Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-31
COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE FAcTs
AND LAW RELATIVE 70 EoulT.
ABLE ASSESSMENTS.
STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
SENDS OUT INSTRUCTIONS
Future Evasion Of Dictates Of Code
Will as Deliberate and lntsntiena al
If AZ All-councii Explains lts En-
larsed Pewsrs-ceunty Boards Meet
Next Week.
,ecial to Times Republican.

DeS MOineS, May 3l.--lI the coue "a
Iowa Is treated with contempt BY
county officials in the matter OF eQuit-
able assessment of all property for
4 taxation it will mot. beNdue to ignor-
/ ance. County auditors and boards OF
supervisors having to do with equal
| izatien Of assessments will today get
information Of immense value to hem
| i'll their review work.
! The facts elected by the state execu-
! tive council go right back TO the coun-
ty officials to be on hand when the
boards Of review meet on Monday,
with other facts of Importance, inciud-
! ing the decree of the district court III
/ regard to the matter. In explanation,
Secretary A. Fl. Dawson of the execu-
tive council has transmitted to the
county auditors the following memo
randum by Governor Clarke, which
states clearly the position OF the state:
| The information asked for by the
executive council a short time ago OF
the county recorders and county audi
tors has been very kindly furnished
and the council now transmits TO the
| auditor of each county the data fur
nished from his county. The only pur-
pose the council has is to acquire in
| formation that will assist 1t in intelll-
gently performing its duty when II
comes to adjusting the valuation Oh
| property of the several counties IL
| hopes, also, that it may be very much
aided in this duty by tn. board OF SUI
pervisors of each county. Hence this
! information Of sales and edualized as
sessments for your county is sent TO
YOU with the request that YOU lay it
before your board of supervisors Tor
4 their information and assistance when.
as a board of review, thed adjust the
assessments of the several townships,
cities and towns of the county ana
| that hereafter you return said data to
| the secretary of the executive council.
Given Enlarged Powers.
THE last general assembly enlarged
the powers of the executive council
touching the matters of taxation. and,
besides, the district court Of. Polk
county. in an action brought against
| the council, adjudged and decreed as
follows:
! THAT YOU (meaning the executive
counciD do proceed to inform your
selves as to the actual market values
of said several classes Of properties.
and to value and adjust the valuations
| of the same strictly in the manner
and form as prescribed by law. so that
each and every class Of property with
in said state shall be assessed by you
ut it's actual market value and not
| less!
THE council is only obeying the law
iand this imperative order of the court
in asking the information that has
been furnished and in submitting the
same. to the boards of Supervisors upon
whom is laid the very same duty as to
Equalization that is enjoined upon the
council. The council desires only to
be helpful to the boards and submits
these matters in the most kindly spirit,
hoping they will be received in the
same spirit to the end that both the
boards and the council may perform a
public duty in the best possible man
ner.
The executive council desires to ex-
| press its sincere thanks for the
promptness with which this informa-
\ ton has been furnished and it's appre-
citation Of the cooperation Of the coun-
ty officials in connection with this
most difficult public duty Of adjusting
and equalizing assessments"
Practically every county in the state
made report on values. 1t will be i'm
portant to get these together and to
make comparisons. But the matter
has now been put UP directly to the
county officials who have duty in the
matter exactly like that which devolves
on state officials. The boards meets
next week.