Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-07-08
OUR TAXES.
They Should Be Reduced by Economy and
Not Concealed for Expediency.

iNOt NOU(S0bSu IOV IApCOtSuCV.
BY BYRON MILLETT.
About seven years ago, the writer
heard taxpayer residing in the city
of Olympia remark, in the presence of
the late Col. N. H. Owings, that lie
thought it was bad policy to give
out to the public the financial condi.
ton of our city; that investors seeing
such statements coming from our own
citizens might be deferred from max.
ing investments in this community.
1t seems that the Colonel had there.
tofore been instrumental in preparing
a published statement which showed
that all the Indebtedness OF the State,
county, city and school district was at
that time equal to an amount some.
where between twenty-five and thirty.
three and one-third per cent. of the
actual valuation of all property within
the corporate limits Of Olympia. My
recollection OF Col. Owings' reply
on the occasion named, is quite dis.
tinct. 1t was to the effect that moth
ing is gained by trying to hide the
facts; that a man coming into our
midst with q view of making pur.
chases, if he had any "gumption"
about him, would naturally investigate
our tax rolls in order to ascertain the
burdens he was about to incur; other
wise he would be "chump." 1t is
believed by some good men, that we
are about to enter upon another period
OF depression; the length of which
period is problematical. 1t goes with
out saying that during the little
=" furry" that other cities on the Sound
experienced since 1898, Olympia did
not share therein proportionately, to
the extent she was fairly entitled un-
der such favorable conditions. The
reason therefor ie evident. Parties
have come with means favorably i'm.
pressed with our location and sur.
roundings, but declined to tarry, be-
cause of the high taxation of our hold
ings. Real estate agents and dealers
have informed me that such COM
plants have been frequent. 1t is no
argument to assert, as have stated
heretofore in public print, that taxes
are no higher here than in Tacoma
and Seattle. This statement is not
correct, but if it were, it proves moth
ing. This argument is just as child.
ish" az it would be to assert that
fire is all right in Olympia, because
there were blszes in those cities. Nei-
ther is it any argument for tax-eater
or any parasite to tell one who is try.
ing to improve conditions if you don't
like our way OF doing business you had
better get out of the country. The
highwayman with q revolver placed
near your head could just as consis-
tently make the same assertion after
he had robbed you Of your money.
Again what does this 334 per cent.
first lien or mortgage mean? Suppose
man asks me TO place q price on q
piece Of property. l tell him that !
want one.thousand dollars for it. !
am in fact asking the one thousand
dollars for only my two-thirds interest,
the other third interest does not be-
long to me. The property at tha.
rate is actually valued by me at fifteen
hundred dollars, there being a frs,
mortgage therein of five hundred dol
lars. Mr.. Reader, do you wonder that
sales are slow in our community? II
you do, it is because you have not con.
sidered the whereforeness of the
why" The candle not only burns a,
both ends, but there is blaze at many
points which may be termed public
expenses, with strings we'll CREASED
working its way towards a common