, 1892-06-18
TWO SIDES TO IT.
What the People Think of the
Assessment.

A WOrkingman and Another Citi-
zen, Both Tax-Payers, Have
Something to Say on the subject.
Who is TO Blame In the Matter.
Editor Tribune:
As Workingman, citizen and tax
payer want to say that 1 attended that
meeting at Columbia Hall on Thursday
evening, and l heard no good argument
against the assessment made by the CITY
assessor. 1t appears to me that there
ought to be called an indignation meeting
against the old city council OF year ago.
That is the body that got us into all our
financial troubles, by ordering street grades
and other improvement contrary to law,
and their trying to collect assessments
thereon. A number OF men participated
in the meeting who have not paid any
assessments for Improvements and who do
not intend to. The chairman of the meet
ing, l am told, never paid cent of grade
tax yet. He is a banker and an owner Of
several saloons, which bring him a good
rental, and has no kick coming fnan-
eially. l hope the city council will stand
may as well go into bankruptcy
appeal to the superior court to appoint a
receiver, discharge the police and firemen
and put out the electric lights. Instead of
holding an indignation meeting against an
assessment and levy that will keep the city
IN running order, why don't our bankers
ana rich men get up a meeting to start a
Woolen foctory or a mill or two, as they are
doing in other places. That would help
the working people and help the town a
great deal better than a meeting presided
over by known enemy Of the laboring
man. GIL.
OWNERS OF REAL ESTATE.
Editor Tribune:
Not long before his death, old Commo-
dore Vanderbilt submitted to his sons a
system OF rules to govern them in their
financial dealings after he was dead and
gone when they would have no one to fall
back upon for advice in trying times.
Boys" said he, "dO not invest your
money in real estate. You are the owners
OF your money, but the city and state of
New YORK, Will own the property which
you purchase with your money By virtue
of our present system of assessment and
taxation of property, owners are at best
only renters, while the city and state are
their landlords. Suppose you purchase
the finest real estate in the city. Financial
adversely comes down upon you like the
London plague, money is not to be had,
your property is sold for taxes and
you are disinherited at once. Boys, invest
not your money in real estate" To a GER
tain the philosophy Of OLD Cornelius is
being eKemplihed in Olympia in Thurston
county Some Of the finest property in
the city and county is held today for taxes,
and III reality, owned not by the people
whose money purchased and improved it,
but by the city Of Olympia and county of
Thurston, such property having been as
sessed so enormously high and taxed so
heavily that no individual would purchase
it at sheriff sale, and so was "bid in" by
the city council on the one hand, and the
county commissioners on the other hand.
Now, pending the present absorbing
question of property assessment and re-
sulting taxation, in Olympia, and we may
say the county as well; is there not a we'll
defined and significant point worthy of
serious consideration, in the structures OF
Cornelius Vanderbilt? Up v