The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-25
TAXES ON THE BANKS.
Question Concerning Method of
Assessment.
SERIOUS CONFLICT IN THE LAWS
Assessor Refused Sworn Lists Of Sur
pius-Courts to Be Called Upon to
Settle the Dispute.

The national banks Of the city and Assessor
FRANK Paul have had q serious misunderstand-
Ing regarding the proper manner OF leyying the
assessment, and as both the bank officials and
the assessor are o6durate the matter will be
brought into court for settlement. Several of
the most prominent national banks in
the city, namely the Merchants
National, the First National, the National
Bank OF Commerce and the Puget Sound
National positively refused to furnish the as
SCISSOR sworn lists of their paid up capital stock,
surplus and undivided profits. Mr.. Paul frat
endeayored 10 levy an assessment in compliance
with the general revenue law of 1890; but the
banks refused TO submit the lists on the grounds
tnat the law was at variance with the United
States law, which provides how national banks
may be assessed.
Then the assessor tried to levy an assessment
In compliance with the United States law, but
this the banks would not submit 70, claiming
that the legislature had not passed law pro-
vlding for their assessment in accordance with
the United States law. Here the matter stands.
The assessor, not knowing what TO do, ap-
pealed TO the county commissioners and to the
county auditor. The commissioners have en-
gagged Attorney /. B. Andrews TO represent
them and carry the case into court Mr.. An
drews is at present studying out the points in
the case, and will be ready TO take some definite
action in the matter today or tomorrow.
The difilculty Is entirely with the national
banks. The private banks handed in their
sworn lists without argument Other national
banks oil the city that are holding out to see how
the case VIII be decided, are the Washington
National, Commercial National and Seattle Ma
tionaL
eve intend to bring the case into court and
try to make them pay up according TO the pro-
visions OF the general revenue law. said Auditor
TwichelL ''If the judge decides against us
then we will bring them into court and adopt a
line OF action according to the United States
law. Well make them come to time one way or
another. Wen ask the judge TO give an equita-
bic assessment if We can't do anything else"
President Jacob Furth, of the Puget Sound
National bank, was seen concerning the matter
last evening. He said:
"The statements of the county officials are cor
rect with the exception that we opened our
books TO the assessor and gave him every facility
to obtain statement therein as to our capital
stock, surplus and undivided profits The as
SCISSOR and his deputy took that statement
from our books, and as far
was concerned thought he was perfectly salts
fed with them. Today the demand was made
for the list OF our surplus, but as the state law
does not provide for that mode of assessment we
refused to give it. This, of course, was done by
the advice of our attorney.
81 can say this for the banks that about six
years ago there was a similar controversy be-
tween the assessor and the banks and the mat
ter was carried into court. Judge Greene decided
the case in favor OF the banks. Notwithstand-
ing this fact the banks then paid an equitable
tax upon which the county commissioners
agreed
II have no doubt that the banks would be
perfectly willing to pay equitable tax, but
they will not stand discrimination"