The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-10
A UNIQUE VIEW OF TAxEs.

Seattle, Wash, May 1, 1895.
To the Editor: | note what you say In
the editorial columns or the Post-Intei,l-
gencer today referring 10 the people who
are howsing the most loudly about the
poor having to bear the burden OF taxa.
ton. and as | feel that I am possibly enc
OF those people referred to as hoswlera
claiming as | do that the poor do bear
the burden of taxation under our press
ent system. | Will ask You in behalf OF
myself and others OF my belief to answer
a few questions and impart to US through
your valuable paper such information as
may set us right ii We are now In error
In the first place. let US assume to take
a partial census In this city and we will
enroll for the sake OF illustration 200 work.
ingmen. Who take their breakfast al
o'csock q. m. put their dinner in a pail
and go TO work, remaining at their labor
until y. M, and then return 10 their
families In house for which they RAY a
monthly rental of say $40. but they have
no real estate and only a very small
amount of any kind Of property. 70 their
names are rot enrolled upon the tax book
but each OF them pays regularly for the
Post-InfeIigencer Now we will enroll
one more name in thus illustration. and
that may be the owner OF the Post-Tnte.-
lsgencer, as you suggest that II would be
a great joke IL some one would make =
the howiers are on the tax rolls. Now
We have the list, and we find 500 howiers
who are not on the tax rolls. ard ons
man which IN not bowler but Is on the
tax roll. Now. what l wish TO know ii
this: Do these COO men have anything TO
do about paying the tax assessed against
the owner of the observation-disclosures? If
not. where does the owner OF the Post
Intelligencer obtain the revenue with
which ha f1r fna
his name? / am OF the opinion that al
revenues handled by the owner Of tho
PoSt-Inte!igencer, except he has other
business interests. are derived from his
patrons. among which are these 500 men.
I also believe that the earnings OF thesss
zoo men pays the tax on al least 100 houses
and numerous stores, az well as the inter-
est on large sams or money. If I am
wrong wish to be corrected and / hope
you will show me my error as plainly as
possible. so that ] can see the point ar
the joke. But as II appears 10 me now,
the Joke points toward the Post-InteiIi-
gencer.
1 am living in a block which s taxed
for $1,000. Ii Is owned by lady and sha
Il enrolled upon the tax book; bus there
are about forty people besides myself lY-
ing in this block. and at the first OF each
month this lady comes to the block and
collects about $500 In money from us for
the privilege of living here. Please tell
me who pays the tax on this block? Does
the lady pay IT. And IL she does. should
she be the person to c-efafe the terms
upon which our government should obtain
funds to carry on war with Spain. II not.
where il the Joke. as none of the forty
people in this block are enrolled In tho
tax book The tone of your suggestion
would Indicate that you would not Az
prove of allowing men whose names are
NOS enrolled upon the tax book 10 have
anything to zay about the assessment Of
war taxes. nt,s as / look at II there Is no
way fpf The poor man to escape paying
taxes unless he should become 40 stuh.
born a. 10 refuse to eat. and III lie should
DO that he must die and + am aurT theirs
could be no joke In that. for then the ell
tor or the Post-lntelHgencer and the peo-
pc whose names are enrolled upon the
tax books would be compelled to shoulder
4 gun and fight the spaniards and while
W. are looking for Jokes IN quiet way.
how would Ii work TO have somebody take
the names OF our sofdier boys who
marched away yesterday 10 serve their
country with their ives n need be- wonld
II not he quite a joke IL none Of their
names were found on the tax roiiae I
venture 10 say they are not all rTsere
Tell me. Mr.. Editor, do yos; think that
those boys in blue shouif have a voice to
CAV ahethsr or not their fathers ana
brothers remaining at home shat be taxed
TO pay interest on the money raised TO
pay them the paltry sum OF SIS per month
for their servieee II seems TO me III they
are not competent to have voice In reIa-
lion TO the construction of our govern.
rsentsfhey should mot be- allowed 10 waste
our food ard ammunition. We are seek
ing light on this subject. Please help US
al sosi ran. ard obIigo yours truly
ANTHONY c0RCoRAN.
so Pile street.