The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-01-05
BLAINE COUNTY IS
SIDE STEPPING


the carpet to defend themselves an
their administration. The commits
sioners reminded the people tina
various school districts had levie
high taxes as had also the munich
palities, and that these special levie
constituted the major portion O
their tax bills. After canvassing tn
whole subject of local matters, the,
decided to petition the governor TO
relief thru special session and
special measure-in other word
repudiating or postponing the pay
ment of obligations of some kind.
1t was the same question that PEG
pie in Bingham county had unde
consideration in December, 1920
and they turned it down by unani
nous vote in their mass meeting
Blaine county adopted the resolu
tion and the governor turned it dow1
emphatically. His reply is COPIED
herewith and furnishes food fol
thought:
Governor States Position
The attitude of Governor Davis is
clearly outlined in the following
reply he made to the petition of the
commissioners Of Blaine county, who
asked for the special session:
1T does not seem wise or possible
to call special session Of the legis-
lature at this time. The first bill
that special session would pass
would be new appropriation to
cover the expenses of the session
and unless there is some construc-
tive program suggested or worked
out by which the people of the state
might be bettered, l would not feel
1t possible to call special session.
1T would be pleasure to me to
carefully consider any suggestions
that your board of county commits
sioners might make as to the rea-
sons and wisdom of calling a special
session; but without a concrete plan
of merit from them it does not seem
possible for me to grant their re-
quest" ,.-
Protes
The taxpayers of Blaine county
called a mass meeting to protest
against the high taxes. They met
with the county commissioners in
an effort to find some solution by
which the tax burden might be lifted.
The commissioners justified the tax
levies they had authorized and de-
Tended the expenditures that had
been authorized and made in the
county. The per capita tax levy in
Blaine county is approximately $65.
The cost per annum of operating the
county is $4,000. The population
Of the county is about 5000. The
taxpayers there feel that the taxes
Ire rising instead of falling and that
something must be done to save
hem from financial ruin. 1t was de-
,ided to appeal to- Governor. Davis
Ind ask him to convene the 6&isla-
ure in extra session, that legislation
ould be passed that would bring the
'elief desired. So petition was
ent to the states chief executive
md to this he has made formal
eply.
Special sessions of the legislature !
n this state have not a record to
heir credit of enacting legislation
t benefit. In 1912 there was a
pecial session of the legislature
allied by James H. Hawley, then
overnor. The tax problem was the
ssue then, as it is now The board !
t equalization under Governor Haw-
ey had ruled that all property in
he state should be assessed at it's
I'LL cash value as the law provides,
'hereas property was being assessed
t but 40 per cent of its full cash
alue. The result was taxation
haos, and the legislature had to be
onvened in special session to pass
egislation that would bring relief.
ut it did not succeed in doing so.
question Paramount ...
The only session extraordinary of
re legislature since then was called
Governor Davis during his first
srm for the purpose of ratifying
le women suffrage amendment
assed by congress-. The state capt.
u was then in the process of con-
ruction and the old legislative halls
ad been torn down. The legislature
let In lodge quarters and made the
ltification. 1t adjourned immedi-
ely thereafter without considering
her legislation. The cost to the
ate was little.
1t Is generally conceded that the
x question has become paramount
this state because of the power
,efcised by local taxing bodies The
'neral impression, however, among
xpayers is that the state is re-
'ons1ble for the high taxes. This
to great extent erroneous. The ,
ate tax levy this year was less than :
e tax levy year ago, and the tax
Wy in 1920 was less than the tax
w of 1919. The prospects are that
e levy in 1922 will be less for the
ate than the tax levy of 1921. But
cal taxing bodies are authorized |
der the law to levy taxes for +
hools, for roads and for other pur- /
SEES. 1t costs money to build '
hools and to maintain them in
aho. !
ahO Growing State .
Idaho is new and growing state.
Is spending a large amount of
1eral, state and county funds in
ad building. Special levies, assess
ants were made on property and
e owners were required to pay o
cir propOrtionate share. The legie- 8