The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-09
State Officials Do Not Think It
Can Safely Be Less.
UNIVERSITY WARRANTS REFUSED
Money May Be Unavailable Until Ap-
propriated by Legislature.
"Detective" Sullivan Returns to Port
land and Says He Knows Who Hit
Him-Two Elopements in Portland
"society"-suicide in Baker City, Or.

OLYMPIA, Oct. Especial. THE dis
cussion of the railroad assessment subject
before the state board of equalization was
finished today. Attorney Ashton. OF the
Northern Pacific, and Commissioners
Smith, of Whitman county. took part in
debate on the merits of the Whitman rail-
way assessment, the roadbed in that
county having been listed at $4,000 per
mile. Mr.. Ashton also talked in behalf of
the Hunt system of railroads in Eastern
Washington. C. B. Wright, jr., OF Phila-
delphia, son of the owner of the Hunt sys-
tenn. has represented his father here this
week. Colonel S. w. Scott argued tor a
reduction of the assessment on the Oregon
improvement Company's mileage, and
Tax Agent Watt, of the Union Pacific,
presented his company's case at length.
The latter took issue with the Northern
Pacific representatives on the proposition
that branch lines should be assessed
higher than main lines.
Walla Walla and Whatcom counties
will be heard tomorrow, and Snohomish
and Skagit on Saturday. Auditor Reed,
the chairman of the board, was asked to-
day by the PosT-INTELLIGENcER corre-
spondent what, in his opinion, should be
the amount of the total assessment of the
state when the work of equalization has
been completed. Mr.. Reed replied:
"It is, of course impossible to state definitely,
but it is safe to say that it will not be lelow
SS0O00O,00O, nor above s325,000,000. The strong
demand from ali parts of the state for reduc-
tion will influence the board to decrease total
county valuations, which will very likely be
lowered, except in cases where they are already
low
"what will be the rate of the tax levy?'
cit is not probable that it will be less than
mills. We may possibly get it down to
"a mills, but hardly think it possible. have
lately made an estimate of the expenditures for
the current year provided for out of the general
fund by appropriation laws, and find that the
sum approximates $950,000. To this must be
added the interest on warrants not paid for
the want of funds. The amount of these war
rants now outstanding is about 100000, and
they are drawing interest at the rate of 10 per
cent. Taking into consideration the fact that
percentage of the revenue is always delin-
quent, it is quite clear that 3-mill levy will
not yield any more funds than will be needed to
meet the expenses OF the state. OF course my
views on the subject may be changed after the
work OF the board has progressed further"
"Will all the appropriations be used?"
"Yes; judging from the vouchers so far audited.
appropriations to date in nearly all cases"
"What do you think of the Northern Pacifc's
suggestion that branch lines of railroad should
be assessed at higher rate than main lines?"
'I do not think the proposition a correct one.
Some few branches may yield more revenue
than the main lines, but they are EXCEPTIONS
"Will the roads be classifedg'
81 think SO. In my opinion we will have to
make at least five classes of railways, and the
list may run up to eight"
SHOW do you view the exemption claim of the
Mort thern Pacife?'
ave may have to put the main line of the
Northern Pacific in a class by itself, so that the
assessment of that line, if it should be contested
in the courts, may stand or fall alone, and not
affect the remainder of the assessment
Land Commissioner Forest, who is a
member OF the board, was also asked his
opinion as to the probable rate of the levy.
He replied that he would like to fl it at
21l mills, but if such levy would not be
likely to produce sufficient revenue to meet
the expenditures provided for, he would
advise fixing the rate at 3 mills.