Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-17

state board was guilty OF breaking the
cash value law, in favor of the big in
terests.
since reading Mr.. Taylor's article
have made an effort to get the most
definite information possible regarding
the Nampa electric light and power
plant The facts are these: The dep
uty assessor appraised the plant at
100000. A representative of the plant
appeared before the county commits
sioners and battered them with argu-
ments for reduction to $4,000. The
county commissioners finally agreed
to reduce it to $22,50O (not 100000.
ject to the approval Of the state
board Of equalization. Whether this
was formally presented to the state
board or not. and whether they had
the power to raise this shamefully low
appraisement or not, tho state board
would certainly not have raised it in
view Of the fact that they, as the sole
appraisers Of electric roads, steam rail-
roads, ETC., placed about the Same pro-
portionately low valuations upon these
properties as did the county commits
sioners upon the Nampa plant in ques-
ton. And is it not rather a strange
coincidence, since the state board had
no data" to show that Nampa had an
electric light and power plant that had
received special consideration over 9TH
er county property, should belong to
the same company as the Boise Valley
road which the state board solely as
sessed and as specially favored?
shall refer to this road again.
Visit Of Special Agent.
Governor Hawley's special tax agent,
Mr.. Robertson of Weiser. was here
three times, examining properties and
the values placed upon them by the
deputy assessors living in an adjoining
county. MIR. Robertson was in a posi-
ton to have a good understanding of
the properties In this county and their
relative values, even before he made
this his special work and for which the
state pays him well. He went very
carefully over the town and surround
ing country and inquired sharply into
hundreds of pieces Of real estate. There
was one piece Of land which will use
as an illustration of how individual
property was raised by the governor
through his special tax agents, and
which same method could have been
successfully applied to the light and
power plant in question. Remember
the special tax agents are appointees
Of the governor, instructed as to their
duties by him. and who naturally are
willing to carry out his wishes.
This land to which I refer Is about
two miles from Nampa. 1t is non pro-
<l,,, f,,sv 1,v., - 10
right and a considerable portion of
which is covered with rocks The
owners could not sell 1t without prac-
tically giving 1t away for under the
present state OF our affairs there is no
market. MIR. Robertson inquired the
appraised value Of this land. 1t was
800 per acre.
"Mr. Robertson, who apparently
never even saw the Nampa Electric
Light 4 Power plant in his investioa.
tions while here, % strongly 'rseom
msndsd' raise Of this land to $50 %,
acre that the Recommendation wal
equivalent to threat, and the assssso,
did not dare disregard Il any more thar
no would have disrssardsd . recon
.msndatien. from the special tax agent
to raise the light plant even 70 its full
value Of $2500oo and more.
1T Is largely due to the club thu
special agent continued to hold owe,
the deputy assessors in the shape Of
the governors power Of punishment,
that about nine-tenths of Nampa rea
estate IL Appraised for more than ths
owner would be glad to take for 1t
while this light and power plant 1.
assessed for much less than it, incoms
and still this plant Mr.. Taylor took NJ
notice Of 1t all-much less recon.
mending' . higher appraisement for II
Another Plan Suggested.
There was still another way or tws
In which the governor might have Sc
cured an increased valuation OF THU
pant. First. he might have taken .
shot by laundering tax dodger' at tn,
J Light & Power company Just to see Il
/ he could scare the sense out Of them .,