The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1913-08-15
LATAH TAX ROLLS
ORDERED TO BOISE

A fight which may we'll be termed
timber interests versus agricultural
interests is looming up and the
county commissioners are predicting
a lively session when they appear
before the state board of equaliza
ton in Boise the latter part of this
week to 60 over with that body the
Latah county assessment rolls for
1913.
Homer Estes, clerk of the county
board has received a letter from
Axel P. Ramstedt, chairman of the
state tax commission, notifying him
that the Potlatch Lumber company
. will appear before the board of
2salization to protest against the
raise in the assessment of ther
property by the board of equaliza-
ton of this county. The Potlatch
company has been directed by the
tax commission to serve copy of
their petition on the state board of
equalization setting forth the grounds
of their complaint against the pro-
posed raise. Next Saturday, Aug
ust 10, has been set as the date for
the hearing of this petition.
Dissatisfied with their fight before
the county board few weeks ago
against any raise in assessment of
their property the Potlatch Lumber
company has appealed to the state
tax commission prior to the meeting
of the state board of equalization.
Since their appearance before the
county board of equalization they
have been securing the country col
lecting data on both agricultural and
timber land besides drawing from
the assessment rolls complete ab-
stract of the real property assess
ments for this year in order that
they may be ready for the fight at
Boise this week. The county COM
missioners also have been collecting
additional data on timber land es-
pecially and they too will be pre-
pared to fight the matter out before
the state board.
But where the figh: is thickest
Just now is on the question as to
whether the state tax commission
has authority to compel the county
board of equalization to submit to
the state board of equalization the
complete tax rolls of the county.
These rolls have been demanded by
the tax commission, for the first
time in the history of the county.
The commissioners state that unless
they are compelled by law to sub
NIT the rolls they would not do so.
They have taken the matter up with
County Attorney Nisbet and have
been advised by him that the tax
commission is exceeding its author
ity in demanding the rolls. Mr..
Nisbet has, however, wired Attor-
ney Geueral Pete. son for an opinion
on the matter.
A complete abstract of the assess
ment rolls has been submitted to the
state board of equalization and it is
not known just why that body
should request the rolls themselves.
1t is said that should the assess
ment rolls be destroyed during their
shipment to Boise they could not be
replaced for less than $4,000.
The commissioners state that it is
not known whether the Potlatch
Lumber company will make fight
to lower their own assessments or to
raise the assessment of agricultural
lands in the county. In either case
the, county board will stand firm or
theaction that they have already
taken in raising the assessments or
timber lands to equalize the taxes or
the two classes of property. They
declare that the ratio between the
assessments on farm and timber
lands is practically the same as i
has been for the past three year:
and that the change which is desired
would result in great injustice to tht
farming interests.