The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-31


EvERYnODY MIST PAY TAXES.
Every man who owns dollars worth
OF property In the state 81 Washington
is interested In the decision Of the So
preme court 1t ID long docusnent and
may no, therefore have secured ina. a.
fcn;ion TO which IT is entitled, and
xyncSais may not be an.Iss-
Prior to the passage Of the law Of 117
every property owner was entitled to ex-
cmp;ion to the amount of $500. Now. un-
der the decision. there Is no exemption
whatever on general property. Church
properly. rahlic cemeteries, fire engines
companies. free public libraries. orphan
,.ges. hospitals. charitable institutions.
fruit trees. excep. nursery stock. for four
years, and vessels In course OF construc-
tion are exempt. but all other public prop
erfy must be assessed.
IL = man owns 500 worth o. property
ne must pay. and in fact. since there IL
no modifying clause now to the constitu-
tionai provision. taxes must be paid even
on one dollars worth. The provisions OF
the constitution are az follows:
section ]. Ali property in the state no.
exempt under the laws OF the United
States or under this constitution, shall
be taxed In proportion TO its value. to be
asce-tatned a. provided By law The
legislature shall provide by law for an
annual tax Sufficient. with other sources
OF revenue. to defray the estimated orsii-
nary expenses Of the state for each fiscal
year And for the purpose OF paying
the state debt. q there b any, the legis-
Iasure shall provide for levying a tax an
nualiy sufficient TO pay the annual inter-
est and principal OF such debt within
twenty years from the final passage OF
the law creating the debt.
Section 2. The legislature shall pro-
vide by law q uniform and equal rate Of
assessment and taxation on all properly
In the state according to Its vaius n
money. ard shall prescribe euch reguia-
tons by general law az shall secure
just valuation for taxation Of all property.
so that every person and corporation shall
Jay tag In proportion to the value OF
his. nor or Its property. provided. that
a deduction OF debts from credits may be
authorized: provided f.,rsher. that the
property of the United states and Of the
state. counties school districts. and ether
municipal corporations. and such other
property as .ase legislature may by general
laws provide. shall b exempt from taxa
tiUn."
Under the last three lines the iegisla-
ture supposed II lad the power to exempt
private property. and the last legislature
exempted all improvements Of the value
of 800 and all personal property to the
value OF Go0 The court holds that this
cannot be done. but that the constitution
meant only To exempt. If the legislature
Jaw At. other property OF a public or
qnasi-pubiic nature. such 81 institutions
maintained By public contribution for
public use. although not directly support
cd from public funds by taxation.
That il now the law Of the state, and
there can be no exemptions unless by
amendment. Of the constitution.
Every taxpayer is now interested more
than ever in seeing that the law Is en-
forced. We must nut up with 1t. so let
us insure that IL shall have fair test.
Every man who attempts TO eyade the
law by undertaking. his property will In
ilict hardship upon his ueishbor The
more truly valuations are made the more
eduitahly win the law be applied. II the
law Is wrong II can be changed In due
time. bu, meanwhile the rich and poor
alike ara concerned in Its just appiica-
lion.
one effect of the law will be To
reduce the amount OF taxation payable
by all except those who have hitherto
been exempt. 1t will probably reduce the
| levy 10 per cent. because 1t Is notorious
that tho exemption has already been al
lowed most literally.
Ii would not be 1udielous TO condemn
the law until II has been tried. and II
would be folly 10 attempt To resist Il. II
II prove success, II Will be continued;
IL not. the constitution can be changed.
The average tax being - mills or the
dollar. or 81 GA 800. the owner az stee can
now prepare - pay not more than 5
cents week for state government. coun-
ty- government, city government, street
lighting. police and fire protection, the use
Of the courts ard schools and the benefit
aud Use af all thr water system court
| hcuses. public schools main roads and sill
other public works which have been paid
fer in the past
Is TIE presen, wise and symmetrical
system Of taxation That IS another ques-
ton. II IS engaging the attention O. pas-
Nc nsen ali over the country. 1t may be-
worth inauisiOs into; h's. fer the present
this state Is operating under sts own
/ method and the experiment may AFFORD
| valuable results.