Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-12

eral lack Of system in them taken al
whole, but it is questionable If har
mony could be restored if the whole
time Of this session were devoted to al
attempt to bring order ont OF chaos
1t is possible that If a tax commits
sion were appointed to gather data and
: frame a law to be reported two years
hence. beneficial results might be at
tanned. This course has been pursued
| in other states with partial success
and it might be well to give it trial
here. Much property escapes its just
proportion Of taxation, and this IS
particularly true in the case Of per
sonal property and money and i'm
provements on real property This is
susceptible of demonstration beyond
any doubt. The summaries of the as
sessment rolls of the various counties
for 1903 as fled in the Office of the
secretary of state, show that the value
Of improvements on decided and un-
decided lands was S9,405, ,462, and on
town and city lots was $31 ,l92, POI, or
total assessed valuation of all i'm
provements, S4O,597,6S3. The risks
written by fire insurance companies on
property situated within the state for
the year ending December, 1908,
amounted to s9553l ,4S4.s4. 1t is safe
to say that more than so per cent Of
this insurance is upon improvements
upon real property. When it is remem-
bered that a very large part of these
improvements carry no insurance, and
that property is usually insured for
only about half its value, it will be
seen at a glance what an enormous
valuation on this class Of property
alone escapes, taxation. The assessed
value Of money for the same year was
sl.375,970. If any one is interested
enough in the subject to give it pass
ing consideration, he will ascertain
from an examination of the last re.
ports to the comptroller of the eur.
'ency made by the national banks of
he state. that there are many single
banking institutions that have on do.
'osit amounts largely in excess of the
otal assessment on money. Again. a
eference 10 the abstract of the as.
essment rolls from 1898 10 1903 dis. |
loses that money was assessed in 1898
4 sS,lS6,eS7, and in 1903 at sl,375,.
40, decrease of Sl,76l. OF, while the
otal assessed valuation of all property
or 1898 was $l6s,0ss,9 ,9O5. and in 1909 |
'nly Sl73,559, ,SSS, an increase in 10 /,
ears Of only $j,470,9S3. Every ose
inows that this is not n faithful in.
lex OF the growth in wealth in our
tate in 10 years. What is the result
y TINS failure upon the part OF coun
othcials 10 assess the property Of
he state and to properly equalize the
assessments when madei The state
as rapidly grown in wealth and non.
lation since 1898, and in the newt
ew years will grow with greater "a.
idity. With an increase of ponuIa.
ION the number Of inmates in the j.,
lecmosynary and penal institutions of
nc state increases in the same or a
reater proportion, while the expense $
maintaining them constantly in.
reases in volume. The assessment of
ie state remaining substantially tbs
'me, as has been the ease during the $
'st 10 years, the rate To be levia1 "
~ state purposes continues 70 in. Ia
ease, and the burden on tbosa .
asses OF property which are visible
Id continue TO be asses,,ed from wear
year becomes heavier and harder 10 n
var. " 4
IL Is the condition here outlined .
hich makes the levy for state mn "
'ses appear larger than it ought "a II
= and the attention OF the iegisa
re Is respectfully called 10 II In IN. In
pc that some plan may be devised :,
w that in the next two wears NAV I"
SUI In a measure of general relief p
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