Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-17
tionate amount. These holdings OF

tionate amount. These holdings OF
outside property do not pertain to the
mileage In this state and it could not
be said that these two lines were Of
any greater value than tts Short Line.
We assessed, therefore, at the same
rate as the Short Line and believe we
were absolutely within the law and in
accordance with the facts, or at least
with those matters which we had as
certained and had every reason to be-
lieve were facts. In any event 1t will
be seen that we. caused a substantial
increase In the valuation of this prop
erty over and above the proportionate
value that had heretofore been levied
and which caused these companies 10
pay much larger amount OF taxes
than they had been compelled to pay
In the past. 1t does not require much
more than a suggestion to call atten-
ton to the fact that this increase in
the proportionate amount of taxes paid
by these companies necessarily meant
a decrease in the amount paid by other
taxpayers.
"Mr. Martin has seen ut in this con-
nection to unfavorably comment on the
assessment laid on two or three minor
lines Of railroad in the state. The
Aberdeen branch and the Washington
& Inland in Kootenai county. In ref
erence to these matters can simply
say believe the state board acted
properly and / am certain that each
member acted honestly. The total as
sessment of the lines complained Of
comprise such small proportion Of the
aggregate Of the railway assessments
tkat they are hardly worthy Of con-
sideration. but II a mistake was made.
and that the state board Of equalization
was bound to make mistakes under the
system which in two weeks requires
them to investigate the values Of all
property Of the state and pass their
judgment upon such matters, II only
goes to Intensity the position which II
have always taken with reference to
taxation matters in Idaho and that Ia
In order to perfect our system and to
do equal and exact justice to all of the |
taxpayers and carry out both the con-
stitution and the statutes in letter and
In spirit, we must have a non partisan
tax commission. holding office for a
long term Of years. without RESPONSE
bility to the appointing power but re-
sponsible only to the courts and the |
people. This commission to occupy
itself with the duties pertaining to !
the office, the establishment Of values
OF all classes of property and seeing |
that 1t was properly placed upon the
roll.
Taxation Of Power Plants.
"of minor Importance, but still con-
tanning charge that would properly
condemn the members of the land
board II true. IL the statement made in |
various addresses by Mr.. Martin that
the state board OF equalization was
derelict in its duty in 1912 in regard
to the assessment Of power plants.
This Is another serious charge and II
true would show either dereliction in
official duty or incapacity in the dis
charge Of this duty The specific
charge made by Mr.. Martin IL that the
state board Of equalization reduced an
assessment on the Nampa Electric Light
plant from 100000 10 $4,000. Mr..
Martin processes to be a lawyer. The
courts Of the state have given him !,
license to collect fees IN any event and