The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-11

Howard L Reed, formerly comptroller
Of the city OF Spokane. has an article IN
the February Arena on new system Of
state warrants. He proposes that the
state issue non-interest warrants in place
OF ali state. county. city and school dis
trict warrants. The state warrants are TO
be received for taxes, and are TO be In the
denominations of 800. $50. so. SO. s.. g. 81.
80 cents and . cents. He proposes TO ac-
complish 1t by the following legislation:
First--An act providing for the assess
ment and collection OF all district. town.
city. county and other taxes and revenues
by the state. and empowering district.
town. city. county and other officials con-
nected with this work TO act as ex-ofiicio
state officers.
second-An act providing for quarterly
tax collection.
Third-An act 10 provide for the issuance
OF MISUNDERSTANDING state OF Washing
ton warrants TO all school districts and
other districts. towns. cities and counties.
and for state indebtedness. and prohibit
ing the issuance OF county, city, town.
school district or other district warrants.
Fourth - An act empowering the state
10 receive MISUNDERSTANDING state OF
Washington warrants In payment for all
fines. dues. fees. water rents. licenses.
taxes and other revenues due 10 the state
or to any portion OF the state.
Fffth-An act providing for the refund
ing OF outstanding state. county, city.
town, school district and other district
warrant Indebtedness. warrants OF old
Issue to be called in and warrants of new
issue TO be exchanged for the same.
Under the new system" he says, when
the tax rolls and estimated revenues are
turned over 90 the state for approval and
collection. should 1t appear that any par
ilcular district has been assessed at too
high a valuation, then the state must cut
down the assessment to conform with VAL
the payment of taxes. but with provisions
hereinafter set forth"
Without any intention of treating the
proposition with Ievity. we might suggest
that by first enforcing the payment of
taxes. the need OF warrants would disap-
pear.
AS an illustration OF the practice Mr..
Reed suggests that IL a man shall receive
a 800 warrant In Seattle and he comes 10
Spokane and wishes to pay his water rent,
which amounts to E.e5. he can hand over
his sioo warrant and receive IA change one
SO warrant. two so warrants. one s. war
rant. one % cent warrant. and 10 cents in
silver
In order to facilitate the redemption OF
old district. city and county warrants
(soule OF which have been outstanding for
four or five years.. AIR. Reed would lave
the state, after having made a careful IN
vestigation into the condition of any dis
trict fund and It's delinquent tax rolls. and
after having determined as 10 the legality
OF its floating Indebtedness. shall issue nom
interest-beariag state warrants amounting,
for instance. to IS per cent OF the legal
shall exchange the new warrants for the
old ones. principal and interest. without
reference to numerical order first come
first served. When this amount OF delin-
quent taxes shall have been collected in
this particular district. thereby redeeming
a corresponding amount OF the new state
warrants. repeat the process. Mr.. Reed
overlooks the fact tia; most OF the war
rants are held by Eastern investors on
guarantee OF 10 per cent. and per cent.
and there Is no reason why they should
yield up an Understanding security for
one without any interest
The scheme Is indorxed by 2. o. Flower.
editor OF the Arena, who hopes to see this
great reform movement inaugurated by
the state OF Washington He says: More
aud more I notice IN the East that the
spirit OF inertia ana the deadly spirit OF
decztence. which ever accompanies the
failure on the part OF the people 10 insist
upon the realization os the highest ethical
attachments. prevails We are being bound
more and moro 20 the Jpggcrnaut Of cap
ital. and as result are losing the power
o, the initiative"
The spirit OF inertia in the East would
develop n remarkable amount OF 'ertla"
u such plan were proposed 70 Deprive
them OF securities without payinS for them
"a cash.
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