The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-26
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
SEATTLE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 90.
INEQUALITIES or TAXATION.


The county board OF equalization. which
consists Of owners Of property in different
degree. has Just completed SIS task. and
has probably arrived at tho conclusion
that perfection has not been reached yet
In our system OF tax assessment. II may
be some consolation TO them 70 know that
they are not alone In that conviction but
that even the great city OF Chicago 10
stirred up over similar cause Of gfisv-
ance, and matters have become so serious
that civic federation has been formed.
The Chicago Tribune says the right to
equality In taxation. as well as in
representation. is fundamental principle
Of free government. In fact. II Was one
Of the principles established IN the forma-
tion Of the Federal government, when cur
fathers successfully rebeilsd against the
attempt 10 force upon them the doctrine Of
taxation without representation This il
q very general principle but d, Il violated
by almost every state government in It's
laws. and by every municipal corporation
empowered to apply It's own method.
The system OF taxation has been toler-
nted because of the absence OF concerted
action. II has simply become hoary with
old age. and has been yenerated with no
more reason than there Is Tor retaining
coat tails. The Chicago rebels who are
up In arms against this Illogical tyrant
have appealed 10 the governor 10 convene
the legislature In special session for the
purpose Of acting upon some suggested
reforms. and among them new revenue
law. Gov. Tanner replied that the iogisla-
tlon asked for was for the purpose Of en-
aiding the city to escape its share OF state
taxation. To this the federation replies
that Chicago wants fair. honest and
practicable revenue lan~-one which opsr-
ates the same. with equal justice. all over
the state. Each assessor IL a law
unto himself Sometimes he informs the
property owner What that is and some
times he refuses TO disclose t. This. with
the wholly inadequate time 10 correct In
CAPABILITIES in the valuation. ia among those
serious defects IN the existing law. II "A
because Of this that one persons property
Is assessed at one-ihirtieth lts value. whlla
one-twen,ieth. one tenth or one-nfth. or
whatever may suit the caprice OF the as
SCISSOR. from which there II practically no
appeal or relief The Chicago Tribune
cannot he regarded rs a radical news
paper. and when 1t complains OF the IN
justice Of the system It may be assumed
safeiy that some remedy Is needed. That
paper says that an Illustration of the
truth OF this Is furnished IN the confusion
and Inequalities now coming TO light IN
connection with the assessment OF the
present year. II indorses the civic FEEDER
alton, which asserts that "lhe grossest In
eaualities exist not only between taxnav-
ers, but between different towns and por-
lions OF towns as we'll" The Tribune Is
not battling on behalf 81 corporations bat
Of small shopkeepers and mladis-clssx
families. who hsve been assessed en- their
little stocks OF wares and household goaas
at rates VARYING from twenty to thirty psr
cent. and even mere Hut st IS nor alone
the present valUstlcn for assessment mr.
poses which hears With hardship apon A
large proportion OF the taxpayers. zavs
the Tribune. In order tc compel Chicago
and Cook county q pay a due proportion
or the taxes needed fos the support ~ tho
state government. ths state board az
equalization has heen accustomed 70 ada q
large percentage to the aggregate vagas-
tion az property as Iocaliy asssssea fer
taxes. and may he expected 20 10 81 again
The effect Of shis Is 20 ads iareely 20 tse
taxes Of those who have made fair rcturns
OF their property. whils others escaps ia
whole or IN part. and S. enc 81 the meet
potential means 90 preventing pronsfs
owners from making an honsst return
The state % Washington aaeots a.
same method ard although tba hoard OF
equalization n1ay BE- credited wien eq.,s
Intentions. the tsct remains thar the same
class Of property does not bear the sas.,
Valuation in every county. The larxer
counties. such "a Ktnx P1s-es ana sps-
kane. Ind il necessary every year ,o send
representatives before tire board tn orser
70 prevent sn srhitrary Increase n,aia sor
the purpose % srias'as ur sha srrrera.e
&c the sum oa which to r'aks ,Ae state levy
Sufficient 80 meet to exrend .tarea.
The civic federation - Ch3cseo also com
plslns e the want e. integrity pa sae pars
q Some 81 the assessors. That : csc eva
from which We 10 net safer in any esn-
siderable degree. Tho Instances havs been
exceedingly rare tn many years where even
suspicion has been cast uroa the za,a
faith and Honesty % she men making ths
valuations. II is the system which IS AZ
fault. because 4 makes 1hs assessey almost
judge - valuations. and thefr fa5xasnt
Is IS liable 80 vary n 5his uastsr as n
most others where a Blasts examination IS
ali ths' can n uas6e. sra ,As; BY nssa
sko oannet. IL the uat4re e ga.uss, be ex-