Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1919 — MAKING WRY FACES AT REPUBLICAN TAX LAW [ARTICLE]

MAKING WRY FACES AT REPUBLICAN TAX LAW

It is amusing to note the squirming of the editors of Republican papers of the state over the new tax law, enacted by Governor Goodrich’s “best legislature in 50 years,” although they dare not speak out loud in its condemnation for fear of incurring the displeasure of. the g. o. p, bosses, who foisted this law onto the taxpayers and look to the members of their party to swallow the bitter pill, and look pleasant. Occasionally one of these editors will say something which, by reading between the lines, one can gather the “private opinion” of the writer ever though he dare not openly come out and express his views, as evidence of which we copy a paragraph froin the Benton County Republican of Fowler, regarding the recent increase of the assessments as made by the township assessors and county board of review. The Republican says: The state tax board, vested with powers hardly to be tolerated in a Republican government, has increased the valuation in every county in the state, raising it millions of dollars above the estimate of local taxing officials. Thus a commission, not in position to know values, overrides the judgment of men who do know, and fixes a valuation away beyond reason. In Benton county an increase is made of 15% on all lands and lots and all improvements in all townships, not including incorporated cities and towns. An increase of 50% on all lots and lands and 50% on all Improvements in all incorporated towns. An increase of 50% on all personal property in all townships and an increase of 60% per cent on all personal prop-, erty in the cities and towns. , This is. a case where our Republican brethren can not openly say, “I’ll be d— if I believe this is a good law,” but must say: “I’ll be d— if I don’t believe it is.”