The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-16
FOR NEW TAX LAWS.
King County Delegation Talk
ing Matters Over.
MANY NEEDED CHANGES SEEN.
Legislative Committee of the Chamber
Aiding LegisIators-statute of Limi-
tafions and Railroad Commission.


Chamber OF Commerce. Mr.. John Z. Aver
presided. Those present were Senators
w. r. Forrest, ]. NJ. Frink, Trusten 2.
Dyer and w. C. Rutter, Representatives
g. f. De Steiguer, A. /. Adams, J.. b. An
drews, George NJ. Walker, j. Il. Thalman,
g. w. Yancy, Mr.. John E. Aver and Mr..
Andrew Knox. The principal subject dis
cussed was the tax laws, and it was agreed
that they were in need Of much amend
ment.
In taking up the matter Mr.. Andrew
Knox, Of the Chamber of Commerce COM
nittee, explained that in the King county
records there was period of four years
when il could not be told dennitely in many
instances whether or not the taxes were
paid, consequently certain titles were
clouded The abstractors had to write
checked" thus V. supposed to mean paid,
on their abstracts. Mr.. Knox said that
there was no claim against the property
for unpaid taxes, and no lien on it, but
still there was no certificate that the taxes
were paid. Accordingly he wished TO see
passed 4 law taking away any possible
cloud on the title from these causes.
Mr. Knox said he wanted a law passed
so that the city, county and state taxes
would all be collected at one time and paid
at one time Thus would be saved the end
less vexation from assessment and pay
ment at different times. 1t could also be
ascertained without difficulty whether all
the taxes on a piece of property were paid.
He thought the system of assessment and
equalization should be so perfected that
fewer mistakes in assessment should be
made. Mr.. Knox also urged law that no
deed should be recorded unless certificate
were shown that all the taxes on the prop
erty were paid.
Senator Forrest said that such law was
in existence. but IL was full of inconsistent
cies and incongruities. Then, too, il was
impossible to discover from the condition
of the records whether taxes actually were
paid. So to enforce the law was an inpos-
sibility.
Senator Forrest declared shat it was ut
terly foolish to have two places for the
collection of taxes. The same assessor
should assess for the city, and tor the
county and the same collector should
collect for both. He thought a law
should he passed clearing up the
titles Of property in which il was lmpossi-
bic TO tell whether old taxes had been paid
or not. The average tax title at present
was good for nothing. Almost anybody
could beat Il tax title in court.
1.-THE present revenue law said Senator
Forrest, SHOULD be entirely revamped. At
present it is so full of inconsistencies that
TO enforce it is sheer impossibllity." The
treasurer should certify to the payment of
taxes, but at present the treasurer could
not certify under penalty, because the
rolls are in such bad condition The taxes
ought to become delinquent after the LIST of
March and not after the LIST of January,
which is the worst time of the year.
Representative dc Steiguer thought
law with statute of limitations for the
time in which property would be sold for
taxes would clear up old titles. He also
wanted q shorter time fixed for recording
tax certificates.
Senator Dyer said he thought it would
be a good idea to have the committee
of the Chamber of Commerce draft
a bill covering the subject of taxation. and
bills covering other subjects. When these
bills were dropped then the legislative
delegation would take it up, and if it were
satisfactory would push it.
Mr. John &. Aver said that such course
would be adopted. He urged that the
clause in the constitution be changed so
that the state debt instead of being placed
al the outside limit of 100000 be put at 2
per cent. on the grand list. No revenue
could be obtained from the public
lands at present, because these lands
are not located The taxes
now arc very heavy. King county is paw
ing $l20,0O0 year in cash into the state
treasury. That alone is enough to cause a
financial stringeney. The state ought to
be able TO borrow all the money it wants
at ga per cent. For the state to borrow at
that rate would be better than Tor individ-
uais TO borrow at II per cent and nav
heavy taxes. He accordingly suggested
an issue of bonds for a capitol building and
other public buildings, such as a peniten-
tiary and reform school We cannot. he
1hOrVhf tn fnr he's I.x,o 1.
direct tax. BY bonds the state could borrow
money at once, and probably pay them
IN q few years by realizing on the
public land which would then become
available. The credit of the state would
De Just as good with ? per cent. limitation
as II Is today with 100000 limitation.
WITHIN the next Ave years we shall need
$4,000 10 SS.e00,090 worth of public
buildings; and within five wears the pub
lie lands will not be available
Mr.. Aver offered a resolution embodving
TINS proposed change In the constitution
senator Dyer, who was a member of the
constitutional convention. said the limit
had been placed ut 100000 to prevent ex-
tgavagance. The idea was that in short
time the revenues from state lands would
become available. Senator DYER believed
the lands would be available in time; for
IL would take fully two years to get the
constitution amended. He thought we
might wait a little for our public build
ings.
Representative A. |. Adams said his
years spent in the land office had given
him some acquaintance with the land
ne sum OF 10000 had just been appro
priated for public surveys. That would
at current prices, pay for surveying .3S0-
odo acres, The state should set hold of
part OF that land The state was sitting
still aud letting the settlers yet ahead of -
but the state should so in and claim lis
own -
Mr.. Aver then suggested that sixty DAVIS
was not long enough for the session. there
were SO many new laws 20 be- naSsed
The committee had thought a lump sun
should be paid to each member of the leo
lSiature, and no limit nxed on the time ~
the session, The legislators themselves
would limit the session.
The committee had also recommended ,
railroad commission. Ii seemed hest ~
nave the governor appoint the members
rather than have them elected. When
sNch commissioners are chosen az n r,oIiti
cal convention the men are generally mn
IN aS makC-weight
me meeting then adjourned To the even
ing az Friday, January >, 1901. At : o'cIoeL
when the drawn bills covering the vsrio,,S
subjects viii be presented. The Chamber
% commerce committee will meet a, tbs
chamber on Friday night to begin vork az,
these MtlS. ANY one " no is interested N,
tae legislation Is cordially invited TO be
present.
INDUSTRIAL REALTY BOARD.