The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-29
REAL ESTATE MENACE
THE LAW OF EXEMPTION As SEEN
ABROAD.
An Investors Organ Says the single
Tax Is Coming in the state of
UsshfnEfon-s Warming Given by

TIE following article from the United
States Investor. whien r. published NJ Bos-
ton. New York Philadelphia ard san
FTznsiseo. cannot - ignored Il Is being
widely eopss5 and The people Of this state.
whatever their views. cannot shut their
cyes 20 TIE impression created abroad By
our revenue law.
"a Menace 20 Real Estate
No Investor proposing 70 m Ike invest
rnezsts 81 land Or land mortgages IN the
state % washington should do 80 az pres
sDt. without first giving the Influences and
conditions which appear - threaten that
species Of property IN thar STATE the most
careful study. Unless al sisrs fail. TIE
period OF investment End Speculation IN
vacant lard and mortgages thereon IN
that state has abort drawn 70 close and
TIE state seems 20 b. on the verge OF the
Introduction % legislation entirely new IN
this country. and which wiu have fmme-
diztely for It's purpose the very great abb
sorption b. Tie state government * the
property which obtains n land. 20 the
consequent sterilization OF the field for
private investment.
The legislature OF that state Which net
two years ago adopted e faw exempt:ng
from taxation for state purposes all per-
sonal property to ths extent OF $3.50 This
relieved a iarse number % individuals
from paving any taxes az all. ard throw
upon TIE balance 81 the property in the
state and the balance Of the taxpayers the
entire bulk OF the taxation.
The Law of Last Year.
The Influence which had moved this ex-
emption did not cease az this success. but
a. the legislature Just passed it procured
the enlargement Of the exemption from
SEQ Of pefsonal property 20 500 Of personal
property. ard also 500 OF improvements
upon land. making an exemption OF sl.0o0
n all The effect Of this was 10 relieve
from taxation the largest number Of the
people Of the state who had Heretofore
paid taxes. to very much increase the bur
dens upon the remaining body of personal
property and tho buildings Which were as
sesssd at over 500 and especially 20 In
crease enormously tie assessments upon
the value ~ land.
The change Ia the law seems TO have
been gotten thr0ue1 the legislature with
out having attracted very much public
attention, and until the legislature had
adjourned and the assessors had begun 20
hand in tho bills made out upon the basis
OF appFalsemenis ABUSED In accordance
with the new law. Un1ii then but few per-
sons realized what had been done. Inn
mediateiy the fact vas discovered and
generally appreciated. However. there
were thus scheduled to bear the burden
OF the taxation. meetings were held in the
various townships resolutions were
passed pleiging unanimity IN refusing TO
pay tho assessments. the tax collector WAS
enjolned from enforcing the law and the
case was hurried 70 the supreme court Of
the state. That body has rendered is de-
eislon and It finds thar the new law Is
unconstitutional and void, and that the
exemptions VIII rot be allowed.
Such. under ordinary conditions might
seem 10 quell the onslaught and restore
confidence IN landed properly In Wash
iugton. for Il Is well understood that II IL
against this character of property that the
designs OF the tnnovators are lodged. for
IL Is conceded that If the exemption had
stood the test OF the supreme court the
people who were paying taxes on buildings
ana personal property would have brought
a force 10 bear upon the succeeding iegis-
lature. IN unison with the excmptionists,
which would have produced law 70 elm
mate taxes from All that species Of prop
erty so that the fight was wen recognized
being a distinct attack upon private
property in land, Hgt ordinary conditions
do not exist IN Washington SIC present.
and the onslaught IS not quelied
Fear Local option in Taxation.
The same legislature which made the
thousand dollars exemption passed also a
law submitting 70 the people az the next
election the question 81 20 whether the
constitution should b. amended 50 as 70
empower counties and municipalities 70
determine by vote Of an the electors from
what species % property their taxes for
state and local purposes should Be raised.
As this question Is 70 be submitted to a
general POLL IL 81 believed II VIII carry and
y e carries 10 viii mean that there VIII be
put IN force in many Of the counties and
4. 3. se.
property snd inprov ments on land from
taxation. and drawing an taxes from the
value of land; in short. 81 means practic-
ally a eonhscation or rent Of land
Ard the reasons for helcvlng that the
conditions 50 Washington portepd the
adoption u thls constitutional amendment
are these. In the first place the axernn-
ton seems 30 haEe met wish widespread
and Eener8i popular approval; the press
OF The state was almost unanimous in SIS
favor. tbc -IGtelletucer the leading
daily tn the state declaring that. ~
500 exemption g. LEGAL % re- nonsense To
talk about a 81 no exemption being ille-
gal" Other papers chcrused in che same
key PEOPLE seemed go feet that The re-
iicvins ~ industry from tax tlon and
throwing 4 apou thc monopoly of land
would nave he eject or stimulating ore
and 8iarttrasiaE the other. of starting
new activities in production and exchange
Through che fogeipg tnto use Of land long
hrla ont ~ t~e bv srecui1tors awaiting
hish.r prieve 81 lowering rents through
the rutDpeiinr Of tae new ftnd into uss
and et raislnn WAGES Through tha eatfi-
tjonal .alis Hpon iehor 81 was commonly
believed that ,he new lsw wculd 30 pro
dneftye - much rcoa lu thfs rr=re-t ana
the Fobl.e 81 ri hss rot been iu the slight
est degree changed upon fhfs ide1. Saeh
is orc reason why Sc IS thauEhf the fr4-
a AN a.ss rrrs. a--s asa