The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-03-25
THE NEW REVENUE LAW.

Following is summary Of the pro-
visions of the new revenue law "fOr
the assessment and collection of taxes
which is probably entitled to the dis
tinction of being the most important
enactment of the late legislature.
1t defines what is properly subject to
taxation including credits, but deducts
from credits all debts but mortgages
and credits for the purchase of real es-
tate which shall not be considered
property. Exempt property includes,
/, cemeteries; 2, municipal property;
8, that belonging to fire companies;
4, public libraries, orphanages, etc.; 5,
fruit orchards until four years old; 6.
personal property to the value of $500;
2, ships in process of construction; 8,
improvements on land to the value of
$500. Property shall be listed in 1900
and biennially thereafter. Persons
moving from one county to another
between March and July l may be
assessed in either county. A merchant
shall list his stock as per the interest
he has in 1T. Shares of bank stock are
assessed to the owners where the bank
is located and the officers of the bank
shall list the same with the assessor.
Property held under contract with the
state shall be assessed to the individual
holding the contract. Railroad COM
panies shall file with the assessor
schedule of their property; rolling
stock shall be assessed in the several
counties in proportion that the length
of the main track in a county bears to
the whole track. The assessor shall
list real property according to the larg-
est legal subdivision. If several con-
tiguous lots are owned by one person
they shall be assessed in group. AS
SCISSORS may employ deputies. The
assessor shall assess property on Febru-
airy in counties from the first to the
sixteenth class and on March l in
other counties and shall conclude the
same by March 81 of each even num-
bered year and shall list property at its
true and fair value and return the as
sessment books to the county auditor.
The county commissioners shall meet
annually on the first Monday i'll Aug
rst as boald of equalization. On or
before January Is the auditor shall
transmit to state auditor an abstract
of the tax rolls. The secretary of state,
commissioner of public lands and au-
ditor shall constitute state board of
equalization, and transmit a transcript
of their proceedings to each county
auditor. State taxes shall not exceed
3 mills on the dollar. The state auditor
shall certify to county auditors the
state levy before the last Monday of
September and county taxes shall be
levied between the first and second
Monday of October of each year. The
tax for county purposes shall be based
upon an estimate of the expenses for
the next fiscal year with all excess of
Is per cent. All collections made after
February l, 1898, for delinquent taxes
silaii be credited to the Indebtedness
fund and thereafter expenses shall be
paid out of current expense fund.
On October l of each year the county
board shall levy a tax but the state
tax shall not exceed mills; for county
indebtedness not more than mills;
for current expense mills; school tax
s mills; road tax mills; bridge tax 8
mills. The county auditor shall ex-
tend the taxes upon the tax books and
en first Monday in December deliver
the tax rolls to county treasurer, but
he shall collect no taxes until February
following. If one-half of a tax shall
be paid before May 81 then the other
half may be payable Oh November 80.
Taxes are a first lien and mortgages,
ETC., may pay taxes and the same be
heretofore sold to counties for delin-
quent taxes are to be considered delin-
auent taxes. Taxes are a lien from
and including March / until February
Iof each year. When necessary the
treasurer shall charge non-coilectible
personal property to real estate of the
delinquent. After taxes are delinquent
the treasurer shall issue certificates oil
delinquency which shall bear interest
at Is per cent and shall be sold to ap.
plicants upon payment of face value.
After December l, following date Of de.
linquency the holder shall give notice
to the delinquent that he will apply to
the Superior court for judgment fore
closing the lien. If no certificate is
gold the treasurer shall issue the same
to the county. When judgments are
rendered the treasurer shall issue deeds
to purchaser of the land. Lands may
be redeemed at any time before
judgment. Appeals may be taken to
the Supreme court. When a purchas.
pr has paid money enormously he may
recover it from the delinquent owner
If q holder of q certificate does not ob.
tain his deed and record it within one
year it shall be cancelled unless pre-.
vented by injunction or order of the
court. All penalties and interest ex.
eeeding six per cent on taxes leYied fol
1895 and previous years are renitted ii
not sold to private parties, provided
they are paid before November so, 1897.
CRETE Ann IRA rROuurs