The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-02-24
Prof. Call" Editor
Shelley, Idaho, Feb. %. 1921
Says Go to 1t"


Editor Trego:
In your article in the Idaho Repub-
lican of the twenty-first, l note that
you make reference to myself as not
being found upon the assessment
rolls. This attempt to classify me
as Q non-tax payer does not state the
case fairly. Your Investigations have
not gone for enough.
/ did advocate a $4,000 bond is
sue for q water system for Shelley.
believed that $4,000 was not suf-
ficient to give us what was really
necessary to provide an up to date
and adequate water supply. There
| is scarcely q man in Shelley now who
does not realize that my position
on this question was right.
/ never advocate anything that I
am not willing and eager to back to
the full extent of my financial abil-
ity. We own about $4,000 worth of
household goods. It would be
pleasure to both my wife and myself
to pay tax on this property. We
pay the water tax $21 annaklly.
True 1t Is paid for use in the home
in which we live, but It Is in addi-
tfon to my rent and is specified as
water tax.
As a matter Of fact, there are few
if any heads of families in Shelley
who pay as high rate of taxation
as myself. 1t costs me $420 year to
occupy the home in which we live
(not including water tax. light. fuel
etc., In 1918 MY rent was raised
$50 year. Higher taxes. In 1919
it was raised another $50 year.
The taxes were higher, | was told.
In 1920 still another increase of $50
year and again higher taxes. I
made no. protest for it gave me pleas
ure to pay these taxes. Now, Editor
Trego, in all fairness, who pays the
taxes on the home in which l live?
agree with you that those who
do not help to pay the taxes should
be modest in offering advice. l am
always modest in Offering advice.
Modesty is virtue of the teaching
profession. But l am not modest
because do not pay taxes. The
teacher is modest and humble for
the reason that he knows that he
knows so little.
But to taxes again. pay the
taxes on the home in which my
family and myself live and l pay
high rate of interest on the cost of
said home. I keep his home in re-
pair, beautify the grounds and sur
and take as good care of it,
and interest in it, as I could do If
1t were my own. 1t is my own while
occupy it. I buy 1t temporarily.
In 1920 contributed $25 for pub
lie buildings in Shelley, $40 for
public park, and addition, collected
about $4,000 from my fellow citizens
for said park, giving twenty days of
my time without remuneration. This
was tax on my resources. I paid
It. l pay 800 to year for the sup
port Of my church and kindred or
and these various con-
whether they are in money
Or in service rendered are in the
truest sense tax.
Then again, my dear Trego, I help
you to pay your taxes and a helper
should receive due credit and share
IN the reward. BY the way, do not
expose me by saying that 1 am in
arrears in my subscription to your y
PAPER. Quietly send me statement ,
md l will forward with pleasure, a
check to help you pay your taxes.
My family and myself spend prac-
ically every dollar of our earnings
lere at home. We do not patronize
nailorder houses or go out of Shell
ey for anything that can be had at
lone, altho we frequently pay
rifle more for an article than itx
would cost elsewhere. Every dollar
hat we spend at home helps some
me to pay his taxes. Isn't a helper
n reality tax payer?
But teachers are not tax payers,
avs Editor Trego, so he would
nuzzle us, make us speak soft and
ow and say precious little about
ublic questions in which money is
involved.
Go to it, Editor Trego, you have 4
man-sized job before you.
Very truly yours,
JAMES A. LANGTON.