The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-23
Several Taxpayers Object to
Increasing Valuations
Attorney SAYS IT WOULD Be IllE6AL
Threats Made That Litigation Will
eoIIow If the Council Changes
the Assessment.

Alleging numerous irregularities and
minor errors made by the city council
citing as a board Of equalization of
tovAs Attorney c. C. Gose last night
outlined what would be the probable
rasut if the council carried out it's
rronosed intention of increasing the
vaIuation of all property within the
limits of the city so per cent. In an
attended address ne claimed that all
tbe proceedings held were irregular
and illegal and if the Increase was
made it would result in endless liti-
CATION which would undoubtedly prove
very expensive to not only the city,
hit to every taxpayer as well.
When the council met last night it
ar once went into session as a
hoard of equalization. Every seat in
the council chamber was occupied and
many taxpayers and attorneys were
compelled to stand about the room.
When Mayor Hunt asked the city
| clerk if any protests had been filed
against the proposed increase of the
valuation Of property, that official
4 then read the names of those who
/ had filed documents with him. They
4 were Harry H. Turner, Winnifred Gill
1 liam, w C. Cullen, T. C. Elliott, The
Farmers Savings bank, Priscilla
II Scott C. H. Cummings, H. H. Jones,
w. S Goodman, Mrs. Grubbe, Wash
| ington & Columbia River Railway
company, w. D. Laymen, S. F. Rhodes,
1 A. L. Harmon, Ludwigs Hunzicer,
Anna Mattison, William O'Rourke,
Wala Walla Theater company, Jacob
Betz, First National bank, Michael
Ctabot, John w. Foster, I. w. Simms
\ aTW G. Starrett. In this list about
Is per cent of the protests were against
alleged errors and unequal assess
mentS made by the city assessor, the
remainder being objections to the pro-
posed increase of valuations.
The council then resolved itself in
10 committee of the whole to con-
slider the best method of handling the
protests it finally being decided to
reter them to the finance committee
With Instructions to submit a report
" the council as committee of the
Whole at a meeting to be held to-
night.
4 Gose Made Strong Protest.
n After this action was taken Mayor
hunt asked if there were any per-
sons present who desired to address
~e council on the subject of taxa
u0A when c. c. Gose representing
UeAts, whose names he declined to
0ScloSe. then spoke on the question.
laAAS the records as a guide, he
ioIh'ed out numerous alleged techni-
'@AlIeS of the proceedings from the
"'.e lhe council assembled as a board
equalization on July 4. His main
""Ienton was that the council had
"ot proceeded in a legal manner and
specially called attention to the
~eeuhg held August II when an ad-
'OWhment was taken until August
i lie then showed by the records
wat special meeting was held Au-
e0S' Is Which was without proper no
we aS required by law. He claimed
1 When the board adjourned on
4 hlght it did so without date, and
n NiS opinion that closed all the rights
4 He council as a board of equali-
4 ~""on. He then stated That the prop
H o"hers had not been given a le
Il "oUlce of the intention of the
4 uich to increase the valuation of
4 - property in the city, asserting that
L "S clerk, without authority, had
II the time for the hearing, and
'He property owners were. served
'le notice through the mails in
rects.
l a.. oIiclusion Mr.. Gose said tnat he
/ H. u inform the council that if
/ wo,.,, 0ns were raised his clients
sns take the matter into the courts
be was confident that they would
ii --NNESSllI in IL.