Idaho County free press., 1924-10-09
The R0ulInd Table
Conducted, Trimmed. Censored and Deleted.
By Thin Space

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that the state board make q reduc.
tiOn of so percent on the valuation
of waste land owned by the individ
uals of this county, or if necessary
on the total assessed valuation of the
waste land of the county.
| And that the county assessor pre-
sent this recommendation to the state
| board of equalization, and that in
listing lands for taxation in the yeaI
| 1925, the assessor assess all waste
land in Idaho county at valuation
of not to exceed $1.00 per acre.
What did the board of equalization
do with this?
Absolutely nothing. Ask the assess
or, Mr.. VIM. Ingram. He attended
the last meeting of the assessors and
did all he could to have the state
board of equalization correct this
glaring Inconsistency. But they did
reduce the railroad assessment $1,000
mile, about half a million dollars In
the state, which means additional as
sessment for the rest of the taxpayers.
Our sister state of Washington is
contending with the same problems,
only worse than we taxpayers of Ida
no.
am offering the following suggest
tions in line for the regulation of tax
problems, that / firmly believe, if
enacted into a law, will result in a
larger voice of the people in their
own government. Some old fashioned
honesty and integrity i'm the admin
istraton of our state affairs and also
of higher ideals i'm public service.
Wisconsin, when La Toilette was gov
ernor, lenacted numerous legislation
of this character that has saved its
citizens millions of dollars. Idaho has
reached the stage in her history and
development when these perplexing
questions must be considered and sol
we'd in some way or another.
1t has occurred to me that both
Washington and Idaho should con-
slider and recommend to its members
of the next legislature, as one big
step to reduce taxes, the imperative
need to centralized control of taxa
ton and assessment.
merce has, through its enlarged tax
committee, recommended three spec
les of legislation, /. e., budget law,
a serial bond law, and change In
the constitution to provide for an ap-
pointiye state tax commission to re-
place the present board of equaliza-
tion which consists of the governor
attorney general, secretary of state
auditor and treasurer. The budget
law seeks to adopt plan to reduce
expenditures to known quantities
and SO advise the public that they
will know the facts and sit in with
boards of commissioners, city coun'
cilmen, school trustees and highway
district officials in estimating the
cost of government for the current
year.
The serial bond law intends that
bonds voted on the property of the
state shall be paid-not only the in
terest but an equal propol ton of the
principal-annually, so that with the
maturity of the bond the principal
and interest will be paid.
The tax commission resolution pro
poses to amend the constitution so
long-term board can BE- appointed
with special qualifications, to be or
the job continually, with authority.
Centralized administration of the
| fax problem should require the con
tinued services of three capable ex
nert commissioners. In order to Sc
cure the standard of capability re
ouired they should be chosen by ap
nointment for a long term of years
st the beginning for two, four anc
six year terms-and, to remove tnen
from the suggestion of political Dlas
one member should be appointed
from each of the three recognized
narties of the state, the republican
progressive and democratic. This
system may be Objectionable because
If presumes to recognize the choice OF
PARTY men. A governor, FOR instance
clothed with appointive power ant
reasoning on terms of politics rather
than of the great, common good
might construe this distribution al
license to give political color rather
than capability character and states
manship to the commission.
Through the periodical visits O
these commissioners to all parts O.
the state. their work can be stimu
lated and elevated in point of effl
cheney by carefully studied coopera
five effort on the part of all tn
people of the state to help them II
securing the assessment of all prop
ertv and its fair and honest equal
zation between different classes an'
| different owners of property.
In order to bring about the chang
from the present equalization boar'
TO a tax commission "a legislatiV'
enabling act must be passed by
two-thirds majority Of each house II
- naxt session of the legislature