The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-04
Board of Equalization Objects
to King County Roll.
AN EDITOR TURNS AescoNDER.
Walla Walla Raneher Shoots Wife.
MOther-in-Law and Himself.
ne Had Been on . Long Debauch-Ne-
miah, the Indian Desperate, to BE
Hanged at New westminster This
Month-Fire in Tacoma.

OLYMPIA, Oct. Especial. ]-Attention
was given to the Assessments of moneys
and some other classes of personal prop-
erty by the state board of equalization to-
day, and in connection with the task of
equalizing these classes a difficulty pre
sented itself to the board. The personal
property assessments in all the counties
are low and in some they are extremely
SO. The meagreness of the assessment of
moneys is in many cases especially ap-
parent. The personal property found and
returned by the assessors is in most cases
reasonably rated, but it is in falling
TO ind the great bulk of the per-
sonal property that the assessors have
neglected their duty. All real property,
practically, has been assessed, and there
fore an increase or a reduction of the real
estate valuation of a county, in order to
place 1t at the general average, affects all
the real estate owners of such county alike.
But as only a fraction of the personal
property has been assessed, and that much,
as rule, at its full valuation, if the per-
sonal assessment of a county should be in
creased so as to make the county bear its
true proportion of state taxation, the effect
would be to simply increase the valuation
OF the personal property already valued at
approximately q full cash figure, unless
the omitted property can be reached. In
view OF this, the board is considering the
question whether or not the assessor can
be compelled to yet list the personal prop
erty which has been omitted.
While the board is disposed to regard
King county's real estate assessment as
above the average, it finds especial fault
with that county's personal assessment.
A member of the board stated today that
while King county only returned a per.
sonal assessment of $500, 900, he believed
the actual value of its personal property to
be at least $4,000, 900. Today the follow
ing letter on the subject was addressed to
the auditor of King county by Secretary
Weir, for the board:
An item for inquiry, overlooked by the state
board of equalization when you were here, is in
reference to the assessment and return of per
sonal property in your county, particularly
moneys in banks and moneys other than those
OF bankers and brokers. We would like to meet
yourself and the assessor of your county upon
this point The board Is convinced that while
averages in your county make good showing
as to nearly all classes of personal property still
1t is evident from the total amounts shown that
much of the personal property in your county
escaped listing and taxation in some way
For instance, the entire amount oil
moneys returned in your county, such as depos-
its In banks, etc, s1s5075, as shown in columns
20-21 and 22-23 of the tabulated returns is prob
ably less than one-fourth of the cash deposits
in any one of your banks, and probably less
than one-twentieth of the actual deposit in the
banks of your county. We would like to know
how it happens that so much property escapes
taxation.
The Jefferson county personal assess
ment is considered ridiculous in some of
its features. and its assessor has been
written to by Mr.. Wen as follows:
The state board of equalization feels convinced
that much of the personal property in Jefferson
county has escaped taxation this year. For in
stance, you show total of s1o665 only in cash,
in banks and otherwise. There are at least two
banks in Port Townsend that each have not less
than $50 600 cash deposits, and in all the banks
of that city there must be not less than $500 00O
Somebody owns this property and, about
thirty nine -fortieths of it escapes any share
whatever of the burdens of taxation. The board
would like to know how this happens. Com.
pairing your county with others, we find, for
instance, that Whatcom county returns 1913, ,220,
moneys OF banks and brokers and other moneys
over 200 more than jefferson county re-
turns
The Pacific county assessment was
examined today and found to be fair.