The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-17

The most rsmarkabls meeging held IN
rsaffie In years. characteristics Of an old
tine Interest and enthusiasm. vas taat Of
yesterday afternoon at TIE Chamber OF
Commerce called specifically 10 protest
against the action OF the taxpayers con
ventlon hesd last week tn Tacoma Tor the
purpose Of drafting legislation rs.atiye 20
a reduction OF time for redemption and
tee imposing OF penalties and Interest Tor
rson-confo~ma1ce with the lately developed
ideas regarding taxation and taxation
lzwe-
A Change fn Sentiment
The meeting was remarkable IN more r.
epecfs than one, not the last OF which was
the opposition 70 the measures proposed
a. the tins the nesting was called 20
order ard the gradual winning over ~ an
exposition Of facts and figures that prac-
fIeaIly resulted IN a division OF sentiment
when the vote was taken nat would have
warranted a call for division
A very general misunderstanding pre-
walled In fae earlier part OF the meeting,
and fhA likelihood that the purposes OF the
cal would carry without allowing the OPP
posisfou,scA<ne meetings. intentions 20 have
It's say resulted IN considerable amount
OF iEnpassioned taking. which Was strong
IS personal and which had its efIect In a
pronounced change Of sentiment Oh the
part OF many.
The report OF the Tacoma convention
sas not az full 81 the smaller particulars
IS It should have been and the resolutions
as published faEed IL some respects 10 ex-
hibiL the true intentions or the members
and their attitude toward changes OF tax
legislation. The opposition 10 the meas
1ire@ promulgated 81 that time was. 4 IS
claimed the opposition not Of those who
would De the sufferers, but By an influence
representing heavier holders and BY those
VINO In taking advantage % the existing
laws do not pay taxes and use funds tnst
should 90 20 discharge TAX Obligations for
investment that yields greater returns
laaa tie delinquency interest as a. pres
ent exists.
The supporters Of the measures adopted
81 Tacoma effected. before the adjourn
rnenf Of the meeting. suen showing that
sentiment shifted 10 a basis OF greater con-
ssrvatism. and the sharp edge OF the pro-
posed treatment was considerably dulled.
The Tacoma Resolutions.
The corrected resolutions Of the Tacoma
convention are as follows:
Resolved, That taxes should become
due on January 1, and delinquent on May
81 II one-haf thereof i paid on or De
fore May 81 and the remaining half BY NO.
venber ~. 10 penalty or interest 10 ac-
crae. IL the first half be not paid ~ May
81 then there should attach 10 the entire
amount a penalty Of ~ per cent. and inter-
est from date OF delinquency al the rate
a Y per cent. per annum. IL said taxes
De not pad on or before the I<st day OF
March following delinquency. the property
To be by the county treasurer advertised
and sold IN April. and certificate Of such
sale given therefor which should bear in
terest az the rate OF - per cent. per an
rum. Property should be redeemao.e az
any tine within two years from date OF
sale. after which absolute deed should Is
sue, ard that a rebate OF > per cent. oe
allowed on ali taxes paid not less than
three months prior 70 date Of Delinquency.
Resolved. That lands becoming the
property OF any county through failure OF
faA owner 70 pay the tax should be sub
se-t 20 sale Al any time % any person VIII
lag 20 pay the back taxes. including pen
Resolved, That ia order 10 encourage
sc legitimate investment OF money n
AK certificates AZ the times 81 public sale,
and thus relieve the county from the en-
harrasSrlent Of bidding IN large amounts
OF properly. and thereby being deprived Of
the use Of the money, We recommend thar
law be enacted by which the guaranty
OF the county vii attach 10 every tax GER
ftfcate against any irreEuisrity or infor-
fuality ia The TAX levy or subsequent pro-
ceedins-s 10 tie extent Of re!mburslng The
Purchaser for the amount paid and inter
sst thereon AZ the legal rate.
convention that the legislature pass no
act RENTING the penalty or interest upon
delinquent taxes"
Ats o'clock. the hour set for the meet
trE % protest against the above, there was
aANAaAAH"-A
that succeeded 20 the seats made vacant
b. the Withdrawal OF the bondsmea OF ex-
County Treasurer Maple. who had met
during the Enoralng and the frst hours OF
the afternoon 10 recommend that the suits
against the banks wherein county funds
were deposited. be pushed.
The meeting was called 80 order BY
Thomas " Prosch. who proposed the
name Of George Kinnear "a chairman. Mr..
Kinrear wgas CHOSEN 20 preside over tha
meeting aud air. L. Dlller was made sec-
retsry. After the cali Tor the meeting had
been read. Chairman ktnnear asked the
pleasure % tho meeting. There vas 4
pause for fally moment, and then Gen.
Turner arose and announced that he had
a preamble ana resolution which he wish
81 - Introduce He was listened - at
teutively during the reading OF she reso-
luton whica was as follows:
Gen. Turner's Resolution
whereas. 4 formal movement was re-
Gently InauNurated az Tacoma. hw q con-
ventlor corapos.sd largely 81 gslarisd o.
ncts-h0idcrs ana warrant and tax GER
tiflCate huyerH- To secure The passage. by
the legislature ROW ln session. - amend
lnents - r1e revenue law. greatly ard IN
duly shortening ma time Ter payment Of
real property taxes. the time when such
properly SHAH DC sold for non-payrnent
thereof and Ghe period - retemntiSn from
Such sale. 8nd ALSO 20 unreasonably in
crease penalties and interest ana 70 Sc
cute ire payment o. tME TAX penalty 8ua
interest specified Ia the certidcafe %
sale 20 the holder thereof by making
such certificates county obligations IN
given cases. and,
Whereas. The outgoing state auditor.
81 BIS FAST report ~ the financial sondi-
flou Of Washington. AYERS that deliu-
Quent taxes tn the state average 50 Per
cent "a proportion OF which e. owing hv
properly owners 90 King conatvh. that
s9lch delinquency s. due go the extreme
teniency ~ our laws which rr0Kf3 A
penalty of bat Ter cont upon 5elin-
0usHCv with interest thereafter AZ e per
cerf per auuum.' Interest hardly equal %
cuTrput rates. aud recommends thar
suca changes 20 made tn the law "a so
feree SALES - real prCperty for the non
payment ~ faNgs thereon about ten
rrr0thr 1Ttsr she assessment 81 made
ard rrst eEr ore vesr ne allowed fN.r4,-
affer -er r=ls ru0 ftou. nv which severe
ffasassree- 0e Observes fae welfare ~ TIA
aNFaFFr tu--ff h5 better conserved. = and
" hefeSs- t~arwgrh as tne Create ~
portion OF s--ra delinquent taxes ere due
from a large r1useer % tAe reaule ana
TEX fNcf7 corpora rf0rs. ana ere ras~qes