The state herald., 1912-10-04
So The People May Know.

to discredit two of the present board Of
county commissioners, who are candi-
dates for reelection, the Hoyoke En-
terprise has attempted TO compare the
tax on a certain quarter of land in 1905
with the tax on the same land in 1911
and make the comparison in such shape
as to leave the voters to conclude that
the expense Of the county government
has increased in the same proportion as
the increase in taxes on this land. Such
a presentation is unfair to both the vo-
ter and the commissioners.
The comparisn is decidedly uncertain
/ and unfair also because it would be a
livery difficult matter to pick a quarter
of land the increase or decrease of taxes
on which was an average of the land in
the county.
Again, If the Enterprise wished to be
fair in its claim that taxes in the coun-
| ty had been unreasonably increased,
v by did il not try to show an increase
in the taxes on horses, cattle and other
personal property? Simply because it
could not show an increase of taxes on
such property,
The Enterprise asks why the tax on
a certain quarter of land on which, in
1905, the taxes were s4.25, in 1911 are
lsE &c. The Publisher Of Tho Enter
|prse has been engaged in the real es-
tate business for six or seven years and
he could have answered his own ques-
ton had he seen fit to do so and, had
the voters of the county been prospect
i've land buyers instead Of the PEOPLE
who are TO elect the next board Of com
missioners he might possibly have seen
ut TO answer the question.
There has been some advance in land
in Phillips county since 1905. The val
ue OF this quarter OF land on which the
Enterprise attempts to make eompar-
ison was in 1905 probably not more than
500 and the publisher Of the Enterprise
remembers that there was a large tract
of land in the county sold in that year
as low as $3.50 per quarter This En-
terprise quarter of land in 1911 was
worth 81. 900 and consequently we would
naturally expect some advance in the
assessed valuation and still, as eompar-
cd with its actual value, the land is as
sessed very low. In 1905 that land was
assessed at 5000 and in 1911 at s5OO|
which accounts for the increase in the
tax on the land.
The Enterprise tells It's readers that
The tax on this land in 1911 is Sl7.56 but
does not tell them that there ia only
small part Of that tax for which the
county commissioners could be held re-
sponsible. The general county tax Is
all that the commissioners handle and
are responsible for making the levy for,
The general county tax on this piece Of
land in 1911 was 5000. The other tax
es were. state S2.Oi. general school 81. 80
high school 81 and special school 81.
This land had against Il in the low tax
Of 1906, state tas so cents general school
90 ents and high school 30 eontB and
no special school tax. The increase inl
state and school tax on this land has
been 1854 and for this the commission.
crs are In no manner responsible.
The state tax levy is fixed by law. the
general school levy Is recommended by
the county superintendent Of schools
and the special school levy by the direc
tors of the several school districts.
All Of the increase In the tax on this
land for which the county commission
ors are responsible Is M and this IL
accounted for by the increased aaseau.
assessment Of the land except 90 cents
which is accounted for by extra cxpon-
scs 10 be met In the year 1919.
Tho Entcrprisc.secms 10 be at a great
loss 10 know what use the county board
could have TO- s22. 1871 g. In taxes. lt
states that ihc county trcapurrr's office
Il aclf.supportinE. II IL surprising
that nuca a statement should be made
by ran who held the county elork'a
Office for I've yearn. Tho treasurer 10
paid by u commission on taxes collected
and every cent Of iscommihHion romea
from the regular tap levy and il q part