Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1888-03-31
TIE RAILROAD TAX Law.
III sPIAxRa eIAEK HxPLAIss II IN TaR
LioHr OF How NE CONTEMPLATED
IT WOULD ofKBArE WIEN
uk psxw X.

w. n. Clark, Esq, tx'speaker OF the
territorial house Of representatives, Via
drafted she present nev iAv for the
taxing OF railroad properties, vas Ia the
city yesterday on his way 10 San Fran
CISCO. A Posr IsTKLLioRscx reporter
inssrviewesi him relative TO the opera
tieu Of the railroad tan Law and tie A.
sessmsni Of railroad properties. lie
said:
"Tts Law vas intended to make a
simple provision By which railroad
properties could be taxed. Instead Of
proposing an elaborate bill for that
purpose, continuing new methods OF
procedure which would not unlikely re
salt In confusion ard multitude OF
contests. conslndsd 10 frame bill
the terms OF which could be made
definite hY reference 10 iavs already 10
operation, and with WITCH county oEi-
cars are now tolershiy familiar. msnn
by this thst By making railroad prog
esty taxable last as tie property OF in.
div,duais is taxed, there couid be no
misapprehension among the assessors
what 10 90. Same reopie thought that
beoauss the bill was shoss 10 amounted
10 az evasisq OF the subject Bot a. q
matter Of fsot, the bill embraces the
whole system OF taxation nov In force
IN this territory. Ihus you vii see TIE
nes lag avoids the possibility OF mis-
construction. whatever decisions hsvs
baeu made BY the courts on The tsx Lac
relating 10 she property OF individuals.
Is also decision - certain extent on
the EsiiFced iaw."
Nv II there be sny vsriance IN tae
apslcsiion Of the Law ta the property
OF oolb individuals ana railroad com
peniesS
"Sabssarsially thore will not be any
8 ference. Sa b property OF iDcividu'
ais as may be exsurt from ta1sti9n
will not. OF coarse, be assessed. Hall
rad property exempt by law viii also,
Of course, NOT be assessed. In general
terms. the nex railroad tar law says,
sax railroad property % all kinds"
what property Of raiirosd comps-
nigs is exempt"
"rhsre appears 90 be considerable
difference OF opinion en- tsis sati sct-
There are decisions, OF at least one De
olsioa Which holds tna. every improve
men, made oy tns companies 10 iiso.e
20 tsxstisa. The right o; way. accord
ing 90 shis case. Is defined 10 os Simply
a mere riens, a privilege, Intangible. IL
tlia vlew Is correct. iben tie Rrscea
rsaSway ard all Ahass - Is tsxsoss.
Dlhers held that the Eigat Of gay 10
cia,iss tss Fosd Itself. except tue ties
aei rails. Then some lasyefs told
that the exemption vhen nlay -
Al .toa.d by the Northern F&ci4c rail
rad company iEcsadss the strip OF lsne
soar hacaFea feet &c an3 all pertain
.ug a. tbs r0sa which Il essential - rs
srcc~~sfnl 20 ss:isu- OF coarse, tie
fvle a. 10 <sAs II esseu.iai 70 the soc.
esSsfai operation OF railroad seaid
ltkslv te Construed lib rally. prts1aaf
y tsts sousirast.oa e tae lac Is cor
tr,st. i wsuid iselnse The staf9@s the
hons, rSena koases and TERMINAL tsa'i'
isiss. TIE phrase terminal faeaissles' y
hxfa 10 qaAAly. Perhaps the Iss, AZ &c
earssrnsa. xo1ia nsG sxeNsps al tas
terminal fseik.es s1ish 3 rsiisos
e.npsey uiSht dsscl H wiss - con
s:r--4. o. cegrsF. u tes company prr
chased gfopaT;y "a order 10 easafsr 10
ssisinA. Eizst % way, s1co sttstion'
~sald 10 skxsble. isss - toe property
Of intiy .1a4ts"
"Issa tee e1smFsioc voal3 nct 81
lend 70 rcllins sss ek
Il think not. Il seems 10 ne iozi
susa an later. rotation eoci3 uot LEAD
20 arv eSnfassoa- Fer extnapie, 9
rpr-t hor<e ,ccats6 within tie hmit'
e she eoaVsay's risht of sss ssasd
order ths eazs;ru-t!on % TIE Las
cave sllaaed -. - exempt, bat q.
not shirk tes sxsErfsisC Seali extend
l 10 tse foe- motives OF ears ehiea uiixh'
Dc inside ths roasi ho1se- - usss
rs.ce,s e station heases anA osssi
hctlAtpc. lie saii3.Exs themselves
mt.tt ns sxeuss and ssid sseaE can-
/ t<rts xoald BE- liatis - assssazssst
Per ex4upse. SAFES, AID isksly tsssi
,srseuss, an1ss esFiasG eaEiisEeis-
e.es"
s-saprose tie companies go a.
/ s,aiass sAss their properties sfe liable Z
saxatiaa enly 60 TIE extent Of iosiE val
=. over and Easss she s-sf Of aas o.
nsorssAscs % the rosd and iss equip
/ n2ertss
@fessvl pcs zvsa them in tbs ter
.ilcry, nnisss the uassesseSs iivs bore