Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-02
Suggest New Legislation.

=" ehS introductory CndpCerS OF Cnell
Forthcoming report the state tax com
mission reviews in brief the work o.
the commission since its organization
showing what has been accomplished il
the different departments of its work
Many of the topics treated briefly il
the Introductory chapters are subject.
for special consideration later on in the
report and have already been published
Various matters of proposed Legislation
are touched upon.
The report emphasized the notorious.
lyunequal assessments of former years
in which property in different counties
OF the state was assessed at from IL
to 60 per cent of it's actual valuation
and points out that under the rule adop.
ted by the assessors convention where.
by 80 per cent Of the actual valuation
was used as basis, results while not
satisfactory by any means, have been
as good as could reasonably be ex-
pected."
Statutory provisions for the annual
convention of assessors is advocated.
making attendance compulsory, for the
purpose of making assessments uniform
throughout the state.
In reviewing the work of collecting
inheritance taxes the report shows that
from July l, 1905, to October Is, 1906,
inheritance tax has been collected in
1872 cases. aggregating al, 1892. The
commission has appeared in 100 cases
and there are still pending 40 cases in
which inheritance taxes are due. The
constitutionality of the inhe ritance tax
was tested in the William Wellington
White case in Seattle and fought to a
successful issue by the state in the
supreme court. a.
On the question Of the re--'-'--- r.. =. Z. a
revenue f1aws - = ssstadthe commits
sioI,gs.-4tes that it will attempt to offer
no new code, but win present to the
legislature number of bills governing
the recommendations made at length
later on in the report, following out a
plan of gradual rather than radical
change in the existing system of gener-
at property taxes.
On this subject the report says, in
part:
"This commission apprehends that
the legislature of this state will not
be likely to treat it with any greater
degree of respect than has been shown
commissions elsewhere, and, according
ly, have refrained from the preparation
of revenue code, being content to
submit it's recommendations in the
form of specially prepared bills upon
each subject treated.
1.-THE commission is unanimous in it's
conclusions as to the best, most equit-
able and economical revenue system to
be ultimately worked out for the state,
but it is thought best that they should
be brought about gradually, as the pro-
cess of evolution in matters of this
kind will undoubtedly lead to the de-
sired results, while, perhaps not so ex-
peditiously, yet with much less jar to
existing machinery and with less result
ing friction than would the immediate
adoption of the perhaps radical changes
suggested.
'Then, too, it is felt that the utmost
publicity should be given to the meas
ures that it is proposed to have finally
adopted, and opportunity offered for
full and free public discussion of them.
SIN studying the question of taxation,
having always in view the best method
of raising revenue for state and local
purposes, and looking primarily to the
welfare of the taxpayer. one Of the
first things to be considered is the
financial condition of the state, its sys-
TEN of handling funds, and of the ex-
penditures necessarily required for the
successful conduct of public affairs. In
this connection it is found that the
states finances need considerable look
ing after. Much money is lying idle in
the hands of the state treasurer, both
in current funds and in the permanent
and irreducibe funds. These funds
can well be, and should be, returning
substantial revenues to the state, and
thus made to assist materially in re-
ducing the rates of taxation. "-Olym-
pia Recorder.
Mrs Blanche Irbe Koefod. the noted
soprano, is to give concert in Ritz
vile on the evening of Friday, January
1lth, at the First Congregational
church. Mrs. Koefod is favorite
with Los Angeles. San Francisco and
Seattle audiences and has just finished
brilliant series of concerts in Seattle
and Tacoma. Admission will be fifty
cents for reserved seats. Thirty-fve
cents general admission. Reservations
can be made on Saturday and after at
the postofiice.