Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-04-07

Contracted Certain Churches Ex.
empied-Thc Poll Tax Abolished
Other Changes.
The revenue law passed at the re
cent session Of the Legislature is con
siderably longer than the statute O
1891, of which it is amendatory.
A very peculiar discrepancy is oh
servable in section 3. IN one place the
new law says that personal property
shall be construed to include debts o
whatsoever kind or nature, due or t(
become due (whether secured or no
by mortgage or otherwise)" and at til,
end of the same same section is 4
provision that mortgages and al
credits for the purchase of real estate
shall not be condsidered as propert,
for the purpose of this act" There
fore, chattle mortgages would seem t
be taxable, but not mortgages on rea
| estate.
Sections and 2, defining property
for purposes of taxation, are as in the
law of 1891, but to section 3, which
defines personal property, there is
considerable addition. To the Other
items are added:
"All credits, including accounts
notes, bonds, certificates of deposit
Judgments in causes of action, and al
other debts of whatsoever kind or ma
ture, due or to become due (whethel
secured or not by mortgage or other
wise)" but debts owing may be de.
ducted from these credits, provided nc
acknowledgement not founded on
actual consideration shall be reckoned
nor any obligation given to an insur.
ance company for the premiums oil
insurance, nor any unpaid subscrip
ton nor any indebteness 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
purpose of this act.
No change is made in the exemp.
tions except in section for cal
churches built and supported whose
seats are free to all, and the grounds
whereon such churches are built, moi
exceeding 120 feet by POO 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 hospitals and charita
BILE institutions. Formerly all were
exempted 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 120x20O feet.
Section 6 makes all property assessa
BILE for its value on April l, provided
that no male animal kept solely fol
breeding purposes shall be assessed
for more than $500.
Section 16, containing the schedule
of personal property, is amended by
inserting new item notes, accounts,
warrants and other credits;" but
strikes out part of item "a, "bank
stock"
The county poll tax is entirely
abolished.
Another important change is with
regard to bank stock. The holder ol
the shares is no longer taxed for them,
and cash balances are exempt. The
stock, after deducting all realty, is as.
sessed as part OF the property of the
bank. Exception is made as to for
eign banks and private bankers, whose
daily balance sheets are made the
basis of appraisement.
Bank stock is assessed at the bank
and not in the hands of the stock hold.
er; and the provision with reference
to surplus and undivided profits ia
stricken out.
Section 80 is changed 90 as to re.
quire the County Auditor to forward
the schedule of electric companies to
the State Auditor in October instead
Of September.
Section Al is amended so as to per.
NIT the County Commissioners To
limit the number of Deputy Assessors
Section 48 requires the assessor to
begin the work not later February /.
Section 81 requires the assessor to
report to the commissioners any person
absent. sick, or refusing to make q
sworn statement.
Section 60 is amended as to the au-
ditor's duty, which is to be done in
January instead OF December.
The annual meeting of the assessors
(section 7 Of law of 1S9l) is abolished
The state board of equalization must
meet on the second instead of the
fourth Monday in September. After
the State levy is made the county audi
tor is required to compute percentage
or valuation.
The county levy is to be made in
October instead of November.
There seems to be discrepancy due
to the failure to change the word No
vember in section 73 of 1891 and the
corresponding section 63 of the law o
1893; the result is that by section Ga
the County Commissioners must, in
October, levy tax sufficient to defray
State, county, school, road and Other
expenses, but the State board need no,
announce by levy until the frs,
Monday in November.
The limit of levy is unchanged
except that the school tax is raised
from six to eight mills, and the bridge
tax from two to three mills.
Section Is is amended by Section
6J as to minor matters.
The County Auditor must turn ovel
the books TO the Treasurer on the