The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-28

insuzased ~ the Dairy mems Association.
= 20 % attended by ergsnesrs. surveyors.
Ier-slato~s and attorneys familiar ~ita
Avs relating to roads. hacked up - oszs4-
ness raen especially interested IA having
good roads. The coafeTe'ace % municipal
lss..sasisa vii be attended BY city and
county officials having exceptional expert
cree II and good Judgment as 70 the best
means 10 Dc aaoDssa 70 Insure economy
and satisfactory government.
TIE latter BODY has takeas TIRE precsu-
tion 70 throx oat q line % subjects. with
suggestions walsh viii form the subject
Of constellation II = tins report adopted
BY tie Seattle retrenehmenE COMMITTEES
aster As thorough an investigation Of the
natter as pzuert and earnest work could
give IT,
One OF the most important topics 10 DC
taken Up is that % taxation IN view OF the
esasreace OF opinion held by prominent
and equally forcIble leaders in the Poru-
lis. party. The recommendation OK ina
committee L. as follows:
'sI-he burden OF taxation Is nov borne
OF whlch is unproductiye and oyer-yal-
ued. and this Oyer-valuaEson and excess
slve taxation tends TO exclude new In
provements and new enterprises and 20
retard the development % our city. and a
consideration % ali business interests re-
an!res that fair proportion Of the gsao-
lie burden should be borne ~ personal
property (which TOW largely escapes tax
atom and oy those engaged IN business,
and for whose protection q large part&of
the public expense Is incurred: therefore
greater effort should De made TO secure
a fair assessment OF personal property.
The single Tax wing OF the Populist
party win contend that real estate should
DO made 10 bear stin more taxation. while
the governor-elect wants to exempt all
homesteads up to 8. so Most people VIII
admit that much personal property es-
eapes taxation. whether they are willing
or not TO have il bear more.
II Is unfortunately true that personal
property escapes. In violation OF the law,
tho more scrupulous bearing all the bur
den. which should be shared by those who
can more readily reconcile II with their
sense OF 1DUUF 70 swear AA47csgs
The recommendation Of the committee
goes rather beyond this and wants 10 tn
crease the taxation on business men
that IS on their stock and probably BY IL
cense 20 do business. To increase the tax
on stock Is 70 discourage enterprise IN az
foraing variety. Few small stores can
keep up a full line or staples, and the
many expensive articles which are rarely
called for. a large amount OF capital Is
locked up In goods which may not be
called for In years. 1t Is the same with
druggists, hardware men. and many other
businesses. II The tax could be equally
distributed over all goods sold in the city,
so that prices were alike always. Il might
be less harmful. In Paris this result was
attained by the octroi duties. as they were
called, imposed upon all goods entering
the gates OF the city, and a similar sys-
tenn prevailed In many Of the old free
cities OF Germany and in many cities OF
the older East.
Licensing Is a very common method OF
raising money for municipal revenue. but
It should he imposed very moderately. SO
varied is the character OF business that
unless discrimination is exercised much
injustice may be done.
The suggestion may be repeated that
the best and most equitable results VIII
bs attained by putting the exemption low
and fixing a minimum of taxation. II no
more than 81 year. 1t would be well If
thai should be the qualification for voting.
for man who either cannot or will not
contribute cents a week 10 the mainte-
nance OF state county and municipal gov
ernment and the education % his chill
dren, ought not TO expect that he shall
dictate how the municipal funds shah De
disbursed and who shah disburse them. OF
course the cry is raised that the poor
man Is the equal OF the F4ch nan, but as
a matter Of fact he cannot be II he in
slsts upon receiving public benefits with
Out contributing his share 10 them. II
should DO 8 matter OF pride TO a citizen
10 DE taxpayer. and his Immunity % a
matter Of regret
The more generally and equally taxa
ton IS spread the more just and less bur
denzoue It win De, This applies as much
20 the cost o. roads as 10 other incidents
OK municipal expeuHa.