The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-02-10

it would neccssitate a Encouragement
of the values of other property. Mr.
Coonse said that in Yakima county the
railroads were not bearing their proper
ton of the taxes, and it was out of the
question to increase the valuation of
other properties.
Seeing how sentiment was running
Mr.. Kcnney changed his amendment so
as to make rate of Sl.50 per foot, or
$500 mile, which was not far removed
from the Coonsc figures.
"In the meantime the adherents of the
railroad committee were reading the
signs and were ready for vote on the
Coonsc amendment. The vote was by
show of hands and the chair announced
the Coonse amendment lost by vote
of IA to IL.
'Mr. Coonse called the attention of the
assessors to the fact that there were
four or five in the room who were not
voting either for or against the amend
ment. They declined to vote and did
not vote.
'E. NJ. Allen of Snohomish who had
been working with the railroad commit
tee, as soon as the result of the vote
was announced, jumped to his feet with
an amendment which was designed as
a compromise and provided for an as
4 Nf
mile.
"'And those fellows carried it, was
the terse manner in which Assessor
Coonse expressed himself. 1t is under
stood that the vote was the same as
that on the Coonsc amendment, show
ing that the II men who had stood for
larger raise held together.
'None of the county assessors is legal
ly bound by the action of the state as
ISOLATION. Such an association is not
contemplated by the laws of this state
and each assessor is bound by his oath
of office to assess property in conform
ity with the laws of Washington. which
provides that the assessment shall be
at its full value.
"The theory of the association is to
secure uniformity of assessments so that
each county will pay its just proportion
of tax. An assessor who believes that
the assessment on railroad tracks should
be $4,000 per mile has the power to
make that assessment in his county, and
if he does it will benefit his constituents,
the other taxpayers of that county,
doubly.
First, it will benefit the other tax
payers on county taxes, because of the
gross amount to be raised the railroads
will have to pay a greater proportion.
Again, it will benefit the general tax
payer in that he will have to pay less
state tax, because county's proportion
of state tax will in part be based upon
the state board of equalization's value
of railroad tracks, which has been $4,000
in the past.
"There are SO counties in this state.
The proposition to establish uniform
assessment throughout the state of
1892 per mile on first class railroad
tracks was approved by the representa-
tives of but Ia of these counties, two
more than onethird of the whole num-
ber."
At the session of Thursday morning
Assessor Coonse moved to reconsider the
vote of Wednesday by which the assess
ment was raised, with the view of rails
ing it still more, and long wranglc fol-
lowed. A vote on reconsideration re-
suited in 10 for and only IA against, but
Assessor Peter of King county, who was
in the chair, ruled that it required two
thirds to reconsider and the assess
ment will stand as fixed at Wednesdays
meeting, 1892 per mile for first class
lines.
At the last days meeting of the as
SCISSORS, the nineteen members who advo-
Gated reconsideration of the railway tax
alton signed the following agreement:
Eve, the assessors who advocated the
reconsideration of the adopted schedule
of rates on railroads, recognizing the
righteousness of our efforts, agree here
by to stand together on an assessment
of sl.5O per foot, or 1920 per mile, first
class roads, and like rates on all other
classes:
(Signed)
"W. NJ. Kenney, Kittitas.
"Peter Summersett, Lewis.
"F. V. Messenger, Garfield.
as. G. Noble, Lincoln.
az. Z. Watson, Island
James Downing, Cowlitz.
&c. f. Buttles, Chelan.
rs. f. McClurken, Franklin.
Harry Coonse, Yakima.
"a. F. Davis, Clarke.
Louis Walton, Adams.