The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-08

Be- introduced By the esty - ravfdsy a
shall be feasible for ali consumers using
more shan z ninansum amount q water.
. irrigation and mechanical purpcses. TIA,
the meter syEstern II recommended not FOR
the purpese Of raising water rates. nor for
the purpose OF prohibiting the Use Of
water for Irritation ord mech xr1va- pur-
poses - moderate rates. bat fer the pus-
pose o. securing On even distribution ard
N economical use II s.se water That
under our present unlimited system ard
the wzs1eful hxl1ts thus being cultivated
% the rarf Of consumers. even = larger
suppv wa prove inadequate within few
Early TAI records--Tnat proper steps
should o taken ~ the city government
Ter simphfyIng and clearing up the errors
OF early TAI rolls Of the city.
SchooI A2aiss.
General expenses-Thas while re con-
aacer the support OF the common schoois
70 be Of paramount importance. We are
unable TO avoid the conclusion THAT the
ourdAns imposed upon the pubic for the
maintenance OF the public schools during
the year iseS and during previous years
have been unnecessarily and untastiy
heavy. We beg to enumerAse the provt-
sions which were made IN the year 1855 for
the school expenses Of 1sss. a. follows:
FirSs--A tax levy 4 the city Of Seattle
BY the school board Of II uaisia.
Second-A state school TAI Of aiii mills
under the barefoot school boy Law Of
whsch levy about mills viii come back
from IL mills. which would represent the
proportion OF such levy required for In
terest on the school debt, and We have
sr.s ssn ' sass to onG e NH apoa
sszsed valuation for tire general expense
and maintenance OF our schools IN the
ALTHOUGH the city az Seattle has some
revenue from fines and licenses. q COM
parsson shows that the burden which falls
upon the taxpayers for the maintenance
NJ shA <ft .~~~e o. IT, ta~
OUTLAWS for streets. police. library. fire
and all other departments. exclusive a
Interest charge IL 47f5 mills on the as
above rate Of Is mills FOR the n,asnssn-
ance Of the public schoo!e I. liz believed
BY this committee tina. IN making the levy
reduction should be made as compared
with the burdens which were imposed for
the expenses OF 1885
Taxation We recon- n1enA that in max
ting their tar levy for the coming year tho
school board should hx sum which, Ia
elusive Of the estimated receipts from
sncinsiSe a. ss:ims,e e's returns rom the
barefoot law viii cover the school ex-
penss without making apy addition On ac.
roar e1. fr ana ,ns ~ pr.r =.
be taken for anticipating whatever portion
Of tho tax then being levied may prove 10
ssffirh e~hoos--Tha. without suspandlng
or abolishsnx the high school ali possible
economy should be enforced In In admin
"f;eneral saiarses-Tha, a reduction IN
salaries generally should be made. equal
in the aggregate 10 10 per cent. In order
70 correspond approximately with the re-
trenchments which have been enforced IN
other branches Of our local government"
state Legislation.
'rssy and County Consolidation. Where
o. The state ssws for tire aSrnlnsss ration
% county affairs are found TO be crnlla.
insufficient and entirely Inadequate for
the proper distribution Of the large reve-
Dues Of counties which contain cities u
the arss class. ard
ssWhereAs There are publications OF
service and expense In tutssctal and other
branches Of city and county atrnirssstra-
tion. ere recommend that an effort b
nxAde 20 securc the enactment OF state leg
iNation for the consolidation Of the city
and county governments IN counties which
contain cities Of TIE first ciass
school Expenses. WhEe We recognize
TIE great importance Of kccptng school
affairs d.stins-t from politics.. influences,
ard Of conducting schoo. e,o,t.ors at dis-
ferert times than geEsrnI elections. We
believe thSt q Closer relationship And re-
sponsibEtsy IN tho matter % mourning
school expense -~osild ~ established by
law between school boarss In cities Of The
frss class and other DEPARTMENTS OF The
government.
TAX payments. In view OF the great
embarrassment now experienced BY all
branches Of local government, on account
OF tho tardy payment OF taxes resulting
from extreme senieney OF existing laws.
We recommend that the dates for the pay
uuent OF taxes be changed from June LIST
and December list to March fst and Sep
seurter ist Ard TINT the rate OF In
teress on delinquent taxes should be
raised from II per cent. ana restored to
mn =
sion be made for the more speedy eoliec-
ton OF taxes upon personal property after
its Assessment
Tux Certificates: That In orStcr 20 en-
courage the legitimate investment OF
money In tax certificates at the times or
puh,ls sales and thus relieve the county
from the embarrassment % Bidding In
large amounts OF property ard lying crt
OF the use 81 the money. we recommend
thai a Law Be enacted by which the guar
antv OF the county VIII attach 10 every
tax certificate against any IrrexulaFity or
lnformailty IN the tax levy or subsequent
proceedings TO the extent Of re mnursinx
the purchaser for the amount pad and
Interest thereon.
That the limitations given On behalf
OF the city government OF Seattle and the
scheoi board OF District No. l. that their
tax sevfes soon 20 be made VIII be ma
terialiy reduced from those 81 last year.
meet IN. full approval Of this COMMITTEES.
As II would be coniecive 70 . better
understanding by the public OF the needs
OF The different branches OF our govern
ynens. and aiso tend 10 conservative ae'scn
IN the nxirS OF tax ievies X some officers
and citizens eouik. ADVISE with ,.ss Differ
er. rsnnscsrsl ccses 81 ERE tines
wen chear ievtes ar~ helnx fyei. w.
re~orryn md that some % The member az
your committee attend the sessions o. tbs
different esA-fs n watch the lrstes % isss
win ~. determined ueors. and that vol re-
sr>csfa,fy request 20 - notified ny TIRE
different scsrds OF rhe ta.ss when rsaey
WI. take such s<~esIa-
.s,f TIE above r~fxnss u - evtsteTrs tAss
soms lie within the powers already cor
ferred upon the respective boards and
ro.se require state legislation. II Is con-
.SensIy hopes Ard expected Tor the pro-
motion az pubs interests that the respect
I've eosras VIII promptly take action 80
far as oos~shaN ana - 10 requisite hegssla-
.sor. ur~ ga Sx~~t q r~srv~ns>e NJ tssss report
20 ire Kiax county delegation % the next
legislature ~ soon - Organised
~r.ua,fy ne recommend that before al
ssurrmea; your committee cleo. COM
rasttee 81 osscers ard citizens. 20 consist
OF act lees than sremesrs- 20 corr
Ter with the runscsrsi ard commercial
s~.ye. az the es.l~s % Tacoma ard Spcs<an.
upon matters which shszi - 81 common iFs-
se-~st 20 Al cities OF the rrst class IN sAss
state anss 10 Invite Their ssixx.ssions s.ss
cc-operasicn n framing ard scoring Ire
massage Of 1sstrsA.e legislation At Ire cocn-
ing sxssson Of s~e Legislature.
CHAMsER or COMMERCE.
Repors OF the Resr~r~Am~nt Conn