The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1914-01-30

the Civic Committee of the Chamber of
Commerce analysizing the taxation
problems in Latah county. The report
was submitted as a result Of the de-
cisiOn of the shaf4ber of commerce to
endeavOr to learn II possible the
source and disposition of revenue
raised in Latah county. The report
was submitted in spirit of non-par-
tisanship and only with view Of be-
coming more familiar with the work.
ings of the revenue law rather than
to Investigate any particular branch
OF the county government.
TO the Chamber of Commerce,
Moscow, Idaho.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
In accordance with our promise
your civic committee is submitting a
preliminary report on the finances of
the county. For the information of
those present who are not familiar
with the formation of this committee
and it's operation, l will state that we
all have noted for some time past the
iiSi Caoih6 eIiuouHJo llldI VIC are IT,
Quired to pay in the way of taxes. Our
taxes have been increasing by leaps
and bounds and the reason Therefore
is not readily understood. The fol-
lowing questions are being continual
ly asked: Cd Where is all of this
money going? (2) Are we getting
value received therefor? 60 Is it
possible for us to reduce the cost of
government? And (D If so, how?
Some time ago our worthy presi-
dent, believing that the chamber of
commerce could be of great public
service if it would attempt to answer
some of these qeustions, suggested the
appointment of committee for that
purpose. The chamber of commerce
accepted the suggestion and authorize
ed the appointment of committee tC
be known as the civic committee. The
president named the following on saio
committees: G. l.. Butterfield, DR.. F.
l.. Barrows, and l.. F. Parsons. From
the discussion that was had at the
time this committee was formed. ii
was distinctly understood that it was
to be non-partisan and was not tC
be dragged into politics. If it hat
not been thus, you may rest assured
that the members of this committee
would not have accepted the task
placed upon them.
1t was quite evident from the dis
cussion had that there was no idea
on the part of anyone that our of
ficers were grafters or that our funds
were being diverted to illegitimate
purposes. Your committee entered
upon it's duties believing that our of
ficers are honest and are giving US
as efficient service as lies within
their power; that the reason for higE
taxes lies in the system or mach
merry provided by law for the handl
ing of our public business rather
than in the individuals operating the
system. Proceeding along this line
our officers have shown us every
courtesy and have co-operated with us
to the fullest extent. We hope that
in the consideration of our prelim-
mary report this evening and in oul
future discussions of this subject that
it will be borne in mind that we are
considering the system or machinery
of the government rather than the in
dividual operators of parts thereof.
Taking up our preliminary report on
the county we will endeavor to show
the amount of money raised in the
county by taxation and other sources
during the past four years and then
by figures try to answer the question
where does our money go to!' The
figures presented are taken from the
tax rolls and the reports made under
oath by the county auditor.
At our last meeting member pre-
scented to you figures taken from the
fax rolls of 1912 and 1913, showing
the assessed value of the property III
tbe county, the amount of money thai
the levies made for those years Woulo
nrobably raise. AS these figures nave
heen published the majority OF YOU
are now familiar Herewith. We are
again calling your attention to the
same figures; but before doing SO we
would state that these figures DO mo-
represent me- actually received an e
expended for~the purposes indicated
They represent figures compiled at the
time the board sits as board O.
enualization and represent the amour
in prospect and to be collected for the
purposes indicated. The full amour
Is never collected; cancelled ana oe