The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-29
SEATTLE, THI asDAr, DEC. 20.
INTEREST ox BACK TAxEs.

among DINER i4Pos ssit
which will probably be submitted TO the
state legislature viii ba one To reduce
the rate OF Interest on delinquent taxes
prior TO the present year There Is much
to be said on both sides. and careful
consideration Of the subject Is com
uleuded to the new members in order
that they may ascertain before conven-
ing what la the desire Of the people.
Two years ago there was an immense
amount OF unpaid taxes. The always
heavy interest and penalty had piled up
during the several years Of extreme de-
precision. Urgent appeals were made to
the legislature To take off all but the
principal on the grourd that the deiin-
quency had not been oceasioned by
neglect or unwiliingness. but by an alb
soiute inability to pay. Everybody rec
csnized the force of this plea. and at
convention held Ia Tacoma prior to the
assembling Of the legislature It was
08F&GQ VI dASDlatt tbt RhScaA[ IA 0h
act Of relief.
A bill was accordingly passed reduc~
ing the rate of interest to s per cent.
but requiring that the payments shea,d
be made prior to the end of 1897 1t
was found In be most beneficial meas
ure. and many thousands OF dollars
were paid into the treasury of every
county IN the state. Prosperity came TO
some parts earlier than I'm others. how
ever. and many an unfortunate saw the
period Of ieniency lapse before he was
able to take advantage OF 1t.
The objection TO a renewal OF that
measure Is that IL may encourage the
belief that every legislature will pass
similar measure. and there will be no
inducement for anybody TO make an ef-
fort TO pay his taxes. because ne Will
10 be most carefully guarded against
When taxes bear Only per cent II Is a
temptation tn use the money in ways
which viii bring larger interest and SO
afford "A profit between the per cent.
and whatever rate cs II be secured or
saved in other ways. II would be like
borrowing the public money at 6 per
cent. To lend cat at or 10 per cent
II f. desirable TO make one more ef-
fort to clean MP as. much OF the delln-
Quency as possible without running into
the danger suggested II might be a
good plan. 10 renew the measure of re-
lief until the end If this year. bat in
order that we may not retrograac aud
set bad precedent the interest should
be raised to per cent and the penalty
RENTED. This viii eirer the induce
ment Of saving Of I per cent. per an
mum, hut ~ the same tire be an al.
vance from the low rate 81 s per cent.
toward an amount which viii make II
advisable for the property owner TO pay
his taxes promptly This reduction
should no, he for any year later than
1897.
We believe that compromise meas
ure Of this klad would result IN de-
tcrraInei effort being made TO clean up
ehe outstanding taxes without doing any
injustice to those who have paid I;
VIII also remove THE fear II an trfsn-
ton se make II custom - throw NJ a
part of the interest. We SHAH erst. ahiy
never again experience such a Iona,
period ~ depression as that through
which we passed from 1897 e. fsa,. t>nre
The back taxes are caught up with
there Is little likelihood os such a ser..
cas- lapse. The eurren: rate ~ tmterea,
on deliaqDeneses r. net tar, hssh IN a~s,s.
nary t5fnrs. II prevents spes-uts,s,, f.
taxes. AKA AZ ihc ssute time e offers an
frasissceaeTt - investors "a make un ,hs
deficiency causzsl hy the negligent tax,
sayes