The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-21

TACOMA. Dec. -SpeciaL-Ths law
makers at Olympia during the approach
Eng session viii take up for consideration
the subject OF revenue. The statute az
present II force is generally conceded 10
be en- unsatisfactory measure. IN that Il
does net provide counties and Inrnicipal-
ties wiki an amount Of revenue requisite
70 the economical and successful admin
.stra13on Of government The percentage
O. GeItnGueuts has largely increased during
the past two years. ewing 70 the low pen
atty inflicted for nen-paymert OF taxes.
II many municipalities Il the stats. ana
particularly in this city. the present sys-
tern OF paying taxes has been found harm
fal IA many ways. but chiefly because II
Goes lot provide available revenue TO meet
the heavy interest charges due Decsmoe
! and June / OF each year.
A. Spokane there Is an organization
called the Spokane Tax Reform League.
which has recently issued little pam
pklet. eznbodying a report OF tie meeting
OF the body in Spokane in the early part o.
the month. IL also Contains the results
OF inquiries as 70 the manner Of paying
taxes IN a number Of states IN the Union.
which were made by The league through
Secretary LleDss. a copy OF ths pamphlet
has been mailed 10 each member or tie
legislature.
The league estimates that there are sle,-
Co, 900 Of delinquent county, municipal and
school taxes In the state Of Washington.
Embodied in the pamphlet Is draft OF
revenue law which is suggested TO the
members OF the legislature as reform
measure.
Senator z. w Taylor, OF this city. has
paid some considerable attention to the
subject. and will advocate the passage
OF some measure that viii entirely chang
the present system Al the request OF
To-
prepared the following paper, embodying
ks ideas OF such a law:
From q little circular sent out by the
Spokane Tax Reform League IL would
appear that there is now in the nelgnbor-
hood of $40 COG coo OF delinquent taxes in
the state of Washington. II this vast
sum could be made available for the pub
l!c needs, nearly every county and the
state would be out OF deot and there
would be large surplus IN the treasury.
How TO get this money in the possession
OF the public treasury viii be one OF the
problems presented to the legislature.
As the solution allow me TO present the
following:
The state Of washington wants the
very best system that can be devised by
human ingenuity. First, change the fiscal
year to January /. Let taxes be payable
semi-annually. January and July l. If
not paid when due, add interest ar 10 per
cent. After the first day Of January sue
cseding the date or levy add penalty OF
per cent. and interest OF IS per cent. per
annum. At that time let the collecting
cfIieer be empowered 10 sell certificates
or delinquency against the property upon
which taxes have not been paid. TO every
certificate issued add q penalty OF per
cent. Let the certificate bear interest az
Is per cent, and make the amount per-
sonal obligation against the owner of the
property, as well as & len against the
property.
Let there be q guaranty Of the county
Issuing the certificate that the property
was assessed as required by law, and that
the taxes are due and unpaid. and that
* thers Is any error in the proceedings
by which tho holder OF the claim shall be
defeated, then that the county issuing the
certificate viii refund the money received,
together with interest at per cent. fr at
expiration of two years from the date
OF delinquency the property is not redeem
ed then the holder Of the certificate shall
give notice in the same manner as a
summons in a civil asTien. describing In
the notice the tax amount due ami the
property. and that. II not redeemed, he
WITH apply for deed. IL. after such no.
tice the property IS not redeemed. the
county shall issue a deed absolute.
This will make a safe investment for
persons desiring 10 invest In county and
city obligations II viii be an absolute
guaranty Of per cent. with q possibility
or larger rate. The heavy interest VIII
be Rn inducement 10 property owners to
pay up. IL viii do away with the great
expense that the county is usually put TO
IN publishing delinquent lists. and when
such notice is published IL Is when the
properly is finally abandoned"