The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-28
A PROPOSED CHANGE FOR MAX
ING ASSESSMENTS

commission renews its recommends
ton that the legislature create, the
Office of county assessor. The work
of making assessment, would be done
by deputies working under the di-
rection of the. county assessor. The
commission thus summarizes the "in-
dictment" against the present system
of local assessors:
81. There are too many local as
SCISSORS under the present system.
"2. Local assessors being elected,
qualifications are not made the only
test of fitness.
"3. The local assessor is not paid
in proportion to the amount of work
actually performed.
"a. The usual term of office is
too short to produce good results.
IS. There is not enough super
vision over assessors to secure unl-
formity in valuations.
SO. Assessors do not recognize
the same standard of value.
50. The average assessor is SUBJ
ject to too much local influence.
$50. Assessors are not equipped to
do good W ork.
SO. Township review boards do
not correct assessors work in suifi-
cient detail to cure the evils.
40. The county board of eQualiz-
alton is without power to readjust the
assessment of individuals, except on
complaint.
! oil. The Tax Commission cannot
be expected to correct the details of
the assessment records.
"12. No equalization board can
make an imperfect assessment even
approximately correct.
"13. The present system of select
ing local assessors is wrong"
Aside from the above, as we un-
derstand it, the commission regards
the present method as all right.
AT the same time, it is worthy of
note that the state convention OF
county commissioners at Watertown
this month went on record against
the county assessor plan.
1t seems that whenever any one
suggests any change in the plan of
assessment and taxation thai is in
any way whatsoever radical, a large
part of the population begins at once
shivering in apprehension.
Why so much trepidati6n concern
ing the matter of taxation? Do we
not all say with one voice that there
is just one way to make an assess
ment, and that is on the basis of abb
solute equality?
STILL STABBTNG THE G. o. P.
If the United States Senate has its
way, the demise of the Republican
parry will be definitely and finally
arranged for.
New Hampshire went to the Demo
cratic party this year, for the first
time in two generations.
The reason was that Senator Gal
linger blocked the confirmation of a
New Hampshire progressive as a
member of the federal trade comm1s-
sion. The New Hampshire voters
said by their votes that if this was
an Indication of what Republicanism
was to mean, they would choose De-
mocracy.
The other day the Republicans or
the Senate were called upon to name
a candidate for president pro tenn Of
that body. Senator LaFollette nomin-
aetd Senator Clapp,a progressive Re-
publican. Clapp received five votes.
The rest of the Senate actually voted
for Senator Gallinger, than whom
there is not a more irredeemable re-
dictionary. 1t is difficult to believe
that such a thing is possible. And yet
the records of the Senate show that
it indeed happened.
, How do the Republican Senators
think they can win back the lost Re.
publican following by standing for
everything that the people do NOT