, 1892-06-17
THE ASSESSMENTS.
Result of the Meeting at Col
umbia Hall.


Resolutions Passed by the Citizens.
They Claim the Assessments are
as High as They ShOuId Be-The
COunctlmen differ.
= Banker Owings presided at the called
meeting in Columbia hall last night. The
hall was crowded with interested and dis
interested hearers. Lawyer Francis Henry
called the meeting to order. Justice Of the
Peace J. c. Rathbun acted as secretary.
Attorney Henry suggested that the city
council be present, and Dr. Lansdale and
Civil Engineer D. S. B. Henry and Capital
ist 1. c. Ellis were appointed to invite the
members upstairs which was accepted
Attorney Henry moved that committee
of three draft resolutions expressive of the
sentiments of the meeting, but Ex-Coun.
Gilman Robert Marr said he was opposed
to such action until the council was heard
from, and also wanted the committee tc
consist Of five. The chairman then ap
pointed Attorney Henry, DR.. R. H. Lans
dale, Ex-Councilman Marr, Banker George
A. Barnes and Fruit Grower J. M. Swan.
Just about this time the council entered
the hall and Banker Owings asked the au
dience to rise as the council came in
Nearly everybody rose, amid considerabl,
laughter, while the councilman took seat,
in the front rows.
Attorney Henry then presented the fol
lowing resolution:
WHEREAS, We are advised that the city
council, under the guise of equalization o
the assessment made by the lawful anC
oOngt1fntnn no oil
assessor, are attempting to reassess .ou
property, increasing the same S150O, 900 il
excess of the value placed upon the sam,
by said city assessor; and
WHEREAS, We are satisfied that the yalu
alton placed upon the property of the cit,
by the assessor is as high as it should be
and to increase the same it would be de
structive of the best interests of the city
and
WHEREAS, We are satisfied that in thes
times of great financial depression tn
most rigid economy should govern al
public Improvements, and that the assess
ment should not be increased, but that th
levy should be kept as low as it can be t.
meet the current expenses of the city; an
WHEREAS, We are advised by the bes
legal ability that the courts will hold sal
pretended equalization void if resisted
thereby vitiating the entire assessment an
levy, leaving the city without revenue fo
the current year; therefore be it
Resolved, By the taxpayers of the city G
Olympia in mass meeting assent bled, tina
the city council be requested not to m
crease the valuation as made by the cit
assessor, and that a committee of three b
appointed by this meeting to present a COP
of this preamble and resolution to said cit
council together with such argument a
they in their wisdom may think best su,
tanning the position taken by this meetine
at oI
meeting to be held upon the call of th
chairman of this meeting.
Following the presentation of the repOr
the matter was opened for debate. Couu
Gilman Ward called attention to the fac
that with a valuation of $4,000, 900 the cit
government would be crippled and wal
rants would be deprecated to the satisfaC
ton of bankers and moneyed men. He dc
Clared that the taxes would not beincrease
by the assessment.
Mayor O'Brien followed with a statemen
of the city's finances. He called attention
to the low assessments of heavy propert
owners, and cited the banks in particular
which, he said, were assessed at only 5
per cent, of their capital and surplus.
Councilman McBratney said that unles
the assessments were raised the CITY Woul
have to dispense with half the number q
electric lights, would have to cut down tn
police force and otherwise reduce public ia
cilities.
Cashier Lord said that the banks had NJ
desire to have warrants below par, as n
more money was made on depreciativ
warrants than those bought at par. Tb
banks, he continued, sold the warrants a
the ruling price and did not hold them
He cited the delay in collecting street as
sessments, and in paying $500 tor the Cam
sewer plans as a sample of poor fnan
ciering.
Railroad Magnate George M. Savag
called attention to the fact that the poo
were affected as well as the rich, and tina
the property of two widows had been raise
in excess Of the value.
General Hazard Stevens declared tina
the object Of the council appeared to be t.
pile up the Indebtedness of the city unit
people were driven away because the
could not stand the taxation. cat tn
present time, he continued, 81 would b
glad to take less for my property than tn
assessed value.
Councilman Ward denied that the coup
Gil had any desire to Increase the city debt
On the other hand, it proposed to exercis
the stnctest economy. He said that any
body who said that the city council wishe
to add to the debt stated that which wa
not true.
Mayor O'Brien stated that no more stree
Improvements would be ordered until th
abutting property owners placed the coli
IOf Jn6 WOfk IN SlgQG.
Councilman Ward remarked that tn
acts Of the council heretofore had beel
upon petitions by the people
Attorney Henry insisted that it was th
judgment of the council to be complaine,
of, and that the assessment, if altered a
proposed, would be illegal.
Councilman Ward said that he had bu
one more word to say-that if the assess
ment should remain as returned bv the as
SCISSOR, all city work would have to b.
stopped, as there would be no way to pa,
for labor, City Treasurer Chilberg hai
notified the council that he would no
honor any warrants above the legal limit
Doctor Ostrander was aroused at the ide,
Of work ceasing, and said he did not pro
pose to be bulldOzed. He offered to sci
his property at its assessed valuation.
When the question was put to a vote,
standing expression was called for. Only
two rose on the negative side, while mani
failed to vote at all.
Councilman McBratney, Ward. Sickeli
and TalcOtt have declared their intention
to proceed with the work they have beer
doing, notwithstanding the protests. They
believe their course is in accordance witt
law, and the right one, and feel justified il
continuing
SPiritualIsm.
Mrs. Ouida Stewart, the floral medium
4. -