The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-03-30
fHE NEW REVENUE Law.
Contrast Between the Taxation Acts oi
1891 and tSsS-.M More Poll Tax.
No more salts BY she Prosecuting
Attsrney-lncreased Work fer
the County Treasarer-New
Tax sale Rates.

The revenue law passed at the recent
session OF the legislature is considerably
longer than the statute Of 1891, Of which
it 10 amendatory.
A very peculiar discrepancy is observ-
able In section 2. In one place the new
law says that personal property shall be
construed to include "debts Of ~hatso-
ever kind or nature, due or to become due
whether secured or not by mortgage or
otherwise,O and at the end of the same
section is provision "that mortgages
and all credits for the purchase OF real
estate shall not be considered as property
for the purposes of this act" Therefore,
chattel mortgages would seem to be taxa
BILE but not mortgages on real estate.
Sections l and 2, defining property for
purposes of taxation, are as in the law Of
1891, but to section 8 ias been, which de-
fines personal property, there is consider
able addition. Te the other items are
added:
"All credits, including accounts, notes,
bonds, certificates OF deposit, judgments
in causes Of action, and all other debts of
whatsoever kind or nature, due or to be-
come due whether secured or not by
mortgage or otherwise, ~ but debts owing
may be deducted from these credits, pro-
vided no acknowledgement not founded
on actual consideration shall be reckoned
nor any obligation given to an insurance
company for the premiums of insurance,
nor any unpaid subscription, nor any in
debtedness contracted for the purchase of
United States bonds or other non-taxable
property; provided, that mortgages and
all credits for the purchase of real estate
shall not be considered as property for the
purposes of this act.
No change is made in the exemptions
in section for "all churches built and
supported whose seats are free to all, and
the grounds whereon such churches are
built, not exceeding 100 feet by 200 feet
in quantity, provided such grounds are
used wholly for church purposes" The
former act exempted church property up
to 5000. Another change is as to the
hospitals and charitable institutions.
Formerly all were exempt which were
supported in whole or in part by charity ;
now hospitals must pay unless they are
wholly supported by charity, and other
institutions must pay for land over 1909
200.
Section makes all property assessable
for its value on April /, Provided that
no male animal kept solely for breeding
purposes shall be assessed for more than
$780,"
Section l6, containing the schedule Of
personal property, is amended by insert
ing new items notes, accounts, warrants
and other Credits" but strikes out part
of item "A, "bank stock"
The county poll tax is entirely abol-
ished.
Another important change is with re-
gard to bank stock. The holder Of the
shares is no longer taxed for them. and
cash balances are also exempt. The
stock, after deducting all realty, is
assessed as part Of the property OF the
banks. Exception is made as to foreign
banks and private bankers, whose daily
balance sheets are made the basis of ap-
praisement.
Bank stock is assessed at the bank aud
not in the hands Of the stakeholder; and
the provision with reference to surplus
and undivided profits is stricken out.
Section 80 is changed so as to require
the county auditor to forward the schedule
Of electric companies to the state auditor
in October instead of September
! Section 81 is amended so as to permit
the county commissioners to limit the
number of deputy assessors.
i Section 4S requires the assessor to be.
gin work not later than February l.
i Section 81 requires the assessor to re-
port to the commissioners any person ab.
sent, sick, or refusing to make sworn
statement.
Section SO is amended as to the audi
tors duty, which is to be done in Janu-
airy instead Of December
4 The annual meeting Of the assessor,
, tsection Of law Of 1917 is abolished.
/, The state board of equalization mus
meet on the second instead OF the fourth
, Monday in September. After the stat
levy is made the county auditor Is re
CURED to compute percentage on valua
ton.
The county levy is to be made In Octo
Der instead of November.
There seems to be discrepancy du
, to the failure to change the word Novem
= Der in section 70 of 1891 and the CORES
u bonding section 63 Of the law Of 1898 tn
result is that by section GA the count
u commissioners must, in October, levy
tax sufficient to deiray state, county
. school. road and other expenses, but tn
~ state board need not announce levy ur
: til the first Monday ia November.
~ The limit of levy is unchanged, excer
u that the school tax is raised from to
IL mills, and the bridge tax from to
70 mills.
~ Section 10 is amended by section IS O
~ to minor matters.
:. The county auditor must turn over th
books to the treasurer on the first Nor
!, day in January instead Of December, an
Il the treasurer is required to keep SEPT
:, rate register Of delinquent taxes collected
er The Law as to personal taxesis change
ID so as to make them delinquent April