The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-18

TAX REGULATIONS.


Chamber OF Commerce 70 protest against
not take a very practical turn The tone
of II seemed 20 De that those people VINO
are able and willing TO pay taxes shall do
% and those who cannot or who find Il
more profitable not to 90 so. shall only
suffer payment Of interest for the use OF
the money.
II Is exceedingly unfortunate that any
man cannot pay bis taxes: and the Law
should extend every reasonable means by
which the property owner can save his
propUty. But IL 10 folly 70 charge their
delinquency to the salaries of office hold
economically governed In that respect. and
st has been repeatedly shown that the en-
tire amount expended on salaries scarcely
cuts any figure In the total expenditure
The property owners yesterday. declared
In favor OF the present Law. II is simply
impossible 20 meet our obligations IL that
i~w is continued, to say nothing OF paying
esrrsns expenses. Ths law must be
amended so as to bring the taxes into the
treasury. This can be done only by the
property owners paying or by selling tax
certificates.
csstion In It's permitting a sale OF property
for delinquency on one years taxes. The
plan should be modified in this and some
othsx respects. but continuance in the
present course would do In the end far
more damage TO property than the impo-
sition Of reasonable pressure TO secure
payment from dsIinausnts.
Ths revenue Law should be changed so
ss 10 carry out q clear and unoppressive
policy. IL taxes are not paid in by GER
tain date. there should be issued tax GER
sincate carrying with II the tax lien and a
guarantees that IL the tax certificate has
been wrongfaily issued the purchaser shall
have his money returned by the city or
county which has wrongfu4ly had the use
OF II. The property should not be subject
10 TAI deed for less than three consecutive
years delinquency. so that no man would
run the risk OF having It sold for years
omission to pay. IL hs does not pay for
three years running he may be assumed 70
have abandoned his property. "a hundreds
have done in this state. The absurdlty and
injustice or past revenue laws was the sale
OF property fer delinquency of one years
be guarded against.
III property is never 70 be sold for dslin-
auent taxes. or only after several years.
We shall be brought face 70 face with a
rnonstrous proposition. II means that a
property owner Is 20 enjoy all the advan-
'ases of local government, of water. sew
ers. police and fire. protection. paved
streets. electric lights. county roads
and bridges without paying for them. II
his property becomes valuable enough IN
those years he VIII pay the taxes. II q
Goes not. he will then abandon It 70 the
county. The county does not want 10 own
land. The only land anybody would let
It own under these circumstances would
he worthless land.
1t may be said the taxpayer does not
get water unless hfs property Is improved
sad he uses e. buy that the improved prop
- y 80 ~ aus ~ tfNs tAsAf- ne I'M
proved property buys what water It needs.
but the people 81 large have made the IN
improved property more valuabls by con-
s;ructinE miles OF water service and sewer
service which II being paid FOR by TIE prop
srty owners who do pay their taxes. that
payment being FOR the interest on the
honda
Mayor Woods stated truth az the meet
Ing when he said me small property owner
the man who has bat house and lot
usually pays his taxes. II all paid their
taxes. hts proportion would be lighter.
There Is no state IN the Union which does
net make II better pelicy for property
owners to pay taxes than 70 use the money
for other purposes,
It The policy 20 b adopted ia that taxes
n.sd rot Re paid unless the citizen Is wi
anx. and u shan prove that those not VII
nnx SO % ths extent Of not furnishing suf-
acisns means to pay the current expenses.
thsrs wgn have 10 bs a return - The Issue
81 wsrrants ard even TIA; plan VIII 10;
meet ~ annual demand FOR axsa charges.
The properly owners. while seeking 20
keep expenses low ana penalties low. must
not overlook tho tsct that ths local gov
sEnsnsn' esnnot hs continued unless the