Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-25
JUST TAXES RESULT
Of INDIVIDUAL AND
OFFICIAL HONESTY
Lien to Attach to Taxable
Property in Effect
March 6.

Helena, Feb. 24--''1'axatiou in 1922
is going to be no better aud no worse
than the people make IT, says John
Edgerton, assistant to tho state board
of equalization. Unjust taxation in
1929 will be the product Of individual
and official delinquency. Equal and
just taxation for the current year will
be the result Of intelligent individual
and official activity and ability.
Another tax year is about to begin.
At noon on Monday, March 9, a lien
equal in amount to the taxes to be i'm
posed thereon in 1922 will legally at
tach to the taxable property in the
state. The mortgage on the home or
ranch can only be discharged by the
payment of the taxes it represents.
If the tax goes delinquent, the pen
aities and interest become cumulative.
lost their homes and ranches in Mon
tana because of oppressive taxes and
penae-Ses. The right to tax thus dis
places the very right or tenure of prop
erty itself Vigilance at this time will
do much to bring about equitable and
just taxation and relief.
Rely on Individual
1.-THE organization of taxpayers as
sociations throughout the state evil
dences widespread and intense in
terest in this subject. These organ
izations are proper protest against
the oppressive taxation of recent years,
yet no organization can do fully what
the individual must do for himself.
Taxpayers should participate in.
check up and corner" their rights and
duties as to how their money is taken
and spent. Taxpayers ignorance of
their rights has been proverbial-as
proverbial as has been their failure to
perform their duties. For their every
right under the law, the law defines
duty. Exact enforcement of an OPP
pressive tax law will bring about its
speedy repeal or amendment.
There is prevalent opinion that
when person lists his property and
swears to its correctness, the assessor
must accept the same. Such is not the
law. No taxpayer has the right to
make his own assessment. The list
he furnishes the assessor. even when
sworn to, is only a statement or in
ventory of the property owned or con-
trolled by him. The assessor must
himself value the property and such
valuation may be more or less than
that Of the owner. The measure for
the assessment of all property by an
assessor is its true and full value.
Cause All to Pay Alike
st is the duty of every taxpayer
to list all Of his taxable property. both
real and personal. When he shall have
performed this duty, he should see to
it that the assessor causes every other
taxpayer in the county to likewise list
all of his taxable property. Failure in
this penaliZes the honest and rewards
the dishonest There is no person
more contemplate than one who will
fully conceals property from an as
SCISSOR and thus conpels another to
pay for the benefits he receives from
government.
mo taxpayer should analyze anoth-
er's assessment unless he himself has
done his full duty as taxpayer. Every
taxpayer and public official who pre-
sents himself for membership in
taxpayers association should be ready
and glad at all times to prove to the
world that he himself is at least tax
honest"