The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-05

EXEMPTIONS FROM TAXATION.
There are pending before the legislature
several propositions for the exemption Of
certain property from taxation The sin
GUAR feature % II Is that these measures
are introduced and chamEioEeG ~ men
processing 70 belong 20 party which Is
strenuous Il IS opposition 10 SPECIAL priv
Hegss ard privileged classes. whIs the
blAs introduced proylis for a decidedly In
equitable kind OF class legislation
There are certain specific amounts OF
money which e - necessary 20 raise b.
taxation for the state. county and munlci-
PAL governments ard for various special
purposes. Tie lax levy - annually made
on a basis designed 20 raise these hKed
s1ma II any properly Is exempted from
taxation, the burden Is Simply cast upon
other properly. Al exemption from taxa
ton Is neither more or less than the taking
Of one mans property for the benefiI OF
another.
Roughly stated. tie total amount OF
taxes whlch every property holder in the
Incorporated cities and towns Of this
state i called upon 70 pay IS aoou; per
cent. per annBm upon ths assessed valua-
ton OF his property. There Is 6 blu before
the legislature 20 exempt personal prop
erty - the amount q s. so from taxation.
and also improvements upon real property
70 the amount OF 3. so Under the pres
ent system. the owner ot personal prop
erty % this amount. owning also improve
fnsnta on lands 30 TIE same value, pays
"a annual tax q $780, Under the proposed
system. he pays nothing. bat this amount
il added to the taxation Of other persons.
Tae practical eyect Of the law Is pre-
cisely and identically The same as though
the proposed law should leave the lax
system as 80 il a. present. aud should pro
vide hat tho owner q property % this
class should receive ar a donation, az
aaaHy. the same amount. that any per
son owa.ug $3.50 worth az personal prop
ofsy Ga any incorporated town OF city
shoald receive out % ne puhlc treasury
tae amour. % So per amman. ard every
ovser 81 improvements upon real prop
srty 10 tha same value sholit receive
isEe arsoaas oat o. the public treasury.
Determinations "a taxsu0a are grossly
lncqu4a5,e. mere particularly VIXEN that
gls-rtu. .aatioo = made agalus; real prop
cry which nevcr has ana never can evaie
l.s share ~ taxation ana 81 favor % per
soaal property. uh.aa So rarely ever reach
e4 - l.s Fun value hy the assessment
when ths manner ln which ;he pnhl'e
farf. are Distributed s. examined into q
wiz be discovered shat the srea; bur3ea
~ taxation Is imposed Tor the purpose q
p-otecuug the very class q properly
whleh 10 g. SOW ahmed q exempt from tax
.f.oa 80 poIce force e. necessary 20 pro-
tse. uulmrrove8 real property from theft;
70 Gre department &c protest 81 from are
The criminal departments o. tho courts
are rarely called upon % try case aris-
lng oat ~ trssrass % real property. sna
srrder normal business conditions. rsal
property actions or'y Represent smau
fraction o. tae litigation which occupies
TIA attention of ,ae courts
!, r. fsr -ie protection - -ers7nN prop-
| erty ihat che police force IS maintained.
4. Is sor che rrotcstloa o. improvements
a5es real property that a FIRE department
"a necessary. .t IS Offenders arsi=st per-
seasl r.Eb,s ard eereauaI properly rEH,s
.res ne criminal ceurtg sre occupied p
.ryiar. ars f. "a persona, Ar-ions wAleh
consume ny sar the greater pe-uoa % re
tire 80 tie courts
Real estate already rays far more isaa
go fs.r saars cf th~ 7uo'ic ttvA"ea- y
isa r.s.te- ~ common rst,-cty tAat Ter