The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-14
Disapprove Certain Plans Of Scat
tie Chamber Of Commerce.
FoR AMENDMENT OF LAWS.
Mass Meeting ut Kent Denounces
Proposed Alteration of Road
Laws Affecting Apportionment Of
Taxes-Increased Number Of
Commissioners Not wanted
Secretary Prosch's Statement.

The farmers Of King county do not seem
to take kindly to the proposition OF the
Seattle Chamber OF Commerce to change
the road law by an amendment at the
next session OF the Legislature A mass
meeting was held at Kent yesterday. att
tended by large body of the property
holders OF that section. and Judging from
the general temper of those present a
hard fight will be made to prevent the
amendment being passed.
The amendment suggested was thought
TO design a change in the apportionment
OF the road and bridge funds of each dis
trict of the county in proportion to the
population 1t contains. As the assessment
for this fund In Seattle amounts to A0,-
co. and the balance OF King county $4,000.
this, 1t is said, would mean that Seattle
would then have all the amount OF her
assessment to spend upon her highways
within the city limits.
The proposition to thus alter the state
law is meeting with very general approval
among the citizens of Seattle, who be-
Iieye that the money Of the fund that
II raised by the road and bridge tax
within the corporate limits could be more
wisely expended than 1t has been. But
the property holders of the rest Of the
county view the proposition with alarm,
because the comparatively small sum of
money that would then be available, II
IL said, would be Inadequate to make
necessary improvements or to even keep
the present roads and bridges in repair.
They assume. however. that only this
amount would be spent outside the city
limits.
Mr.. Harris Argument.
James Hart. Of Christopher, addressed
the gathering at some length. explaining
that he had attended the meeting of the
Chamber OF Commerce the day before:
had heard the proposed amendment dis
cussed and indorscd He had endeavor-
ed to make protest against It, but
was unable to gain hearing there
M, Hart called the attention of the
county taxpayers to the fact that property
IN Seattle was assessed III mills for this
tex, while In every outside district In
the county the assessment averages from
proportionate and shows how mucn more
heavily the tax rests upon the property
holders OF the rural districts.
san sne course s,s,sS q the general discus
tricts had submitted willingly to Nhe
county appropriation for the Magnolia
nsu1 im mp, Ss also to the special
both OF which, Il was claimed. were prin-
cipaiiy beneficial to the city.
Another point that the gathering ex-
pressed itself vigorously against was the
movement to change the number OF
county commissioners to five. This was
received by some present az move by
the Sosr snd tS sen ss snses e S
county would have but two to represent
"a y: Aiysrd. John Nelson. 4. H. KEEL
short speeches, all strongly critlcising the
alleged attitude Of the city againsi the
rest Of the county.
meeting which all the Taxpayers of ali
parts OF the county who are not In the
Limits Of Seattle are invited to attend.
Secretary Prosch's Statement.
Secretary Prosch. OF the Chamber OF
commerce. when appraised last evening
Kent meeting. said that their denuncia-
lion OF the proposed change in the road
laws was certainly under misapprehen-
The amendment Endorsed by the cham.
Der. said MIR. Prosch. ia designed solely
20 effect a systematic and reasonable cx-
ps nd o. the county road and bridge
poorly constructed roads through sparseiy
settled portions of the county 1t Is pro-
posed that the moneys be expended in
building trunk lines between towns and
villages. good. we'll constructed roads
district traversed
Under the present system while much
the greater part of the tax Is paid bv
residents of the city. not one cent col
!ected II expended within the city limits;
u all goes to the building of country
roads. The plan approved by the cham
Der does not contemplate any change in
this respect--no portion of the tax is to
be taken for use within the city
''As TO the enlargement OF the haara ~
county commissioners and the hone 81
residents OF the city to have a majority
~ the members OF the board, II r. be-
lleved that the city Is entitled to this
The census shows over $4,000 residents in
this city and about 1000 In the country:
the city valuation II heavily IN excess ~
the country and the city pays hy far the
greater part OF the taxes As ii stands
now the country controls the board hnv-
ina two OF the three commissioners an,,
the country commissioners dictate every
penny OF expenditure This is not re-
garded as esther Just or reasonable ana
the chamber indorses the proposed IN.
the interests contributing most hcaviiv
90 the support OF the county are entitle.,
~ the larger representation"
TESTING MASHINETnN CAY