Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-08-24
What The MEMBERS WILL TRY
To ACCOMPLISH.
commissioner Rockwell Gives the
Plans of the Board to the COItax
COmmOner. Would Desire State
Revenues by Excise and License
Taxes.

In compliance with request from the
editor of The Colfax Commoner, Mr.. L.
ID. Rockwell furnishes the following letter
in reference to the work of the state tax
commission:
Editor OF Commoler-Your idea that
word from the tax commission might
be OF interest to the people of Whitman
county impels me to give through your
columns necessarily short outline of
the work OF the commission. In my
opinion mistake was made by the legis-
ture that passed the tax commission act
in that it did not pass an emergency
clause. 80 that the board appointed could
have been more useful to the state on the
assessment Of 1905.
The commission is now working on a
plan OF tax reform that will, in my judg.
ment, give more relief against the bur.
| dens OF taxation than any system that
could be devised. 1t is in brief a separ.
alton on matters Of taxation of the coun-
ty rom the state. Under the present
system every county is busy trying to
keep the valuation OF it's property at the
lowest possible figure, to the end and
that it will not pay more to the state in
taxes than some other county. The re.
suit OF this depression of values is to in.
crease the levy and thus frighten away
from our state capital seeking invest.
ment. This capital does not investigate
the actual value Of the property, as com.
pared to its assessed value. but closes ite
vault door against any investment that
will be taxed at rate almost as high az
the interest rate it expects. II all pro.
perty was assessed as it's true and actual
value as the law requires this condition
could not exist, and the rate would be &c
lowered that 1t would not be considered
burdensome. To bring about this condi.
ton the tax commission believe that If q
system OF excise and license taxes can be
inaugurated to furnish the revenue to
the state, the counties then will have nc
excuse or need for depressing their
values, as all the taxes levied directly
upon the property, both real and per.
sonal, will 90 into the treasury Of the
county. We are now working upon a
plan to require that all railroads, street
railways, express companies and all
other corporations shall pay license to
the state for tn privilege of doing busi-
ness. This will not exempt their real
and personal property situated in the
different counties from paying tax to
the county upon fair valuation. Many
other methods are being studied out to
raise revenue 'or the state, such as oc.
cupation and professional taxes, poll
taxes and taxes ON mortgages. The com.
mission believes that ii the legislature
will adopt the suggestions of the tax
commission we will have better system
of collecting revenues and the people be
better satisfied. The com mission is also
engaged in trying to bring to the assess
ment rolls certain property that has
never paid any taxes at all, such as fish.
traps and fish.trap locations and tax Ger.
tificates.
We hope to be OF some service to the
people Of the state and will be glad to
have the cooperation Of your paper and
the influence of your pen.
| Very truly yours,
T d. ROCKWELL,
| ProoiNont 2toto Pno ri -
sioners.