The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-03-08
WHO own COUNTY
Commissioners?

w. M. Dean, George Collins and William Connelley,
composing the board of county commissioners on last Fri
day. by resolution accepted the offer Of W. H. Cowles to
settle his taxes the Review for the year 1903 for $456
which is upon assessed valuation of $685. This is
reduction from $149512 taxed valuation of $3987O
Prosecuting Attorney Barnhart fastened to settle the
suit the Review had pending against the county involving
these taxes, without allowing the city to protect itself
Under dctaton from the Tall Tower and to fulfill
pledges and promises, the county commissioners have
done what cognzant of the facts expected them
Ito do compromised the taxes of the Review and mucted
the city and county to the tune of $4 56n other WORDS
that institutions taxes in two The action taken
quietly last Friday and not whisper has been heard con-
corning it about the courthouse since Inquiry at the
commissioners Office up to today elected denial of such
action The act done in secrecy and has been hidden
since if it's authors ashamed to father it.
portion of these taxes against the Cowes institution
belongs to the city and portion to the county. Under
decision OF the supreme court OF Washington giving
the commissioners to settle disputed and uncoect
able taxes the commissioners have been for long time
trying to please the Tall Tower organ and subsequently
let them out of their tax Indebtedness
The Review assessed in 1903 at $39,87O, making
its taxes $149512 This the Review refused to pay but
rendered the county what that institution thought it ought
to pay It has continued this tender since Treasurer Irwin
has taken Office, but Irwin has refused to accept it,
In 1904 the Review secured reduction of its
ment to $685. 1t upon the strength of this reduction
that the fight for reduction of the 1903 taxes made
Two suits brought, one by Mr.. Cowles owner of
the Review to relieve him from paying taxes the Asso
PreSS 1rancnSe ana announcer the review fuD-
fishing company to relieve it from paying all of its taxes
In the former suit the defendants being the county and
Treasurer Mudget the city interviewed through Corpora
ton Counsel Dudley to prevent the loss to the city of it's
portion of the Cowles and the still pending
In the second suit the city did not intervene upon the
promise of Prosecuting Attorney Banhart that before
anything in it done the city through Mr.. Dudley
would be notified and allowed to be heard
Today while papers being prepared to protect
the city's rights by Corporation Counsel Dudley who
pected to file them in the Review case, Prosecuting Ator
ney Barnhar violating his promise to notify Dudley, APP
peared before Judge KEENAN, with Mr. Stevens, the Re-
views attorney, and had the action dismissed upon stpu
ation. /
Thus the county commissioners acting up the recon-
mendaon that the Reviews taxes fit subject for
their eniency, have cut the Reviews taxes in twain and
Prosecuting Attorney Banhart has aided and abetted
them by huyng the court proceedings through without
notifying the ctys attorney and giving it chance to-
protect itself 1t is to be hoped that the county officials
interested in this matter have relieved themselves of
all obligations incident to their becoming such officials.
Would these officials have labored strenuOusy in
the interest of poor citizen they have for this
millionaire owned newspaper? It