The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-18
DELINQUENT TAX DEBATE.
Two Reports Submitted by the ION"
mitfee on Revenue and Taxatfen
Action Deferred Until ToaAS-
Normal school Report Adopted.


Special Dispatch To the Post-Tntellige ncef.
OLYMPIA, Feh. IA bin waicn i %
great Interest 10 delinquent taxpaFeas
was gle subject az s lively ce2ale Al ',e
house this morning. The measure Is II. ..
2ss by Bedford and provides, oEieiE. l-1@
all costs. penalties, Interest. etc, Oh ,aoH
cipal. state, county, road ana schooi e1e
trict taxes which became delinquent cur
ing 1897 or any year previous thereto saaa
De refnittsd After q protraoteo oiscus-
sion Of the equities involved In the Iehlis-
sion % penalties ami interest the house
made the bill . special order -oF soiiioE
row morning at 1918 o'clock
The bill came Up on second reading.
having majority report from the eofn-
nlittee on revenue and taxation fAFoFIhs
it's passage and minority report tia' Il
be indefinitely postponed CnalrHisn
Dorsey and Messrs. Stocking. CoIweH ana
Conway OF the committee signed the MI
noytty report
Daniels opened the fight against the
bill by moving that the minority report
be substituted for the majority report
This measure Is very unjust IN It's pro-
visions said Mr. Daniels. 1T Is unfair
10 those who have paid their taxes and Is
a species OF unwise legislation, IN my
opinion II encourages people not TO pay
their taxes IL the hope OF obtaining Iesla-
lat.ve relief II is against public policy
and is wrong"
Bedford author of the measure, DEFEND
ed the majority report. AS a general
rule said the Pierce county member, l
should oppose the remission OF the PEN
atty and interest on taxes. Yet / wish
10 state that there are very good reasons
fer the passage Of this measure at this
time. TWO years ago. just as the state
was emerging from long period or de-
preston and times OF financial string
ency. the legislature RENTED the penal
fx- md int ar.
provided they should be paid In certain
time. Now. there were many people who
were not able then TO take advantage
OF the law who are able and willing to do
SO now. This act merely grants them an
extension for that purpose OF the privi-
leges OF the act OF 1887. Furthermore.
during the boom days, property. as in
Tacoma and vicinity. was assessed at
from three to fifteen times it's real value
Taxes levied on the basis OF these 3s-
sessments In countless instances in Ia
coma and Pierce county far exceed the
value Of the property. 1t is for the pur-
pose OF enabling the county to clean mp
these matters that this bill is introduced
1t has the support Of the King and Pierce
county boards of commissions and should
become a law"
Somerindyke and welty spoke for the
bill. The latter made the point that the
counties By virtue of becoming owners
Ing property owners faster than vas CONF
patible with public welfare.
Mount spoke against the bill and in ia
vor OF Its postponement. This clasa Of
legislation is an invitation TO peopt~ to
neglect their taxes. Excessive assess
ments are no plea for the passage Of the
act. Those whose property was assessed
at too high a valuation had an opportun-
ity to go before the proper authorities
and have the assessment reduced. 1t is
unfair 20 the people who have paid their
taxes 10 pass this bill. i am opposed to
it"
Mcdonald spoke for the bill. The hill
was finally laid over till tomorrow when
ii will come up at o:15 special order.
The house concurred in the senate
amendments 10 H. b. 257, by Pendergast.
providing a method for the division OF
school districts.
Chairman Englehart. OF the house com
mittee on conference over the normal
school bills. presented the report o. the
committee reducing the appropriations, as
published IN today's Pust-Intelligencer A
roll call was demanded on the report of
the committee. which was agreed TO.
Yeas II. Lays IL as follows: