The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-08-22
SEEK EQUALIZATION
OF FARM VALUES
OVERSMITH REPRESENTS LATAH
FARMERS BEFORE STATE BOARD
TELLS OF CONDITIONS


Attorney A. H. Oversmith, who
represented the farmers Of Latah
county before the recent meeting of
the state board of equalization, in an
effort to equalize taxes of Latah
county with those of adjoining coun-
ties, made a full report Wednesday
at the chamber of commerce meeting
regarding his work in Boise.
Mr.. Oversmith said:
"The purpose of my appearance be-
fore the state board of equalization,
on behalf of the farmers of Latah
county, was to make an effort to have
corrected the discrepancies in the
assessment of farm land in Latah
county, as compared with like land
in Nez Perce county.
"For the past seven years the land
In Latah county, adjoining Nez Perce
county, averaged $500 an acre higher,
after being equalized by the state
board Of equalization. In order to
determine if the same ratio held true
on other land of equal value, certain
compilations were made last Janu-
ary by Defenbach & Sons, account
ants, who exported the books Of La
tab county. The assessed valuation
II
erican ridges, was compared with the
assessment made in Nez Perce coun-
ty on equally valuable land on the
Big Potlatch, and it was found that
the lands in Latah county were as
sessed on an average of a little more
than $500 per acre higher than the
lands in the neighboring county. The
attention of the assessors office of
T ofo 1fxr fn ic
crepancy and Latah county land was
assessed in 1923 about $500 per acre
less than in 1922. These facts were
all submitted to the state board of
equalization.
Corporations Seek Reductions
"The first three days Of the meeting
of the board was taken up by argu-
ments made by the various railroads
and public service corporations
Most of this class of taxpayers con-
tended that for taxation purposes
railroads and public utilities should
be valued on the basis of net income
The Oregon Short Line presented to
the board as evidence whole volume {
of statistical information which was
gathered from the 20 counties in
which the Oregon Short Line oper-
ates. This railroad company took
from the records considerations men
TONED in various conveyances and
also the appraisals placed on land !
by the Federal Land Bank and the
state land board. The statistics were :,
gathered for the years 1921 and 1922 !
and the first six months of 1928. !!
Using such compilations the railroad
company claimed that all other prop :
erty was assessed on the basis of
IL per cent of it's actual cash value. E
After the public utilities corporations I
had completed their arguments was y
requested to answer the arguments Il
Of the utilities and railroad compan- ;,
les.
Press Report Wrong - y
1.-THE Associated Press sent out G
report that I had urged the state h
BOARD of equalization to accept such n
'ecord evidence as basis for assess a
nent purposes. In my argument | d
ook exactly the opposite view and g
whether or not the reports sent out A.
we're intended to misrepresent my Al
POSITION on the matter, I do not know,
,ut it is my belief that it was simply II
mistake as no correspondent was e,
resent before the board at the time II
made my argument. AS a matter fl
f fact such statistical records have nj
cry little value in determining the W
ctual cash value of property, for the e,
eason that during the past three 10
ears most of the transfers of farm cs
have been from insolvent as
ebtors, who have conveyed their g(
roperty in satisfaction of debts. re
ther farm property has been traded
nd the consideration expressed in SO
he deeds has not been based upon ca
ctual cash transfers. The apparis- ne
1 valuations made by the Federal ST
and Bank and the state land board ve
,r the years 1921 and 1922 are rec in
gnized as being excessive, especially CT
south idaho where a large number he
I federal loans have been made dur m
lg those two years. 40
1.-THE only basis for the report an
hich was sent to the papers was =
robably a remark that / made to the de
feet that such records might have we
me weight in normal times, but no
cry little If any weight should be we
ven to such evidence at a period
time where the fluctuation in en-
L1ues was as great as in the past so,
rec years. ou
"The agricultural interests in Idaho sh,
e contending that their property is fut
sessed on the basis of rs per cent eat
the actual cash and marketable sta
lue Of farm lands.
'The state board of equalization is WI
fortunate at this time in
wing as it's chairman our present
vernon, who has always been iden-
led with the farming interests in
is state, and who is fully alive to zle
e economic situation of the farm HlN
3 interests at this time Again the ant
tie is fortunate in having for it's JUG
,orney general and a member of the
: board, A. H. Conner, of Sand MIS-
int, who had previously acted as to
orney for the public utilities COM 1
ssion of the state of Idaho. He Wh'
well acquainted with values plac-
upon public service corporation
,perties for rate making purposes wol
is is said without any disparage- and
mt to the other members of the spe
lrd of equalization, who seem to ten,