The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-21
bEDF(RD'S BILL TAKEN Up.
HATTIE wA6Ep OVER
DELINQUENT TAXES.
Question of Remftting Penalty and
Interest Ably Discussed in the
Hcus~-The Measure Ii Finally
Advanced TO It's THIRD Reading

Special Dispatch 20 the Post-In'eiligencer.
OLYMPIA Far s9.-PToSaoly the Fn>Ss
notable orato-ical battle IN important re-
SUITS ard sustained interest thai has been
fought IL the house this session, occupied
that body during practically the "hoIe
e the afternoon The subject matter e.
debate vas Bedford bill. No ~. Te{aft-
ting penalty and Interest on all delin-
Guent taxes prior 10 1885, Friday last
the house consumed the greater part Of
the morning session IN TIRE consideration
~ this hIf but i aid not go into the
merits OF thar question as e cid today. At
the end of the fight TIE measure Was aa-
vaaced 10 third reading.
In brief Ak the bill stands now. g pro
vt1es that all penalty. interest Except
per cent? and costs on taxes that became
delinquent during the year ~. ard prior
thereto shall be RENTED on lands 20
which tax certificates have not been Is
sued. IL paid in full on or before NoyeTu-
her l. Is9. Section Of the original bill
provides further than boards Of county
commissioners should have power 70 aud
II and allow the claims Of such taxpayers
where over-asseSsnent was charged. and
might a5ate a portion % the taxes where
grossly excessive assessments were prov
en-. This was the subject Of the main
fight on the bill after the preliminary de-
bate on a motion 10 indefinitely postpone
=
ed limiting the amount 81 taxes TO bs
RENTED by the commissioners 70 81 per
cent, and afterward Oh motion OF Dam
iels. the section was stricken out alto
gether. The vote was - FOR the motion
20 strike out and % against. the roll Cal
being taken after one OF the biggest de-
bates OF the session.
Failure To indefinitely Postpone.
The consideration Of the bill began with
tHR 4 fFss-v &afs. Nn4.s,
iels led the fight against the bill. the
question being put on the motion 10 sub
stitute the minority report OF the COM
uittee TO indefinitely postpone the bill.
Daniels said that the measure was a most
vicious form OF class legislation-ihat 1t
was inimical TO the best public policy,
and that ii was a crime against people
who have paid their taxes
Englehar;. Bedford Wickersham and
Pratt spoke against indefinite postpone
ment The motion was los1-yeas i, nays
81
The bill was then amended SO that all
save s per cent. interest shall be RENTED
and providing that payments mus. be
made in November.
Mount favored an earlier date, when Bed
ford said: I'VE have agreed 20 this amend
ment al the request OF Eastern Washing
ton. where the farmers are engaged Ii
harvesting in July" daughter at Mounts
exae-sel
Then began the fight on section 2. which
gave county boards the right 70 make ad-
ditional rebates.
Daniels moved to strike out Pratt
amended limiting such additional sbate-
,aents 70 . per cent. Totem amended 70
make It 80 per cent. Carried.
Calvert spoke against the proposition OF
allowing the commissioners such latitude
Mount. Peadersast and Danleis also oppos-
ea The section.
Eng!ehart declared tina: he would trust
the commissioners In 81 matter OF that kind
Bedford said tha' there were countless
eases Ia which the property owners had
been assessed greatly IN excess Of
the real value OF the property; that such
assessment meant connscatlon, and that
the state should grant such people relief
Pratt declared the necessities Of the con-
altions following the boom times warrant
81 the adoption OF the section with the
amendment.
The Daniels motion TO strike the section
prevalea-5i 10 33-as follows: