Morris tribune., 1913-02-28
AN ANCIENT LIE DISPOSED OF.

AN ANCIENT LIE DISPOSED OF.
For many years every one has been lying to the as
SCISSOR relative value of property listed for taxation
The law has required that property be listed at its
full and true value in cash. and yet grew up
chow old it don't know of listing property at only
a certain percentage of its true value This custom be-
came SO thoroy established that every lied to the
assessor or let the assessor lie for them. @@
When the custom became thorOy established to place
the valuation of property at only certain centage of
s true value it was only natural that and equal
zaon boards should favor certain forms of property fog
one and another Household goods, for instance
were favored they nonproductve and when
once used their selling value RAPIDLY declines Farming
lands on the other hand favored because many of
the members of the old state board of equalization came
from farming communities. Conversely. city property
was often placed higher percentage of its value
because there is strife keep the of cities
down. even if has be done by increasing the valua
ton. ..s B..
When the tax commission began its work Of equaliz-
ing the taxation burdens of this state it confronted
with law that required the assessment of all property
at sits true and full value in cash. but this law had
been dead letter long, and the prevailing custom of
taking only percentage of the value had been recognized
SO many other laws that to enforce the old law would
have brought about endless confusion.
The only way to get equitable valuation then
to have the law changed to allow of valuation at
per centage true value and this the commission
he's been trying have the legislature do for number
years. -.-.s
This week the House passed ii bill which divides
property various classes for valuation purposes and
while the per cenages between the various forms of
property may be much different from the old law
Of the full and yalue yet fact it that the
bill only seeks establish what has already been worked
out by custom.
The net effect of the law, therefore, will be to
relieve us of the necessity lying to the
ing the assessor lie for and in having certain definite
percentage recognized in black and white instead of hav
ing somewhat indefinite percentage recognized only by
custom.
How nearly the new law accords with the present
custom will be Immediately apparent to who have had
experience with the machinery of taxation by noting the
per centage which to recognized for each class.
Is per cent-Household goods and furniture, agricul
tura products live stock, tools and implements and the
homestead either in city or country.
So 1-3 per cent-Cty real estate, merchandise stock
and farms lands except the homestead of 80 acres
so per cent-A other personal property and unmined
ORE
1t will be noted that there is new departure in
regard to homestead, applying both the city
the country home.
This that every city home will be assessed at
Is per cent of its value and in those parts of the state
where the eighty farm prevails this will also be
sessed at Is per but in this where the
age farm is $50 only 80 will be
at Is per cent while the balance will assessed at 3e
10 per cent. Taking last years valuation as basis
80 acres would be assessed SO 90 24O
at $12
Thus there are features of the bill which might b.
discussed length, hut the tax commission and the tai
committee considered it very carefully before it wa
passed. and we said before, its principal feature is ii
settling definitely what has already been established b.
custom.
Printing Offices, by the way. will go in at SO pc
cent the the iron of the steel trust, bu
then we will not have to lie about it, and that help