The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-17

day another Is worth IS, another
500, another SO and another $12.
Whether the higher priced men fur.
nish instruments, automobiles
horses or anything of the sort does
not show in the vouchers We assume
that it is entirely right and proper
put we do not understand why the
people of the whole county should
pay the bills for controlling the water
on the Blackf OF river. If this eX-
rense is approtioned among the peo-
| gle wning and using the water we
will be likely to find it out and will
report to you later.
There are 1,941 automobile licen-
ses issued in bingham county yield
ing a total of $33,592.45. The gov
eminent trucks are not taxer. There
are six county trucks, four county
cars and -four federal cars. OF this
amount IS per cent is supposed to
| be applied on the county road and
bridge expense and 25 per cent goes
to the state. There is no tax on auto
mobiles excepting that which is COW
cred by the automobile license.
The total valuation of all property
in Bingham county according to the
assessed valuation is $16,S19,826.39.
Exemptions cut that down in the sum
OF $156,421. most of which is for
widows whom the law gives the right
OF exemption from paying taxes.
Banks are assessed on the capital
stock, the surplus and undivided pro-
hts. The assessment this year was
paid on a 70 per cent basis, 70 per
cent OF the real value; the board of
commissioners cut that to SO per
cent. @.
In 1919 there were 6944 cattle as
sessed in the county and in 1920,
1907. In 1919 there were 5,7S3
horses and in 1920, $3.50, a slight
decrease. In 1919 there were 1896
hogs; in 1920, 2,424. In 1919 the
merchandise stocks in the county was
$439,550; in 1920, it had dropped
to $372,O25, but the state board of
equalization raised it 20 per cent
bringing up to $447,23O.
There has been steady increase
in the rates Of taxation for many
years. From 1915 to 1920 inclusive,
the rate rose on each one hundred
dollars of assessed valuation from
$1.20 to $2.689. In the different
years from 1915 the rate was as fol-
lows: $1.20, $1.4S, $1.S575, $1.S325,
$2.479, $2.6S9. Mortgages are not
taxed in this state because the pro-
perry itself is taxed. If a tax were
collected on the mortgages then that
would have to be added to the rate
OF interest or at least that is the
theory, SO that the person owning
the property and giving the mort
gage would have to pay it anyhow.
There is always suspicion of in
equalities in assessment and they &C
count for great deal of loss in taxes
throwing the heavier burden ON those
who are not favored. That is pref
ty deep question to go into and it |
would take a great deal of compari- |
son to determine whether or not, ;
there was faulty assessment. The
most of the people are quite conscien-
celess about giving in their personal |
property; some have valuable fur
niture and do not feel like paying
on the full amount and among many
people there is a disposition to ig-
more it. There are lot of very god
people who invest some money in
diamonds, wear them on their per-
son and do not feel that they owe the
government any tax on anything that
they wear on their body, yet the
dry farmer out on the plains, own
ing team of horses worth no more
than the diamond on the finger, is
to pay taxes on the team
of horses. Some people have more
money invested in diamonds than the
average dry farmer has in improve
ments yet he has to pay on his i'm
his tools and his ami
mails from which he makes his liy-
ng, II he gets living, while the
person with an equal amount in
rested in diamonds stored around on
heir person or put away in safety !
leposit vaults, is not inclined to make :
my report of them at all. The as
lessor probably feels some delicacy
bout stopping people on the street
md making an examination OF their
lngers and shirt bosoms to see
whether they have fortune carried ,
round in those positions. Many 6
Dung person drawing a modest SAL
ny has a greater ambition to save
lp money enough to buy a diamond ]
han they have to invest their money
q something useful or to get into /
BUSINESS. These people should be
nade to pay taxes on such invest
aents and it should be pressed with | +
great deal more severity than the
objection of the taxes against the :
armer or the homesteader who is
eveloping an empire by devotiny the
est years of his life to.sacriflce on
he claims. {
The manager of the Orpheum and
sis Theatres has signed contract 1
18th Mr.. Bert Levey of San Fran E
lsco in which Mr.. Levey agrees to r
lrnish the Isis Theatre with two +
cts of vaudeville every Saturday g
fternOOn and avaninp FIR ono voar Y