The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-25
SALARIES oueAT TO Be 1B|PlED
DAYTON LEGISLATOR PREPAR
ING BILL TO BENEFIT ALL
HONEST MEN.

work ahead Of them, no committees OF
the legislature have their path so well
prepared as those of revenue and taxa
ton. Yet, in spite of all the tax COM
mission has done to simplify the task
of the lawmakers in the direction OF
solving the financial problems OF the
state. it is difficult to find a member
digest the biennial report of the board.
1t was a striking feature of the pre-
liminaries to organization in both
houses that pretty nearly every sena-
tor and representative was anxious. or
at least willing. to serve on the COM
mittees that appropriate the revenues
of the state. While the committees that
have to Go with gathering these very
same revenues seemed of no concern
whatever.
In this age of tax reform and prog
ress it is singular that the Washington
Legislature should evince such apathy.
At least one member has been discov-
cred with positive plan with regard
to one branch of the subject. This
is Judge Nj. NJ. Goldman, OF Columbia
county, who is a veteran survivor OF
the constitutional convention and a
democrat of the old type.
Il admit" said the Judge, that l am
a crank on the subject of assessment.
don't want to introduce any legisla-
ton that stands no chance of passing.
don't believe in wasting the time of
the legislature But / have about de-
cded to draft and introduce a bill
providing for a complete revision of the
methods of assessment That is where
our revenue and taxation system is
weak. dishonest and demOralizing.'
DO you contemplate any really seri-
Gus changes ?" was asked.
Yes. decidedly serious for l would
put in the penitentiary every man who
gives in false valuation of property.
l would mark him into convict stripes;
penaliZe him.
Increase Assessors Pay.
But, to begin with. l would double,
quadruple if necessary, the present pay
given assessors. The assessors should
They should be scrupulously honest, of
searching ability. fearless, and, withal,
familiar with values. At present the
assessment for the most part is made
by S3-a-day subordinates, who CAD
about on horseback, swearing citizens
to property listed on the highroads or
during a visit to town. No honest eff
fort is made to get personal property
on the rells.
Much as 1 would like to see the
judiciary we'll paid, l would prefer to-
day to first raise the salaries of as
SCISSORS to a point where the counties
would be certain to get the very best
men for this service. Nothing is more
important to citizens as whole than
that each one should get on the as
sessment rolls for everything taxable
that he owns. Were this DONE it would
mean a great reduction of the tax rate
honest men. 1t is the dishonest that
dodge and escape under the prevailing
methods.
Nor would / allow the citizen to act
in ignorance of the law have in mind.
would provide in it that as each per-
son was sworn by the assessor prior to
reporting his property under the differ
ent classifications, the assessor should
read the penal clause and acquaint him
with the punishment to be enforced
against those who purposely cheated
the assessment"
You think penal clause would
prove effective in raising the personal
property assessment to a maximum ?"
Il do. We need such law as much
as law is needed against horse
thieves. Honest men do not require
it. A penal provision in the assess
ment law could not hurt honest men.
1t could not ijure them in their feel
ings. since it would not be aimed at
them.
Could Paliiate.
THE assessment laws hould be SO
II tudl UO one COulO DdIlldC0 tax
lodging with apologies. Make it a PEN
itentiary offense to rob the taxes by
Misrepresentation under oath, and pay
your assessors the highest salaries
given county officials. That is the SOL
ution of the assessment problem, and
the only solution that can see. while
the tendency of the INSCRIPTIONS rich
is to rob the government of its Just
share of the wealth it protests. and
the honest taxpayer serves his con-
science by paying the last farthing
fhis burden under the law. Why.
do you know, the assessor of my coun-
ty tells me that l am the only man
in it who gave in my bank account
for assessment. When he asked me
what money I had / said l wasn't quite
certain. but We would inquire 1 called
on the bank cashier with the assessor