The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-02
NEWS OF TACOMA
TAeswA BrxxAr or TEx FosT-Ix7xxEI-
srxcKa ifis PscTTro AsKzr1
TMcxss essxo-s. gArssxR
THE BLIND TAXPAYER
Never Kicks on Any Treasury
Jobbery in Tacoma
PRIVATE USE OF CRY FUNDS.
High wfsa keeks Ships N the Hsrser
NOT Particle ~ Dssss Of Mar
dsrsv Ysssafs 0uifG

TarowA. Jan f.-fspscfai-1 IAN Effort
was made 20 balidozs the taxpayers into
raying their fares before the FIRST Of this
rear. Twas stated BY interested parties
th.t a rs~naI,y would attach IL taxes we're
nss raid before today. The city treas
urer's Office has been particularly inter
est~d IN rhls matter, bat nevertheless
MANY II the heaviest taxpayers have not
raid their taxes - yet. and do not expect
10 until some time before April l. IL 10
stated that whsn City Treasurer Boggs
learned that the usw legislative act pro-
vgded that taxss need not be paid before
April 1. he fastened 10 Olympia and se-
cured the insertion Of Whist seemed 20 be
desired remedy. Il was In effect that
the new Law did not apply 20 cities where
the tar levy was made at . certain time.
corresponding 70 the date Of the Tacoma
levy. lyon this Iitfis rider the Tacoma
taxpayers were 70 Be forced 70 pay
up before the ne. year or have
10 per cent. penalty added. But
the taxpayers employed counsel 70 look
into the matter and report The report
was 20 the effect that the constitution
provides that there can be no special legis-
iation regarding the collection OF taxes,
and accordingly the Tacoma city treas
urer's Joker WAS OF no avail. However,
the bIrsg has gone forward, and In many
instances has had the effect of driving tax
PAYERS who could not spare the money
Into paying their taxes.
In connection with this tax-eolieeting
scheme there 10 woven In much comment
on the use Of the city's money In o man
nsr that brings revenue into the pockets of
tbs city treasurer and his fayorites. The
penai code and the state constitution are
cited AZ bearing witness that such use Of
the city funds IL . felony and Illegal APP
propriasions Of funds should be treated as
such. Serious and continuous objec-
ton Is raised 10 loaning city funds
90 that they will net interested
parties 10 per cent. interest. while
In fact they should be netting the city
interest. For instance. during the past
year there has been on an average $50 90
IN the city treasury. which for two years
at 10 per cent. would have Melted the city
$4,000. On this basis taxpayers assert
tina. they are simply out 1000" Tax
payers call attention 20 the fact that taxes
are paid to defray city expenses and not
TO draw interest for those in charge Of the
funds. And the Trades Council, COM
posed OF the labor organizations OF the
city. asks the city council why warrants
cannot be taken up and interest stopped
with idle or dormant money. The money
may not be- as dormant" as the Trades
Council might infer. A check now and
then for 5000 does not indicate that GER
tain funds are very dormant" To be
sure, the city realizes nothing, but the
money cannot be considered dormant"
Again. while the Chamber of Commerce
committee made . squirt for economy, IL
failed 10 drive It's flying wedge into the
city treasurer's Office for a few yards gain
for the municipal purse. But the Chamber
of Commerce did line up when the water
deal was being nnloaded, and IL did It's
part, aiding In the 81 600 600 touchdown
icns. II was asked to kick a goal on the
city printing steai, but IL did not. and as a
fesntt the politicians and others are max
ing sport of its economic tit. These sharp
cts pull wool aud make sport at the same
time. They divert the issue Just as the
water schemers diverted IL 1t is foot
bail players fake" wedge, which. taken
together with q little lively scrambling
about the ends and some seight-of-hand
''cf.ss-cfoss" work. has fooled the much
bled taxpayer time and again.
Coaching has begun for the biennial
municipal election three months hence.
There Is going to be lots OF fun and iirsIe.
John ]. Malone. chief Of the Tiiiieums. is
going 20 be the big "coaeh." John ha,
not picked his men yet. aud the Till.
Gums to tell the truth. do not know or do
not realize ''where they are at"
There was a little black art INDUCED sn
during the last municipal campaign that
may become history If the Tillieum coach
doesn't discipline the 'kiekers." In q
month or 80 tina lineup Will be known,
aud by that time the fake wedge" will he
second nature among the bankers
The taxpayers talk lneessantly. hu. they
do not organize Tor cent. They realize
that they have been hoodwinked at every
tarn. bat ths world politically seems 60 be
against them. They hope that in soma
soss of rrovidential way they viii be
directed 10 vote for The "best men." and IL
is dollars To- aoughnnts that the fake
wedge Will manufacture the ''proyidential
interference" that j. going 10 permit the
reai enemy Of the taxpayers TO score a
touchdown.
sui the taxpayers are taking in a wh =
per about organizing. Ii they DO they
viii have 80 keen their eyes peeled, or the
fake wedge drivers Will have one Of the :
hovs coaching them. Already the Popg.
lists are heinz taken care Of