The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1915-07-09
Purpose of Taxpayers League.

ment to the general public setting
forth the purposes and achieve
ments of the taxpayers leagues OF
Kootenai county, there is no inten-
ton to cast unwarranted reflections
on good, honest men in Office, or to
convey an impression that the con-
ditions complained of are peculiar to
Kootenai county or that Kootenai
county officials are not as good as
those of other counties of Idaho. 1t
is believed that similar conditions
prevail to greater or less extent in
every county of the state and that
the taxpayers in organizing are
merely performing a duty to them
selves in getting into a position
where they can better ascertain their
own shortcomings and can assert
their rights and demand and secure
justice from their public servants in
the matter of public finances, not
only in the counties but in the state
as well. 1t is felt that without stoop-
ing to abusive methods or arousing
improbable antagonisms, the truth
and the facts can be revealed and
remedies applied to the end that, by
fair and honest cooperation of the
taxpayers, the assessor, the taxing
boards and all other public officials,
equitable valuations and reduced tax
levies may be obtained.
The organization of taxpayers
leagues throughout Kootenai county
began last winter with the formation
of the Kootenai County Taxpayers
association at Cnur d Alene. This
association, although organized pri-
marily for the purpose of obtaining
relief from tax burdens in Ceur d :
Alene city, has become the central
body around which the auxiliary
leagues in the other towns and com
munities could rally and through
which they could work for the
amelioration of conditions in Koote-
mai county that, in recent years, have
caused disproportionate increase
in the tax rate of Idaho as compared
| with growth of population and pro-
perty valuations.
Auxiliary leagues organized in
Rathdrum, Spirit Lake, Post Falls,
Athol, Hauser and Chico, report
rapidly increasing membership.
Communication between these aux.
illary leagues and the central associ'
alton at Ceur d Alene is by means
Of representatives or by mail, by
which suggestions are exchanged
and knowledge Of what is being done
or to be done is disseminated
Funds for carrying on the work O
the league have thus far amounted
to few hundred dollars raised by
voluntary contributions.
The purposes Of the taxpayers
league are briefly:
First-To seek out all the causes
of increasing taxes.
Second. Ito endeavor by every
legal means to remove these causes
Third. To prevent any recur
renee of these causes in the future, 81
as to secure greater economy il
government and a substantial perma
, nent reduction Of taxes.
' Methods of procedure inclnde
careful study of the manner in whic'
, public money is handled and dis
, bursed especially in county and city
. discovering the evidences of extrava
gance in the various department
and bringing to light specific il
stances of slackness in not properl
safeguarding the interests Of the taz
payers.
What investigation has revealed
That everybody who has vote
3 to blame for the increase in taxes
The people have not been vigilan
r They have blindly elected some me
to office who were not competent {
, economical They have, in til
municipality of C9ur d Alene, vote
successive bond issues without cor
sidering the tax burden they wer
piling up for the future in intere'
; and principal. They have clamore
. for accessories TO the government;