Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-11-17

AS"ESSs w shS P"y hiOht VI shACS VII WIZ
full valuation basis. According to the
latest census returns, this class own
about seventeen per cent. of all of the
wealth OF this country. There is good
authority for the statement such class
pay nearly eighty per cent. of all of
the direct taxes collected in the Unit.
ed States. Many of our country cous-
ins know that such things are not
right, but feel their helplessness in the
face Of the inevitable cinch. This
feeling in a measure may account for
the lack OF interest among the farmers
of this county in the proceedings of
our Taxpayers League. Many of them
doubtlessly think whatever they may
say or do, our tax officials will have
their way with them in any event.
Therefore, it is scarcely worth while to
come before the league and make a
protest. OF course nothing will be &C.
complished unless somebody makes
efforts and sacrifices. Again our off.
cials are human. II dishonest, they
need watching; if honest, they cannot
be expected to make no errors in judg.
ment in the administration OF their
official duties. But in order to make
as few mistakes 40 possible. they
should have the advice, cooperation
and support in such behalf of all we'll.
disposed citizens. 1t is always better
to put forth efforts to prevent wrong
doing, than to growl after an act has
been done and cannot be recalled. II
our League had held meetings at and
prior to the last assessment (19O5), and
had it been attended pretty generally by
our representative citizens, such policy
might have been the means of aiding
our Assessor very materially in his
difficult work; q better understanding
might have been arrived at all around,
and more just assessment accomp.
lished. Some people on the outside
assert the Tax League ought to do
this or that, but they will not attend
any OF the meetings and lay their
complaints before this body. They
are obstructionists, and fault.finders,
are not much use either to themselves
or their fellow men.
At the beginning of the term OF the
present County Treasurer, more than
one.fourth OF the real estate in area in
this county had been acquired by it
by reason OF tax sales, and therefore
was off the tax.rolls. How much Of
this land has been sold by the county
since, will doubtless be ascertained at
the next meeting of the League in
answer to certain inquiries submitted
by this association to Treasurer Schom.
Der. Such large amount of property
being off the tax-rolls, other things
equal, especially in the matter of pub.
lie expenses, largely increases the
burdens of that class of citizens who
pay their taxes in order to keep their
holdings from becoming county prop.
erty.
There are complaints about the re.
mainder OF tax lien foreclosure cases
being held up in the Superior Court Of
this county. As to the merits OF these
contentious, l am not advised. How.
ever, these liens represent many thou.
sands OF dollars, the proceedings 10
foreclosure have been pending for a
long time; if pressed, will be the
means of sugmenting the available
funds OF this county very materially.
The law ought TO operate equally ON
all citizens alike. Some OF the parties
desiring to bid on the lands involved
hesitate about making complaints to
the Board OF County Commissioners
and the Prosecuting Attorney, want
others to do the business for them, in
order to assume the responsibility,
while the latter parties may make
profits without assumption of response.
bility. The broader proposition is,
every citizen OF this county who pays
his taxes or intends 90 to do, is inter.
ested in the collection Of all delinquent
taxes, should not be timid about max
ing inquiries in this regard. Every
body is supposed to be equal before
the law. Timidity only tends to mako
delinquents in private and official
life more bold and perverse, poisons
the streams at their very source.
There are more complaints about
the disbursement OF money in tho
county and district road funds. It is
claimed by men who are personally
friendly with the members OF the
county board, do not question their
motives regarding good intentions.
believe these gentlemen are doing the
best they know how under the present
road system, that there is waste and
extravagance in this particular, which
10 owing to the fact that the Com
missioners cannot be in every locality
in the county where road work is ne
cessary at the same time, to superin-
tend the work of their subordinates,
and see that the road funds are judi
ciously expended in places and locali-
ties where most needed, especially
where there is such q contrariety Of
opinion among neighbors in q given
locality. The matter of township Or
ganizaiion as . suitable remedy for
most OF these ills has been suggested
by the writer in a previous communi-
cation, published in the columns Of