The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-07-28

Ine commissioners SAT as DOdTC
Of equalization Monday afternoon
Bills and Christensen present.
F. G. West showed that he anc
Joseph Pratt have adjoining lands
out toward Presto and Pratt's is 81
acres of alfalfa, while Vests is
acres of land that has been plowed
and ditched enough to make fina]
proof on it, and the remaining 80
acres is sandhills too high to water
The bitches have drifted full OF
sand and it yields no income. In
1918 Pratt's tax was $11, Vests was
$34. In 1919 Pratt's was about
$12 and Vests was $64.7O. West
claimed that assessors would go to
Pratt's house and not come to his
place. He wanted to pay tax accord
ing to what he had, and the board
and the assessor after taking his
testimony agreed that he was being
taxed too much.
Jenkins Stirs EN- Up
D. A. Jenkins then took up the
tabulated matter we published on
page last Friday, and there was
a discussion regarding values, 1t
was all more or less complicated
by the fact that the different houses
had been built in different years
when prices were changing. Our
statement last week that Mr.. Jenk-
ins had been before the board ask
ing for reduction and got raised
$500 was a misunderstanding. He
had been raised $500 when the
board reviewed some properties, but
Jenkins had not yet had his hear
ing. Mr.. Jenkins was not trying
SO much to have his assessment low
cred as to have others put on a
par with his. He cited the case Of
Nofear Davis, whose house was not
finished the first of the year and
he lived in his basement for a while,
and his tax for the year 1920 was
cancelled so far as the house was
concerned. Jenkins moved his fur
niture into the basement last fall
and did not move his family in until
spring because it was not completed,
and he was taxed on the house.
Assessor Malcolm said that if Mr..
Jenkins had come into the office and
made that statement they would have
treated his the same as Mr.. Davis
He said it is the custom to do it that
way with business house, but with
a residence the custom Is to pro rate
it according to the fractional part Of
the year it is used. Jenkins replied
that he had gone to the office cou-
pie of times to get it adjusted, but
Mr.. Malcolm was not in and he could
get no action. Malcolm says he left
no message.
MIR. Bills-His Home
Chairman Bills bought home for
$4,000 and made some improvements
on it, and it is assessed $500 for the
and $3.50 for the lots,
$2250 total 1t is house that was
built some years ago at probable
cost of $2500, and is worth perhaps
$4,000 now. Jenkins house is as
sessed at $500, and it was higher
in proportion than Bills he said.
c. D. LaFever had bought the
Hamilton Wright house that cost
about $1,000, and it was assessed at
only $4,000, and would cost even
more to build it now. Mr.. Millick's
lots cost $4,000 and the house $4,000
and it is assessed $4,000. Mr.. Jenk-
ms said that was too high. 1t was
not stated just what the Jenkins
house cost, but he said 1t probably
was $1,000 less than the cost of
The board did not see
where anybody's assessments were
very much out of line with the 9th
srs, but Mr.. Jenkins said that Mr.
Bills had gone out of his way to
'aise the Jenkins assessment and he
lid not see why 1t should be made
| personal affair. Bills disclaimed
my personal interest or opposition,
md Commissioner Christensen scout
ID the idea and said that he was
present and taking part in the re-
view and discussion and he knew
here was nothing personal about it.
He said that Mr.. Bills made the raise
# $500 after they had all talked it
,ver together, and that Bills was
he right one to take action regard
ng anything in his district. If 1t
lad been in one Of the other dis
riots, the commissioner from that
district would have named the
Mr.. Brown-His Home
Somebody said that John G..
assessment was raised on