The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-14
TO REDUCE EXPENSES
CITY Fathers in Conference on
Re. renchment.
REVENUE CUT OFF BY TAX LAWS
No More street Improvements at Pres
ent-A Proposal to Increase
Water Rates.

A very important meeting yesterday
afternoon at the council chambers was
the result OF notice sent in the morning
by Mayor Wood TO the various members
OF the council and TO the heads or all the
departments OF the municipality. request
ing their attendance at a conference that
partook largely of the character OF gen
eral ways and means session of which
each receiver OF notice was member.
The occasion of the conference was the
disposing OF a problem. or the receiving or
suggestions as TO IT'S disposal that con-
fronted the city, and the general turn
out left no doubt as TO the interest taken
in the matter OF the city's finances A
rather unsatisfactory condition or the
treasury has been brought about through
the apathy or Indifference OF the cifys
taxpayers and also the fact that they are
avaIling themselves of the recently enacted
laws governing redemption OF property
sold under such laws. which have fixed
the period within which redemption may
be made AT three years and making the
penalty comparatively light Section $3.50
OF the revised statutes OF Washington,
governing redemptions. says:
Real property sold under the provisions
OF this act may be redeemed at any eiIne
before the expiration of three years from
the date OF sale, by payment In legal
money OF the United States. 70 the county
treasurer OF the proper county. the amount
for which the same was sold, together with
L per cent interest thereon from the oase
OF sale until payment. The person redeem
ing such property shall also pay The
amount OF all taxes. assessments, penal
ties interest and costs accruing after such
sale. with u per cent. Interest thereon
from the day the same were Que until paid.
unless such subsequent taxes or assess
ments, penalties. interests ir costs have
neen paid by or on behalf Of he person
for whose benefit the redemption is made.
and not being purchaser a the tax sale.
or his assignee. No fee shall be charger
for any redemption after the passage OF
this act"
The same section goes en- as follows. re-
iating to the redemption OF the property
OF insane persons, minors OF heirs: II
the real property OF any minor heir or In
sane person be sold for ron-paymeDt OF
taxes or assessments, the same may be
redeemed at any time after sale and be-
fore the expiration OF one year after such
disability has been removed upon the
terms specified in this section. on the pay
rnent OF interest at the rate Of 10 per cent.
per annum on the amount FOR which the
same was sold. from and after the date OF
sale. whicr redemption may be made by
themselves or by any person In their De-
half"
The first part of the section the major
portion of the community. that Is allow
ing its taxes 10 80 by default. is taking adj
VANTAGE OF trusting the future 20 make
amends for the shabby way in which thu
past has treated them. In some cases
heavy loans have been negotiated In or
der 20 keep up interest, taxes and insur-
ance and many have been Obliged 10 keep
M the last named upon the terms OF ohli-
cations negotiated, and the taxes have
heen allowed TO take care Of themselves
Three years ahead gives hope chance
to do some hard work; hence the DISPOSE
ton to allow the enactment OF 1889 10 pro-
tect them for that time
In the eases OF minors and insane per-
sons the terms are even more liberal
Many estates that are held for young
children are not paying any taxes AMI tie
Law giving the heirs a year after attain
ing ma forfty to redeem. is also being used
by guardians and administrators 20 staye
or immediate payment.
These reasons and the lax that makes
e. rosSlble to redeem after tax sales. have
contributed 10 the bringing about Of the
r,~eseYit condition Of the city's affairs aud
the city fathers are called upon 70 exer-
essa much serious thought and ingenuity
20 solve the present problem.
Those In the convention yesterday were
MAYER Wood, Comptroifer Parry. Treas
r,rer Neacharn. Corporation Counsel
brown. Superintendent Youngs, Of the VA
te- works: Superintendent Little. Of the
scra rtraent OF streets and sewers. city
engineer Thomson; Secretary oleSon. OF
the board OF public works Chief OK Fo-