apply to lands MOI
town lots, nor to any property not
occupied as hems.