The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-18
Frederick, Nelson 6 rlunrO
RIALTO BLOCK.
RIALTO BLOCK.

poses is levied against those agricultural
counties IN which an abundance or Ianor
and capital are annually expended IN the
production CT wealth than IN the uf1oer
counties, where shrewd spectators are
naonoDoIizing the natural opportunities
and forestaIling the production OF wealth.
than would prevail II personal properly
and Improvements were not taxed
For the purpose OF bringing this point
out more boldly two groups or counties
have been arranged for comparative pur-
poses selected from the whole number OF
counties In the state. Group No. ]: COM
prising the principal agricultural district.
Is composed OF the following counties:
ASotin Columbia Garfield kIickitat. Spo-
kane waIIa WaIla and Whitman. Group
No. 2, comprising the principal timber dis
trict, is composed of the following coun-
ties: Chehalis. Clallam, Cowlitz, Island.
Kitsap, Lewis, Mason. Paclfic, SnohomIsh,
Thurston and Whatcom.
1T viii be seen by referring 70 the sup
Elemental schedule marked B., that the
total assessed valuation Of all property in
the seven agricultural counties amounted
to 50 go S24 and that the valuation or all
the property in the eleven timber counties
amounted TO 81. $50 7es. or practically
equivalent sums. Let US now see how they
divide:
I'm the agricultural group land and rail-
road tracks were assessed al but 81, l39, 34o.
timber group reached s43. ss7.lSl. value
over 81 per cent. greater than that IN the
agricultural group.
the agricultural group reached the sum Of
So 2E 47s. while the same items OF prop
erty In the timber group did not exceed
$40 9ss.5sS a value over % per cent. less
than the same classes OF property in the
former group.
summary.
Had personal property and improve
ments been exempt from taxation. 1t not
only would have resulted in great saw
ing TO the taxpayers generally, and have
excluded .-om the scrutiny of the assess
or the only class of property in connection
with which perjury Is so often committed.
but would have reduced the total valua-
ton OF the property in the agricultural
group over IL per cent. while Il would not
have reduced the total I'm the timber group
but triie over 20 per cent. and would
have affected the state tax as follows:
1T would have lessened the total
amount of state taxes to be paid by the
counties in the agricultural group from
s2S6 80 TO 500 s27. a saving of SIS 6S3, nearly
IS per cent. while IL would have increased
the amount to have been paid by the coun-
ties in the timber group from $3.50 65 10
$3.50 1872 a sum 500 los greater than that
which would have been levied against the
agricultural group.
"The exemption from taxation of per-
sonai property and improvements would.
therefore. relieve the producers OF wealth
from an excessive burden now borne by
them. and place il upon those whose sole
occupation is the forestalling of progress
and prosperity.
rs IL not time that we cease taxing in
dustrious lahoring men for the benefit OF
idle. non-producing specuators7
shall we frame our revenue laws In the
interest of those who live and labor with
in the borders of our own state, or shall
we so frame them as to create non-resi-
dent landed aristocracy and a state teem-
ing with tenants?
NEAL CHEETHAM
state Auditor
''W u. JENKINS.
Secretary Of State.
ROBERT f. BRIDGES,
commissioner OF Public Lands"