The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1912-01-19

OF their peculiar fitness for the task
and holding their office Nor term
sufficiently long to prevent their oe-
| ing influenced by suddenly invoked
| but only temporary public clamor. II
is almost impossible for a county as
SCISSOR, during two years term, to
| acquire the necessary knowledge OF
values to enable him to intelligently
assess all the property of his county
| 1t is absolutely impossible to have a
| uniform rate of assessment between
the counties under a system which
leave the question of values with the
county commissioners and the asses
sors, renewable only by the state
board OF equalization during a limited
session.
Classification of Lands.
This important matter is fully pro-
vided for in section 1S of the main
bill. The section as presented is orr
ginal with the commission, but the
necessity for such classification has
been long felt by the state boards of
equalization as well as the county as
SCISSORS, and will be of great assistance
to those officers, as well as to the tax
commission,
Quadrennial Assessments.
The main bill provides in section 19
for quadrenniel assessments after the
year 1914. l believe after considering
the subject that the provision is a
wise one and that only in isolated in
stances will there be such changes in
value during any four years of the
future as to work hardship on either
the taxpayer or the county 1t is not
vital matter, however, and changes
If deemed necessary. can be made
without impairing the efficiency of
the bill in it's entirety.
Assessment of Banks.
Section n of the proposed revenue
law provides the method of assessing
banks by adding undivided profits and
surplus to the par value of the shares
and deducting the assessed value of
real estate belonging to the bank. The
present method of permitting the de-
ductfon of debts owed is abolished and
no fairer way can be found for assess
ing this class of property. A very
large percentage of bank stock has
heretofore been exempt practically
from payment of taxes by reason Of
the present law authorizing the stock
holder to offset obligations due by
him against the value of his stock
Delinquent Taxes.
Title 10 of the main bill, sections
128 to 164 inclusive, treats of the i'm
portant subject of delinquent taxes
and provides an entirely new method
of securing tax titles. Under our
present system our citizens are in con-
tinual danger OF losing their property
through inadvertence and carelessness
In the payment of their taxes and
many cases have occurred during the
past year of peculiar hardship and
clearly proving that reform should
be had. The main danger under our
present system Is due to the fact that
the purchaser of the tax title can OBJ
tain deed in three years to the proper
ty in issue without notice to the real
owner. This Is remedied in the bill
by providing for foreclosure proceed
ings in court, and this compels sum-
mons to be issued, notice given and
the usual time for redemption after
Judgment and execution commend
the system as being happy solution
OF the present difficulties growing out
of the loose methods 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. l believe this wise
and salutary reform and that 1t should
commend itself to your favorable con-
sideration. The laws of both Oregon
and Washington contain similar pro-
visions and understand have worked
out we'll in their practical operation,
Exemptions.
Section IL Of the proposed revenue
law treats Of exemptions and is wor-
thy In Its new provisions of your most
careful consideration. The important
changes are:
"First Exemption Of improvements
on land occupied or used as a home
by it's owner, in the sum Of $2500.'
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
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