The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-17
no FIGHT WITH BANKS
They Accept Their Assessment
Without Objection.
o. I. co. WANTS A REDUCTION.
Board of Equalization Hears Manager
Smiths Protest - Claims for
Reduction Rejected.

The long looked-for tilt between the
hoard OF equalization and the committee
representing the national banks was 10
have come of yesterday afternoon but as
a matter OF fact il was a most amicable
meeting, and in less than seven minutes
the matter was disposed of, the banks
agreeing 10 accept the assessment by the
county assessor, which means a taxable
list of over N.eoaeae There had been
an opinion around the courthouse that the
banks would not accept the assessment.
and then OF course there would have been
war, with the probable result that the
board would have raised IL. Although IL
did not come out at the meeting yester-
day, IL is well known that there has been
talk among the members of the board as
to the amount OF property on which the
assessment should be made. though all
were agreed on the point that II should
simply be a fair one. The assessor de-
Quoted from the capital stock the value
OF real estate held by the bank, as pro-
videc by law, and assessed the remainder.
The supposition was that IL would be
contended by some members Of the board
that the value Of the real estate should be
taken from the assessors books.
Agreement With the Banks.
II was = o'clock when Jacob Furth,
Lester Turner and NJ. r. Backus. the
committee representing the banks. ar
rived and were seated. Mr.. Furth with
smile on his face asked Mr.. James IL he
had eaten his lunch. Mr.. James said he
had, and Mr.. Furth appeared glad of il.
Mr.. elise was anxious to know the ex-
act relation of the committee to the
banks, and Mr.. Furth replied that the
clearing house had chosen Mr.. Backus,
Mr.. Turner and himself to represent it.
He added that only national banks were
tt,sz Al to he ta1 fhtyS dnfn
away with any confusion of ideas about
that matter.
Has the committee any objection 10 the
assessments" asked Mr.. James.
NO" was the simple reply of Mr..
Furth.
The room became as still as death, and
every one sat like Stoughton bottle, until
Mr.. James added that the city had de-
cided to accept the assessment, as 1t came
very near tallying with the comptroller's
report.
This action of the city caused Commits
sioner Heaton to scratch his head a mo-
ment. Then he said he was slightly sur
prised, but was willing to admit he be-
leved the banks had been falrer with
the county than the close letter law would
require.
.As / have said" he added, 'I am per-
fectly willing to let the assessment stand"
Commissioner Nickerson made a few
figures. and said he had no objections to
offer.
Commissioner Gasch said nothing in the
way of objection, and the matter was
settled.
The o. /. Co.'s Assessment.
During the morning session General
Manager C. ]. Smith of the Oregon I'M
provement Company and the company's
general counsel. Andrew r. Burleigh,
were before the board to give reasons
why the company's real estate and per-
sonal property assessment should not be
raised Mr. Smith had cited several In
stances wherein he beloved the assessment
on the Oregon Improvement Con1panys
water front property was too high in
stead of too low.
1.-THE assessment on the west twenty
feet of lot f. block ." he continued. lis too
high already, and the proposition to
make ii 81, 800 instead of $3.50 makes the
assessment double, as compared TO sur
rounding inside property
Mr. James explained that the property
all around there had been raised, as
could be seen by examining the records.
Mr.. Smith thought the Oregon Improve
ment property had been raised out of pro-
portion to that owned by other people.
mo, you have not" replied Mr.. James.
"oh. but beg your pardon: we have"
replied Mr.. Smith. The matter dropped
right there, but Mr.. Smith then remarked
that he had unintentionally omitted OBJ
jecting TO the committee from the city
council sitting as a part of the board OF
equalization, on the ground that it was
illegal.
Mr.. Smith said the assessment of sl2. 900
on the bunkers was g. 600 more than his
valuation. but he would allow the matter
TO go il was. In relation to the as
sessment of $500 on the machine shop
and roundhouse. he had seen plans to
duplicate them for $500. Mr. Smith and
Mr.. James differed as to the value OF ma
chinery in the shop. No decision was
reached.
Notices to appear and state reasons
why personal assessment should not be
raised were sent to the following:
Northwestern Shoe Company. Seattle
Warehouse and Terminal Company, Seat
tie Cedar Lumber Co. Seattle Brick and
Tile Company. Sankey &c Gouff. Ballard;
j. A. Pundle Auburn Kent Mill Compa-
ny, Kent: Charles Ross. Ballard; a. Z.
Pretty. Ballard: Preston Mil Company.
George Porter, Auburn: John Peterson,
Palmer: Pells e. Dill. Ballard: C. w. Par
ker, Tolt: f. T.. Everton, Ballard; Nc
Dougall, Jackson & EeaZir. McCullock &
Company. Ballard: Murphy & Conner,
Ballard. Mosher & Mcdonald, John Me-
grath. W. J. Lunn. Auburn; Hoff e. John
son. Botheil: James Gleason, Ballard; z.
l.. Merrifield, Christopher; s. r. Walney,
Ballard: W. T.. Vaughn, Olney. A. @.
Thompson. Ballard Sutherland 4 Guy.
Ballard: F w Sherrard. Kent: NJ. NJ. N.
Dougal J. r. Mess. Orillia; Henry Adams,
Pialschie: Bitterson 6 BroviIl, Ballard;
Auburn Mil Company. Auburn: George l..
Angevine. Auburn; Allen & Nelson, Lacy
& Sons, NJ. 4. Cox & Company. G. L.
Devine, C. Erickson. Botheil: J. G.. Ely.
Des Moines: f. Davidson. Ballard; F. NJ.
DeMoss, Ballard: w. NJ. Curtis. Ballard;
Jerome Catlin. Osceola.
The following petitions TO reduce assess
ments were received
r. Levy, south As feet. lot 9. block s.,
d T. Dennys addition. improvements.
500 TO s6o0: rejected
r. II. Calligan, s1s lot 3, block 81 Boren's
addition. 81 go TO $500; nis lot s. block "a.
SEA TO $3.50: 81. lot s sls00 TO $3.50
Mrs. d. II. Meydenbauer. lot 7, block IS
Terry's second addition, 81 so 10 81 SO; lot
s. block IS, Boren's addition. $2.sC9 10
sl40o
Elizabeth Anderson. lots and :. block
S. Boren's addition. each. from 5000; re-
tected.
John Neston. lot s. block 81. d. T Den
ny's third addition. lot and Improvements.
from 5000,
A Amunds. lots and 8 section % town
ship u. range 3. improvements, $50; re-
jected: improvements, $40: granted
John Andreen. - acres section 3, town
ship =. section 5 800 10 $sD1. seis OF nwis,
81 90 II 81 .0oo: is2s acres. $3.50 10 500; 90
acres. 81 no 10 81, oGe
John Brannon. lot s. block :. 8. A.
Bells first addition. 800 TO 500; improve
ments 81 30 20 500.
3 c Head lots l. and ,. Canal add
ton from 81 Improvement from $3.50