Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-25
.,arr ASSESSMENTS.
p..--IyrFILIGEScRR:

\ POs1.ISTEILIcEscER:
HI mS Correct" card. approving
II sn@ ,skep bv the PosT-lsrELLI-
Ne So ,.f-rrnc- 90 assessing prop
@d ..fnl, cash v.lue." several of
il 81 ~, t.x,-yers b I've said To noe,
y,,n 20 after tn other coun
N9 -, assessing their property at
II psi6 80 valneY We admit th4t
=. Jsh 80 vgu advocate IL correct.
II Rt - ori0u. fact that for years
II sst .,,party in King county has
IN psi so.sAa frpn one fourth to third
x -, th au the property 10 olhef COON
II oreportloB to tue Respective val
~ merely We have stood tue bur-
~ 500 Territorial tax" have no
"A - sut there is uuch truth In this
seV but - thIs good reason why
II fSSs~s.ors Of this county should
ns The law, because u Is done In
sS.onnties? Is 1t not better 10 seek
eh ,be defect IN other counties,
p@ ,hsn IA vol tte the law In orr own
rsos n understand tue objects OF
s'a1an a,sr IsTELIIGEScER In its several
-. upon this subject, TINS IL what
he I'm irving to do, or rather To call
a.,,sn,ion of the pubic To 1t, thtt II
30 c,rrectei through the proper
~ No Board of County Com
n.aners sitting as a board for the
S'f-,,ion of taxes, should accept an
Lament roll from an assessor when
s.a,r,srent On the face of the roll that
=. oro:eriy has only been assessed At
rnsrter to one half OF lts real cash
~ Itshould require another assess
-, from the assessor, fCtthcuf cost 10
4. s,vatg. II Is not Al uncommon
=, m md money assessed at It's foil
50 oor,cap,s at one If their value
4 "A ,.al and personal property at one
1 s-.,,h thelr value, on the same assess
.~sr, roll The moment the board of
Il .~aslizauon discover such a palpable
Iston Of law, 1t should rejecI she
1 nd al snce, it being impossible for u 20
.ouslizs the roll without assuming the
da,ies of assrSsSE 1tseli.
/ AGAIN, imauy as5"s50TS iabor under
1 ,bs ,yy srroneo,is idea that II they as-
ssa ucoperty at an equal Valuation In
s,tsln sections or districts, wIthout re-
g,rd TO its "fuIl cash value" only 80 10 u
,sIoed equally in that district, they are
nakin2 An equal and lust assessfnontv
Thi. ia one of the worst mistakes that
sssessors make, and the saard says IL
supot correct ii, because 1t is eoEsst 70
otker property adjoining.
/ Ryampie-A and b owns twenty lots
ia lne Comstoek addition, assessed at
ssq a lot. B and & own twenty lsta In
kldd's addition, assessed at $50 oo1A.
Ttose in the Comstock ADDITION are
sssessed at their foil cash vaiue y
those in the Kidd addition at oae- fO0rtt
thsir tull cash value. and h have 20
Y psy three fourths IN IRE Of taxes ia pro-
portou 10 their wealth than Il and @.
1 II the lots Of B and G were asst ssed n$
shen full cash value, the number of
| nils OF the dollar to make up the re-
cured amount of taxes would be less
| 10 proportion, and hence A and BIS
tales less.
Again. assessors make great mistakes
i IN nas-essinR lots and acres at the same
price IN tue same addition or neighbUr-
hood. There IL as much difference In
The price of lots in the same addition,
o. acres In the same seotien or town.
ship. AS there IL in the price of the diff
fertRt varieties of wheat, wool or coon
Il
nerous on roll, ! would say that the
assessor Is incompetent to perform his
auiy, or too neRIectful of it to go on the
ground ana inspect 1t, and assess each
ot and tract according TO its value
Boards OF tqn1llZation can only correct
speh mis'aAts IA proportion to their
knoaledge OF tie value nf each lot and
lfaft, and ~ their knowledge IL neoes
afiiy limit, d, Zach ASSESS " shodld he
present hfnrr his respective TO ,Td Ot
tqu,liLation. prepared TO answer each
ahd all questions touching the value
and topography of each lot ana tract of
hnd 10 hi- assessing district. Ii he Is
competent and faithful assessor be
can DO this as well IN reference TO each
hs and tract IN his district as he can the
ens upon which he lives. In this way
the board can exercise its Judgment AS
70 whether the assessors conclusions
sfs equal and Just to all parties inter
essd or not.
This requiring every man, woman aud
eblid VITO IL assessed in a oaunty tn ap
psaf before the Board tperhaps during
zoe busiest season If the year,, to see
lhai they are not over assessed, il a
hardship which ought not To he imposed
npon the public. The Assessor and the
poId oi Equaliz tion are the servants
81 the people, electe d to protect the la.
h'ests OF the people, and they should
20 without calling out the masses To
protest themselves. Provision should
g made for redress in eases of palpeble
slfon by these servants. The most per-
irat are liable to make mistakes, anu in
ooaso more so than in the equalization
values OF property throughout
ssansy' but such frequent and gross
eHofs AZ are sometimes found in a.
sssst ent rolls are inexousable.
nut Mr.. Editor, / have digressed
NON the object OF this letter. whish is
fainants.
! sse no way in which the several
~ahsies in the Territory. the property
xaich has been assessed greatly be-
Nv Us ',inll cash value" can be reached
sTW thfoagh their respective Is ards
equalization for county parposes. as
wave suggested above, and through
w territorial legislators for Terri
a'al purposes. For past grievances as
Sae territorial tax, relief bills might
=, passed. where cases of great hard
ap can De established; but my plan
- Yasu ~ 90 TO create Territorial Board
- Aqanizaiion, with full powers to act
suo al things necessary to be done
A. \. .aeoomplish the objects Of tue Board.
Sssse we creation of such Board, and
sssalne It's duties aud modes of pro-
ns.s 'e' ale Subjects which would re-
49, nuch thought and study 10 eiuei-
~ ano much speos TO bring them
rsie ~, oefore the people, viii leave
sirss ess on these subjects until such
siss1 s - 'ney may be required for prac
Ssc. asc. nj. S. BoorH.
sklfrIE, May a. 1884.
se'khtf SrRiCKEN CurNrSR - Ii Ia