The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-04-07

SrArrLx. vt. April 6. 1880

nEvRNUE LAW.
SEATTLE. W. r., April 6, 1880.
Ed. IxrELLIoEscER:-I am in receipt
OF full text Of the revenue law jus,
passed by both Houses of the Legs
lature OF California, now in session a,
Sacramento. Among Its provisions ]
find the following. viz:
"All property must be assessed at its
full value"
The full cash value of property is
determined just the tame IS by our
revenue Law. aud the definitions Of
property ere the came.
1.-THE Board 6f Supervisors County
Commissioners) nust furnish blank
ferms, (detail lists) and each person
must list his property and furnish the
Assessor with . sworn statement VI ell
the property owned by him. or unde.
his CONTROL, at IL o'clock n. on the
first Monday Of March, and the county
where situated. he must state the
numbers Of the road and Achoel dis
tricts in which each tract of land is
situated."
Mortgages, deeds Of trust. liens, rail-
roads, toll roads. ferries. telegraph
lines, frsnchisss, &c, are assessed Just
the same - by our Oppressive" law.
The afidsvit to these blank ferns or
detail lists 10 precisely the same as the
cse a.taohsd TO our detail lists. with an
addition that "the debts therein stated
- ewing By the person are owing to
bona ode resldsnts of the State, or to
frms or corporations doing business in
the Ststs." 10 reference to bank state
ments the Law says the assessor shall
have tbs privilege of examining the
books OF such bank to verify said
statement" I viii quote section 1884
nearly entire. that your readers may
see what oppressive tyrsnts those CAL
ifornis Legislators are:
-" When the assessor has not received
from the owner Of tract of land the
statement reQairsd by section 1929. or
when such statement does not suffi-
cisntly describe tract OF land to en-
sbie the assessor TO assess the same as
required by law. and the owner 0: bis
agent, OF, in case they cannot b found
or ars unknows. the person in posaes-
sion thereof neelects. for ten days
after demand by the assessor, to fur
nish said assessor with such descrip-
ton. the assessor shall cite such owner
Or agent. or persen in possession. to
appear before the Superior Court Of
the county wherein such land IL stu
Eaesd vithin nine days after service Of
sueh cieasion; cod the said Superior
Court shall. upon tho day named in
such citation, to the exclusion of all
other business. proceed to her the re-.
turn and answer Of the said owner or
agent. or person in possession. to the
said citation: and il the Court shall
find that the land hes not been sur
veyed or divided into subdivisions Of
$40 acres or less. 90 that each part or
parcsl may be described, : then
the Court shall, by order duly entered
In open Court. direct the county sur
veyor to make . survey and define the
boundaries and location of said land
by parcels or subdivisions, and
deliver the same to the county assessor.
The exptnse Of making such survey
and description - shall be lien
upon the land, and shall be aided to
the taxes upon safd land. and be COL
lccted ~ other taxes are collected
A great fuss has been made in some
Of our local papers over the section in
our revenue law which gives the as
sessor authority to have person.
land surveyed. IL he refuses to furnish
the assessor with proper description
OF his land; but in California they
take . man away from his work and
run hin through the Courts, then sur.
Wy. his land aud attach oil Of the sx-
psases to liis ssssssmesit. They c-r-
tainly must DO hard.hearted wretches,
10 cay the least, 10 make their. laws ~
oppressive that those men who own
their thoussnds AID millions of dollars
lie property csnnot well escape the As-
sssssf sud dodge the Letting Of their
property and swsaring to the same.
Nsy w not, Mr.. Editor. in view Of the
foregoing, among dossns Of other just
% oppressive sections in their law. ex-
psct seon to hser 1T indignation meet
ings. resolutions, hluls t. scare or in
timidAts ASSESSOR. 3D.. taking place oil
over that great Slater No; aud ! will
tell you why. The papers OF Cslifornia
sAy that "it (ths resenue law 10 the
NEST important Law Of the session. and
Of nsurss CAUSED greet deal Of debate.
lts praotiosl woskiags will have to bs
tested BY experiences before an abso-
iuts jsdgmsas can 30 formed upon it,
merits" &a =
Tho truth d. Mr.. Editor. that the
poor man and the man OF moderate
means always gives in his property
honestly. and pays his taxes 20 the best
Of his ability. while . cerisin class oil
theee who own large estates are COO
stantly contriving SEINE plan to avoid
tension, and thess opprsaive hws srs
intended 70 catch jost such chaps. and
will de - Il the easesser does his duty.
Rsspsctfu.ly yours.
st4 90 u. 8. Booru.
-
WCR rHNT r n-R~