Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-03-23

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the sentiments of the great majorit
in this portion of Washington by stat
ing that this unfortunate and unne
cessary evil is threatening the futur
growth and prosperity of every com
munity and working untold hardship
upon our farming class especially
The idea OF an organized effort by tax
payers, which would have a moral in
fiuence not to be denied upon our leg
islature, where politics would not dare
to enter, is one we must advocate
Other newspapers, among them thu
Vancouver Independent, are in lint
with this sentiment, which has re
suited in thorough organization il
Clarke county. Why not in Walls
Walla county? 1t is a fact, says the
Independent, that a large number o.
city and village lots have been assessed
far beyond their actual cash value
and in many instances at more than
double their cash value, bringing the
tax to an equivalent OF six per cent on
their actual value. No property owner
can stand such drain and prosper
1t will soon result in the hasty dis
posal OF the property at a sacrifice, tc
get rid OF the burden of taxation, re-
sulting in a great encouragement to
real estate investments. The same
state OF affairs exists in regard to wild
and improved lands and many small
farmers are seriously embarrassed by
the difficulties of obtaining money to
liquidate heavy taxes that are seem
ingly imposed unjustly. The situation
is quite serious and solution cannot
longer be postponed without disaster
to growth and prosperity. The time
for action is at hand. The assessor
and his deputies are already in posses.
sion of their blanks, and in short
time will commence their work for
1894. Will they continue the habit
OF over valuation as in four years past ?
II they do, how can it be stopped, or
the effects averted? If the assessor
heeds the great cry of distress abroad
in the land he will stop the evil. II
he does not, then there seems no rem
edy but for each individual taxpayer
to 60 into court aud enforce by suit
the law which says the assessor shall
list real estate at its actual cash value.
He has no authority to list it higher.
And the property owner must pursue
the matter to Olympia, where, after
our property is listed to its full cash
value and much of it double, the State
Board of Equalization raises it 25 per
cent more. Where do any OF these Of
ficials get their authority for assessing
property for more than its fair cash
valuation? 1t is time the people
found that out.
Ii the assessors cannot be forced TO
do their sworn duty and no more,
there is still another remedy than 60
ing into court, that of enforced econ
omy in city, county and State ex.
penses. Let the people kick vigorous
ly at every dollar wasted by the City
Council, the County Commissioners
and the Legislature. Stop all useless
expenditures, let even needed public
improvements be postponed until the
people have time to recover their
breath and earn money to pay for
them; wait for extraordinary expendi-
lures until the people begin to recover
from the shock of the hard times now
upon US.
There is indeed work on hand for
the committee OF 100. They have the
peoples fight on their hands. 1t is
for them to get public officials out OF
the old ruts, out of the old ways Of
transacting public business, which are
good enough in flush times, but disas-
trous now, and to convince them the
old ways are ruinous and that strict
economy must be the rule in all fu-
ture public expenditures. The people
will sustain the committee in all such
efforts. The work is needed and need
ed now.