Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1916-10-13

10 Mr.. j. II. GROW, fuDllsner OTo-
fno Tribune, Orofno, Idaho.
Dear Sir: In your issue of Octo-
Der S, 1916, notice an editorial
wherein you try to shoulder the re-
sponsibiilty for the "MILLION DOL
LAR MYSTERY" upon me. Now
Mr.. Crow, as you have wantonly at
tackled me in your paper, | presume
YOU will extend me the usual courtesy
Of printing my reply thereto, as the
people want the facts. Here they are :
During the April, 1918, meeting of
the County Board Mr.. P. H. Blake
called meeting of the prominent
Democrats of Orofino and vicinity for
the purpose of WI at he called put
ting me on record" as he termed it,
meaning thereby, as it developed at
the meeting, of ascertaining my posi-
zion relative to increasing the assess
ment on timber lands out of proper
ton in comparison with the values of
otI er classes of property in the
county.
When this proposition was advanced
by Mr.. Blake and warmlyseconded by
Blair Hoar, took exception to the
idea of such an unreasonable increase
on the timber valuations, stating that
in my opinion it would be folly to in
crease the timber out of proportion
to the other property of the county, as
the State Board of Equalization
would certainly cut the values of tim
Der down to the same basis as tim
bered lands in other counties of the
State and in proportion to other
classes of property.
Of fifteen or more democrats pres.
, emit, the only outspoken- advocates Of
e this method of taxation were Pat
o Blake and Blair Hoar who seemed
e determined that this method Should
e be carried out at all hazards. Al
i many of those present were silent OF
d the issue as advanced by Mr.. Blake
e naturally presumed that they con
sented to the idea, and therefore
= agreed to raise the valuations on tn
Is timber. So in making up the rolls
placed the valuations on timber up t.
n the basis so strongly advocated b.
it Pat and Hoar, knowing that the Stat
:. Board would reduce it to the sam
!, basis as timber lands in other coun
,r ties.
At When the rolls were ready to tur
j. over to Auditor Kaufman, Pat Blake
the Chairman of the Democrat
County Central Committee, came int
my office and said:
8, "John, | believe you were
in right after all at our meeting
s. when you took the stand you did
ly against Increasing the timber
" valuations. You had better cut
ar your timber valuations at least
ne a million dollars before you turn
the books over to the Auditor. -
told him that | could not do thu
n now as it was time to turn the bool
-, over to the Auditor. He then sale
n 81 will get Blair Hoar to help
X and we three can do it in time.
" Mr.. Blake and then went in
J" Mr.. Hoar's office and we three the
changed the valuations by reducir
the timber lands over one million do
lars. The State Board later on C
this reduced valuation 5 per cent
'N timber land and at the same tin
INCREASED the valuations on 9th
: classes of property.
- At the time Mr.. Blake came in
- my office and requested me to chanI
- the assessment on timber. | was at
!, loss as to what had caused tn
-" change of mind on the part of Pa
- Shortly thereafter, however, MOTTO
" by the records that the Blakes al
Hoar had sold their timber claims
!. one w. H. Swinton. In order
ms satisfy myself as to the amount
NO money they received in this deal,
in being Director of the Fidelity Ban
las and having access to the books), we
ic. over to the Bank and in looking ov
he the books found that the following a
re- counts had increased at this time t
ite following amounts approximate
ter viz:
,as j. w. Blake $1,000.
,et Pat Blake 5000.
he Home Land Company 5000.
his Blair Hoar 5000.
be Now, Mr.. Crow, you charge n
7 with this million Dollar Mystery
De- deal, and you say in part it Re,
,ry IDENTIFY refers to reductions made
1918 by John Molloy, while he was {
SCISSOR, but the Democratic admin
d. tration and the organization refus
he to approve of this cut and as res,
av. Mr.. Molloy resigned as assessor
len etc.
er. You, either through ignorance
a the facts, or willfully and MALI