Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-01-18
THE PROPOSED REVENUE LAW
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the present law authorizing q stock
holder to offset obligations due by
him against the value Of his stock.
Delinquent Taxes.
Title 10 Of the main bill, sections
,oa to 1874 inclusive. treats OF the Inn
nortant subject of delinquent taxes
and provides an entirely new method
Of acquiring tax titles. Under our
present system our citizens are In con-
finual danger Of losing their property
through inadvertence and carelessness
IN the payment Of their taxes and
many cases have occurred during the
mast year OF peculiar hardship and
clearly proving that reform should
no had. The main danger under our
present system IL due to the fact that
the purchaser of the tax title can OBJ
tain deed in three years to the prop
erty in issue without notice to the
real owner. This II remedied in the
hill by providing for foreclosure pro-
ceedings in a court. and this compels
summons to be issued and notice
eiven and the usual time for redemp-
ton after judgment and execution.
commend the system az being happy
solution of the present difficulties
growing out Of the loose me hods now
prevailing.
Taxes Payable Half Yearly.
An innovation has been made by the
provisions Of section 1872 of the main
bill in that taxes are to be payable
twice a year. / believe this wise
should commend itself to your favor
able consideration. The laws of both
oregon and washington contain SINH
lar provisions and I understand have
worked out well in their practical
operation.
Exemptions.
Section IL of the proposed Revenue
Law treats Of exemptions and is
worthy in its new provisions of your
most careful consideration. The inn
portant changes are:
list. Exemption OF improvements
on land actually occupied or used as a
home by its owner. in the sum of
$4,000.
l believe the principle involved is
correct; the welfare of the state re-
quires as many home owners as pos
sible. Our poorer citizens should be
encouraged to build and own their
homes Nothing can facilitate this
in gresxer degree than proper ex-
emption from taxation of such homes
The amount of the exemption cuts
but small figure in comparison with
the principal involved. The correct
ness of that principle strongly urge
upon you; the amount exempted
should be finally determined after full
and careful consideration.
End. The household furniture, mus
ical instruments and jewelry in actual
use is exempted.
These are proper subjects for ex-
emption In my judgment as no in
come can be had from them, they are
not bought and retainedefor specuia-
ton and their exemption will mean in
many cases the acquisition and COM
forts and conveniences that would not
be INDUCED in II their ownership and
use were accompanied by the payment
of taxes on their value.
3rd.. Besides growing crops, fruit
and nut bearing trees are exempt for
four years from the time of their
planting In orchard form and grape
vines for three years after planted as
vineyards.
These believe are proper subjects
of exemption. While the value of
such improvements soon exceeds the
value of the lands upon which plant
ed, 1t must be remembered that no
income is produced from the orchard
or vineyard during the time for which
exempted and an onerous burden of
taxation Is imposed upon the owner
while waiting the time for returns.
Besides .he value of the trees and
vines can never be successfully de-
termined until the bearing time be-
gins. I especially urge upon you the
adoption of this idea and believe 1t
will vastly add to the orchard and
vineyard areas of the state.
Exemption of Money, Accounts and
Evidence of Indebtedness.
The most radical change in our ex-
emption system Is proposed by sub
division ~ Of section IL which pro-
vides for exemption of money, evid-
ence of indebtedness and accounts.
Upon principle should oppose this
change were 1t not for the fact that
we have tried for nearly fifty years
to reach these things for taxation pur-
poses and lamentably failed in so do
ing. Practically all the taxes paid by
owners OF this class of property now
comes from those who are not dealers
in monev. Those who possess such
property in large amounts invariably
escape taxation. There are many
WAYS by which such persons can evade
assessment thereon and I cannot con-
ceiye any way by which this class of
property in the main can be success
fully reached True a. system might
be devised under which banks might
be compelled to disclose the names OF
depositors, but such a system would
only cripple the banking business by
causing withdrawal Of deposits. Much
of the money would be sent out OF the
state, thus causing great injury to all