Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-27
DECLARES END OF
TAX COMMISSION
WILL COME SOON
Treasurer of Clearwater
County Predicts That the
Life of the Commission
Will Be Short.

Blair Hoar treasurer of Clearwater
county, is convinced that the life of the
state tax commission is of short dura-
ton Mr.. Hoar was in attendance at
the state board of equalization meeting
last week fighting against the commits
sion's recommendation to reduce the
assessed timber valuations Of Clear
water county approximately two and
>one-half million dollars. On his re-
turn north he stopped at Lewiston and
the Tribune there published the follow
ing story containing an interview from
him:
Blair Hoar, treasurer of Clearwater
county, reached Lewiston yesterday
from Boise, where with Attorney
Dwight e. Hodge he appeared before
the state board of equalization in sup
port of the assessment placed on tim
Der lands in Clearwater county. He
speaks most highly of the ability dis
played by Attorney Hodge in present
ing the merit of the case.
Mr.. Hoar said that, after being at
Boise for two weeks he is convinced
the life of the state tax commission is
OF short duration. He stated that when
the assessors of the state were handed
the recommendation of the tax commits
sion 1t took them no. to exceed 10
minutes to turn 1t down so far the re-
auctions on timber land was concerned,
and that the southern counties, after
the matter had been put to them, saw
the matter in new light, and from
now on will exercise more interest in
what valuation the timber Of the north
carries.
The southern assessors, after the
Clearwater and Latah representatives
hol oh he
expense the northern counties had gone
to in arriving at values, fell into line
with a rush and stayed in line to the
last some of the representatives of
the southern counties remaining in
Boise until the last word on timber
was heard.
Clearwater Makes Fieht.
The main fight of the session was
brought by our county" said Mr.. Hoar
land we were so well fortified that
while it is a hard matter to guess the
result, we do feel that any action the
board win take will have to be in ac-
cordance with evidence, and not in ac-
cord with a recommendation such as
the tax commission made. The COM
mission recommended a raise of FIVE
per cent on the agricultural land of our
county, and a reduction of 80 per cent
the storm; as we had help from other
counties where a similar state of af-
fairs existed. and as soon as it was
found that agricultural land in the
state was slated for a raise OF approx
mately $5,000,000 and timber land in
the state booked for a reduction of
about 100000, it required but a short
time to interest the farmer.
our representatives held meetings
with the different representatives and
took them over the cruise book we
took with us. as well as other data we
had compiled. and we failed to find
any of the counties, especially in the
south, having any knowledge of timber
values.
The main point which interested
the south was where the cruise in our
county showed that the timber COM
panies themselves do not know what
they own, and where the tax commits
sion gets and betted information, liv-
ing in Boise, than a cruiser who cruises
the land appears to BATTLE the ordinary
mind"
Mr.. Hoar, continuing, said: There
appears to be a determination to cut
our county, but this cut viii have to
be where some evidence is lacking, and
upon this point about the only excuse
obtainable is where the land under the
timber is assessed on a blanket basis.
and a very much cut. for reason of a
blanket value, will react on those fore
ing this, as heretofore this blanke
system of assessment has been con-
sidered suitable. Our county took a
stenographic report of the entire pro-
ceeding and there are some very inter
esting chapters in connection with
them. However, the state board of
equalization treated us. very fairly in
the hearing, and we await their decis-
ION"