The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-30
Wednesday, Oct. 80. 1873.
THE REVENUE LAW.

imposed upon. and plundered. Instead
of plain. simple and inexpensive direc-
tons ~ 10 the manner Of proceeding.
such as an intelligent business man
would give 10 the management OF pri-
vate business, the various enactments
on the subject have been absurdly
inartificial and bungling. and conse-
ausntly inefficient and expensive in
operation. In their composition every
element Of sound political economy
seems to have been omitted. Apparent
~ the sole object sought to be attain.
ed has besn TO give employment to, and
provide abundent fees for the county
Auditors. Sheriffs, and Tressurers 30 as
to reimburse that class of politicians
for the expenses and trouble Of secur-
ing their positions and afford them .
fat living, while in Office; in the accom-
plishment Of which these laws may be
said to have been eminsntly successful.
The aggregate amount thus unnecessary
~ sxacted from the tax payers OF the
Territory. since ito organization. for the
benefit Of the politicians and county
SCRIPT spectators, must be immense;
and yet tho amount thus taken from the
tax Myers is not so much cause Of com
plant - the manner in which it has
been done. for the system has entailed
upon the tax payers, especially non'
residents, . vast amount of trouble and
annoyance. 10 addition to unnecessary
costs and expenses.
The last Legislature. however, took
new departure" in regard to this mat.
ter. While the revenue Law of 1877. is
imperfect and defective in some mater.
ial particulars, and there are many
clerical inaccuracies and mistakes sp-
parent in reading II, still with all ito
faults. any fai: minded person who will
examine it must reach the conclusion
that it's enactment was an honest move
towards reform.
Under the former double-twisted and
complicated system, in order to make
the Sheriff collector of delinquent taxes
no less than six distinct tax lists and
duplicates wero required. These neces.
sarily involved great amount of labor
IN the pact Of tho county officials. and
corresponding expense to the people.
LII making them errors and mistakes
were Of frequent occursnce. whereby. .
considerable portion Of the revenue was
annually lost. besides, during the time
consumed in making the unnecessary
lists. Taxes could not be paid or COL
lected without great Inconvenience. in
consequence of which there was .
further loss.
Another objectional feature OF the
old system was that we had so many
special and local taxes, which becoming
due ct different seasons of the year and
being collectible by different officers,
the tax payer could never know when be
bad paid oil the law demanded. eternal
vigilance was the price Of security,
from thc..rapacity Of the army of school,
road district, city. town aud county, tax
eathsrers.
Another deficiency in the law was the
tardiness which Il sanctioned in the
payment Of taxes after the levy had
been mads-and Che further delay in
the transmission of the Territorial tax
altar its collection by the county officers
thereby suffering public debts to 90.
cumulats and interest to grow there
on. thus increasing the burdeo upon
the willing and prompt Taxpayers. for
the advantage Of the dilstory. and dis
honest.
The Law was also defective in this.
that under it no valid title could be
obtained for real estate ssld for non.
paysSnt Of taxes.
Oar space 10 not sufficient 10 further
enuueraRs The many dsfscts Of the sys-
TEN, Or to illustrate thoss We have msn-
tioasc BY refereaos 70 glazing Instances
Of wsoeg actually suffered. coming I'M
der our own observation.
The present revenue Law aims to. and
doss in faek correct many u thsss evils.
Il dispeuses with the making Of four
unnecessary tax lists. and thereby mvca
to each county several hundred dol.
Lara per annum upon their cost
alone. Il mAkes the County Treasurer
sole collectors Of oil county and Terri
. toriAl taxes. and Of all local and special
taxes after the sams become delinquent
aud al taxes. general. special and
local. in each county become dsliqnusn,
on the same day. Ths Treasurer re-
sains each tax list in HE Pcssessios
from the time he receives Il until q
taxa thsrsoa hAvs bsea paid. % u,
tasss can b paid 1t any tine afse'
they become due without inccnvepi
ieace. Il sivss ample tiss Cor the pay,
meat Of taxes after the tame becom,
due. and Jet requires the collections d
Be made much more promptly and will