The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-03-15
THE COMING ELECTION.

will be called upon to again say whether
or not they win abandon their present
charter and put themselves under the
general law Of the state applicable to
cities Of this class. Much has been said
pro and con upon this subject. Some
things have been said by both sides thai
are not worthy OF much notice. The
sober tax payer who is to be the sufferer
or beneficiary, as the case may be, will
pause before making this change and in
quire about the results that will follow so
important step as that proposed. Al
lowing then that some honestly advocat,
and some honestly oppose, the taxpayer.
who has taken no active part. will as the
election approaches begin to inquire int,
the merits.
The old charter was framed for the cit,
having ia view the climatic conditions
and situation. It seems to have met the
requirements 80 far 1t has been urged
that taxes cannot be collected under tke
present law and that the case decided by
the supreme court so holds. But this is
an erroneous statement. The court he'll,
that the ordinance under which it war
levied was not properly framed and i'm
pliedly said that one could be framed
which would be entirely sufficient. There
seems to be no reasonable ground to
doubt but what taxes can be collected as
well under the present charter as the
general act. Hardly a day passes but
some tax OF some city or county is en-
joined. II the county commissioners fail
to levy according to the law under which
they act and the tax is therefore invalid
this does not invalidate the state consti
tuition, and yet this is the argument made
relative to the city charter.
It is said that we ought to cut down
city expenses and that taxes will be lower
under the new law. Let no taxpayer b
deceived in this There is no magic abonf
one charter nor the other in this respect
We are OF the opinion that the city ex
penses would amount to about the SAME
under either. Has anybody explained
yet how city expenses will be reduced b,
reorganization? We apprehend not. The
streets must be kept up, the bitches
maintained, trees protected, interest on
the bonded Indebtedness paid, officers
salaries provided for, and in short mu
nicipal organization kept up. The new
charter will not induce these officers I,
work for less nor make these expense,
lighter. Anybody can see this. Til,
remedy, and the only remedy is an eco
nomicai administration OF public affairs
which can be had under either ,hurter,
and with which we are in hearty accord
Now, when times are bard and taxes
high, the taxpayer ought to remember
that there is no magic SO far as expense
goes In any law. That two and two will
continue TO make four whatever the ressll
of reorganization is. That the expenses
OF the municipality will have to be KEEP,
up at any rate.
One thing has not been disputed, we
believe, that reorganization will cost the
city in one way and another in making
the change 5000 or $4,000. These hard
times that is something OF an item. Under
the law as it stands the county assessor
makes the valuation for city purposes
The rate OF valuation made this year BY
him places the city beyond its limit OF
Indebtedness. So soon as this occurs the
credit Of the city is gone. Then begins
that process by which Yakima county
got so far in debt. She discounted her
warrants; that is, every bill presented
against the county was doubled 20 that
she not only paid two dollars for every
dollar she received the benefit OF but ALI o
began to pay interest on two dollars for
one dollar Of value received. The county
has not recovered from ten years OF that
kind Of financierlng until this day.
The city is now asked to repeat thai
experience. 1t is better TO assess the city
property at s2,O00,0 900 and levy mills
than to assess it at 81 ,000, 900 and levy IL
mills although the same amount OF
money w,uld be raised in either case
The reason it Is better is that the city
keeps its credit up so that it's warrants 20
at par, and the reason this could not b.
done under the new charter is that If the
county assessor made high valuation OF
city property it would raise county and
state taxes; whereas, il it does its own
assessing 1t can do as it pleases. 1t can
do SO now. II the property is assessed
too high and the taxes too much the city
council can now control it absolutely
under the present charter and the people
can have the God-given privilege OF elect
ing the officer or officers who are to make
these valuations which they would no,
have under the new law.
A high valuation and low rate is the
correct thing. Suppose an investor comes
here and inquiries your rate Of taxation
you tell him SO mills and he at ence con.
cludes he does not want to carry that
burden. You tell him 20 mills and hi
says he will invest. He never looks al
the assessed valuation of the property
Therefore every mechanic or working mar
who is interested in the development o
this city ought to oppose reorganization !
he wants TO make conditions favorabl,
for building and other enterprises. 4
feature not to be overlooked is that whei
the present charter is once abandoned i
can never he resumed. 1t can perhaps b
told what the present General law is. Blu
who shall say what the next legislator
will do? Every time the state legislator
has met SO far, it has changed this geners
law. Judging from the course Of legisls