The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-28
ASSESSORS TOLD BOARD
To go TO HE'LL" FORD
Attorney General Declares
County Officers Have
Defied State.
RAILROADS REDUCED
Equalizers Cut Assessment
Of Many Branch Lines
on Appeal.

Helena. Aug. a7.-That the assessors
of Montana by their assessments this
year told the state board of euuaiiza-
ton TO so to hell" and the board
went was the assertion of Attorney
General $. {. Ford at Il meeting of the
state board of equalization today. 1t
was minated the assessors may still
hear from the board.
The board met to consider protests
of the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific on the valuations placed upon
certain of it's lines. The valuation of
the Baiuvillc branch WAS raised from
$l1.0OD to $4,000 Il mile at Il previous
meeting. while the Billings Shelby line
was raised $500 a mile. l. Parker
NeaZeN, Jr.. of Great Falls. protested
the raises were excessive and that the
Great Northern was assessed too much
on its branch lines.
Protests at increase.
Mr.. NeazeN read figures showing
that the valuation of Great Northern
property in Montana has jumped from
half I, million dollars to Il million and
a half every year during the past five
y
The board decided to reduce the former
increase on the BainNille branch and
fixed the valuation ut Sl..aoo {; mile"
an increase Of ST 500 over last year, It
did not disturb the previous increase on
the Billings aud Northern.
T.. A. McCrarN. tax agent of the
| Northern Pacific. protested against the
valuations Of the Bitter Root extension
| from Hamilton to Darby and Of tn,
| Shields river branch.
Cut Bitter Root line.
lie asserted the gross earnings of TIL.
| Bitter Root cNtcusion have only been
! $4,000 and that per cent of this went
| for taxes. 1t was raised from $500 tc
! $4,000 at a previous meeting. The
board cut this to sic, 900 n mile. but did
| not change the raise previously made
on the Shields river branch OF $1,000 a
| mile.
| Attorney General Ford did not vote
on the matters, saying he had been in
| favor OF an increased assessment. but
| the assessors. by their valuations, told
us to go TO hell and We went
Now Time to Start.
u was also in favor Of an increased
assessment, but it is too late now to dc
| anything" said TREASURER r. T." Hart
| The books have been made ny ant
the lcvics made. The only way VOL
can get a raise next year is by starting
| in right now on the matter
Lieutenant Governor w. W. Nc
Dowcll. sitting in place of Governo
| Stewart. said he believed cVeryhod.
should pay their fair share OF taxes
but he was not in favor Of putting tn
thumb screws ON the railroad branc'
lines ut present. He said Montan;
needs more branch lines. but IL thcs
branches are going to be taxed at
| stiff rate. tn" carriers will feel less in
| clincd to build them.
Need More Branches.
lie believed that more branch line
are more Important to the state a
present than high taxes. and addc
| that if the thumb screws were to b
| applied, he would be in favor of ap
plying them after more branch line
} have been built.
Tho reductions granted the carrier
| were Cifilcu uhah'illousiH, All foF
not voting.
After the board adjourned. there WA
an informal discussion among tn
members as to whether or not the
should call in the assessors and rails
| Halua atoms regardless of the fact thl
| levicS have been made.
Any skin itching is a temper tcstc
| Tho more YOU scratch the worse
itchcs. Donn'S Ointment cures pile
cczema-any skin itching. At all dru
; stofcs.--AdN.