The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-01-22
Investigator Gives
His Side of
I ok Discussion
CONTINUED from page y

Of money spent. How can Mr.
Mahoney make such a statement?
He never has asked me what | have
done-hoW many appraisals / have
completed-hoW many interviews
were held-hoW entries on the tax
records were Investigated for pes
sible evasions and double assess
ments. In fact, Mr.. Mahoney has
not bothered to ask me just what
mas been accomplished. He merely
guessed as TO the scope of the in
vestigatian to date, and it was a
pcor guess
Investigator Not Nuisance
Regarding the statement that I
was nuisance" | wish to state
hat no such word was used when
alked TO MIR Walter Neils. In the
.rst place, permission was obtained
rom representative of the j. Neils
Lumber Company to make an ap-
praisal of their lumber mill. Seven
days, and not two weeks. were spent
in the mill yard On November 10,
l941. Mr.. Walter Neils said to me
that he thought | had spent suf-
ficient time to make the appraisal,
and that it would be best that | did
not come back into their properties
again to investigate further.
Stupid Appraisal Methods
It is indeed unfortunate that I
have not had bestowed upon me the
power of making appraisals because
of not being elected to the office of
county commissioner, assessor, or
appointed deputy assessor. Each of
the above offices in the eyes of the
law are capable of making apprais-
ais. Did any ever make a study Of
the latest methods on appraisals?
say they have not, generally speak
ing.
Notwithstanding that I am a
graduate of Montana State College
with a Bachelor of Science degree
in chemical engineering, that was
county general foreman for the
WPA and have had varied expert
ence in metallurgy, | have made an
extensive study of appraisal meth
DDS while employed in this capacity
My file shows comprehensive list
Of copies Of appraisals on industrial
plants, machinery and even fish
hatcheries. All of these data were
gathered from assessors and state
boards of equalization from the
states of Montana, Oregon. Idaho.
Washington, Utah and California.
My studies and experience, gathered
in the field in collaboration with the
taxpayers of this county, Iethink,
render me more fit to appraise than
those who guess.
Appraisals Are Exact
There is no guess work about my
appraisals. can back up every
appraisal / have made by scien-
tific method that has been tried
and proven by a group Of noted APP
praisers. These methods are very
comprehensive and easy to use
when the proper measurements, OBJ
servations and construction indexes
are used.
Investigation Brings Results
The start of this investigation
brought an additional assessment
of $70,00000, which returned to the
county approximately $4,000 in
taxes; this money could never have
been recovered otherwise, and is
very nearly two thirds of the
amount appropriated for this pro-
gram, / also find that Christmas
tree lands are not assessed as tim.
Der lands; that roadside signs are
not assessed; that some classified
tons of machinery are not assessed
in the proper class; that there are
cases of assessments made by own
ers themselves; that there are cases
of deliberate withholding of in
formation from the assessor in re-
gard to household furniture. cattle
and refrigerators.
Citizens Favor Probe
Again / disagree with Mr.. Ma
honey about the attitude of the CIT
liens concerning the investigation
In all of my interviews | have been
confronted only once with a DELHI
crate refusal to further the work
My contacts with various citizens
have revealed that they are whole
heartedly in favor of the investipa-
ton, especially when facts and fig
ures were shown that prove that
many assessments were very low
In conclusion it is we'll 10 add