American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-10-10
WILL NOT BE WELCOME.

figures are accurate. They wer'
taken from the records Of tn,
state auditors office and the re
ports of the county auditors OIL
file therein. They have been YER
flied by an accountant and the
Press has his sworn statement o.
their accuracy.
The figures make some startling
disclosures. Only four of the
twenty seven counties show appar.
emit benefits. These are Lincoln,
Oneida. Shoshone and Clearwater
Lincoln county doubled the amount
OF patented land within her bord-
ers. which Of itself would greatly
reduce her tax levy. as at the
eQualized rate II increased her tax
able wealth e1.71A.0O0.
6hohone county benefited be-
cause her land was raised less
than - per acre. She either as-
ssMsd too NV In 1911 or too high
In 1910.
Oneida. Cassia. Idaho and Bonner
were saved by having assessors who
had enough backbone to believe
that they and not the governor were
the assessors.
Clearwater and Adams benefited
Dscause In the comparison they we're
linked with their parent counties
IN 1910. In 1911 their land was
sQualised 1t about half that of the
mother counties. Fremont county's
gain - fully explained in
con~act,,,,, with the allowing.
Tho facts speak for Themselves,
On the same number Of acres the
owners Of land paid s6s4.s16 lees
In 1910 than In 1911. after Gov
ernor Hawley had forced his Ill
considered adjustment OF values up
on the assessors.
1t WI be remembered that the
governor threatened the ~ssessor
with prosecution and removal from
office II they did not meet his de-
mands. Some Of them. like the
assessor OF Bingham county, boost
cd for all they worth and the peo-
pie paid the bill. Others. like the
assessor of Oneida county, kept
their heads and the people were
not 30 badly hurt,
What caused the governor 10
change his mind after he had told
h assessors to go ahead on the
old plan. PERMITTING them to work
for a month. and then forcing them
to do t all over again?
The reasons assigned differ.
Governor Iiawley says 1t was be-
caus he was bound to enfore the
law 'by the eternal" But this
does not exp N why he should de-
mand the enforcement of any par
ticular law that would require the
violation of other laws not in har-
mony with It.
Others who are In u position to
know, whether they do or not, hint
that the state WIS bonded to the
limit and II more bonds were is
sued the valuation had to be rails
ed. Whether this Is the reason or
not, 1t Is certain that the "onded
limit had been reached AZ n
rate the cash valuation order came
Ike "a flash OF lightning from a
clear sky. 1t unsettled established
conditions and compelled school
boards and county boards to do
more or less guessing, with the re-
suit hat the county taxes were In
some cases higher than they should
nave been and in others lower.
The Indictment aginst Hawley
n that he went at he matter
plindfolded In the midst of an as
sessment. when neither the assos-
sors nor the state board OF equali-
xation could find time to gather In
formation necessary TO a fair and
equitable adjustment OF values
me 40 per cent law enacted at
the special session removes the dan
ger OF increasing the bonded debt
unreasonab'v. and also limits the
power OF county boards to collect
unnecessary money. but It does not
correct all the i~neQuities imposed
by the sudden change of system.
After studying the figures. peo-
pie who want to vote for Hawley
have our consent. But II they want
relief. the Press advises them to
vote for II ne. the only candidate
for governor who has made business|
matters and taxation the basis Of
his campaign. |