Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-01-10
GOOD SUGGESTIONS
ATTORNEY ]. c. HOGAN LISTENS
TO HIS Constituents.
Some Things that Ought to Be added
to Law Governing Cities of Second
Class, and Some Things that Ouaht
to Be Dropped from Statutes for
Second Class City.

1t would require considerable space to
set out with any degree Of exactness the
proposed laws relating to cities of the
second class. and by which Aberdeen
will be governed. The following will
serve as mere outline OF some of the
changes which it is proposed to make in
the present law:
The first, and probably most pressing
change, is to abolish the office OF city
assessor, and to transfer the whole mach
inery OF making assessments and collect
ing municipal taxes to the county asses
sor and county treasurer. This means
merely to adopt the existing law in that
respect governing cities Of the third class
under which Aberdeen has been operat-
ing up to this time.
The next thing in importance is to de-
wise system which will enable the city
to fill in the tide fiat portions OF the town
including private property as we'll as
streets and alleys. and to do the same at
the expense OF the abutting private prop.
erty. Such plan seems to be favored
by citizens. To make such law 80 that
it will be just and equitable in it's opera
ton and 80 that it will stand the tests Of
the courts, will require much care.
All delinquent street and sewer assess.
ments should be certified to the county
treasurer's Office, as soon as they become
delinquent, and should then be spread
upon the general tax rolls and thereafter
handled in pretty much the same way
~ the general taxes. The result of this
would be to have general cleaning up
OF these local assessments once each year
when people pay their general taxes.
Provision ehould be made to have three
members of the city council of Aberdeen
sit with the county board OF equalization
during the time that the board of eq ual-
ization 10 adjusting the burden of taxa.
ton on the property within the limits of
Aberdeen. This practice is permitted in
cities of the first class.
Thousands of dollars are spent annual.
ly in Aberdeen in patching up improved
streets. This money is paid out of the
general fund. Perhaps some provision
should be made whereby the expense Of
repairing improved streets should be
assessed to the property specially bene.
fitted. inste'd of paying this expense out
Of the general fund. AT least the council
should be given the discretion to do it
either way.
Some favor making the city water rent
lien upon the property, served in order
to insure it's collection and to prevent
loss to the city where tenants move out
or leave town. The advisability Of such
q law is questionable. 1t would shift the
burden from the city to the property
owners, and might tend to make the city
careless in allowing delinquent water
rent to accumulate. The city at present
has the remedy, at all times, OF shutting
OF the water. which, if the city is watch.
full, should be quite effective.
There are large number of minor
changes to be made in the present law.
Inconsistent parts must be harmonized.
The provisions relating to street improve.
ments must be revised and made to con-
form to the rulings of the courts; pro-
vision must be made for the hearing OF
election contests by the council. The
offices OF city attorney and street COM
missioner should be appointive, instead
OF elective as at present, and the powers
and responsibility OF the mayor should
be considerably enlarged.