The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-12-31
Blackfoot, December 10, 1914.


In accordance with my promise to
you when you were here in Blackfoot,
! now call your attention to some
very urgent changes which ought to
be made in the revenue laws which
were enacted at the last session Of
tho legislature of this state.
Article s, Sec. 113 to 145 inclusive,
ought to be repealed. The provision
in Sec. 113 for the payment of one
half the taxes in January and the
other half in July is useless and
unnecessary provision and causes ex
ira expense, and is no particular ad-
vantage as the penalties and interest
imposed is more than any benefit to
be derived by the tax payer. For the
extension of time on the second half
is the cause of great deal of work
and expense to the assessors and tax
collectors. Also the penalties of 10
per cent on all those who for any
cause cannot pay their taxes by the
LII 4uOuuHy III JduudIy Is WV III
famous to require any comment.
There are hundreds of farmers who
are put to great distress on account
OF not being able to raise the mo-
ney at this time. The wheat crop
this year was badly rusted (and al
most unsaleable) on all irrigated
lands which is condition which has
never prevailed here before since !
came to this county IA years ago.
And there are thousands of sacks
of potatoes which have been raised
at great expense, for labor, sacks
and cost Of soaking is very great and
the potatoes will not bring now more
than 80 or IS cents per sack, which
absolutely leaves no profit to the far
mer. And apples are not saleable at
more than would pay for the picking,
boxes and boxing. And such an in
famous law that would treat the tax.
payer as criminal and practically
confiscate his property should be
repealed and it should be done al
soon as the Legislature can enact
the necessary legislation. AS such a
measure of relief is urgently needed.
Such laws as you will find in Sec
tons 1926 and other sections of the
Revenue Laws are SO infamous and
damnable that it seems utterly in.
credible that any body of sane legis.
lators could have ever been guilty
of writing them into the laws of this
state. The very class of people whom
we are to depend upon for the de-
yelOpment of the wealth and resourc
es of our state should have every
encouragement that can or could be
given them, instead of being robbed
and treated as criminals, and theiI
property practically confiscated, for il
amounts to the same thing if sucl
provisions are put in force.
can assure you that have seeu
more financial misery and distress
this fall amongst our farming people
than / have seen anywhere since the
panic OF 1893, and l firmly believe
that it is your duty in your forth
coming message to strongly recon-
mend that instant relief ought to bt
afforded just as soon as practicable
and that nearly all of the provisions
of the revenue laws enacted at the
1912 session ought to be repealed as
being most vicious ard as being the
cause Of the great depreciations in
the values CT all real estate which
is as much as so per cent Land is
almost unsaieabie at any Price md
prospe Give buyers and settlers shun
this state just as enc would do when
they see the yellow flag hung out
giving warning Of pcstilGnce or other
dangerous deceases. would more
especially call attention to Sec. 1877
and $40. Those sections are 50 ut
terly Infamous and wicked and when
put in force will mean Wholesale con.
fiscat!on, that they ought to lie re.
pealed before irrspaIable and far
roachig damage is brought upon the
counties. individuals and in fact the
Whole state Just imagine piece
of real property AGAINST which tax
OF 20 cents or a dollar, having to be
toreclosod at a cost of at least $50. 90
AMI perhaps more and no option lie.
ing allowed to the holders Of the tax
certificate, but he is forced to COM
mence an action in the District count
to foreclose or lose the money he
has put into it and if the county is
the purchaser the foreclosure has to
be made just the same, which means
wholesale confiscation. For the pen
alties, interest, costs of delinquent
certificates, court costs, advertising,
sheriff's fees, deeds, recording same
and attorneys fees amounts to prac.
tically confiscation and will cause