The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-08-29
NEW STATE
TAX LEVY
INCREASE WILL AMOUNT TO
LARGE SUM SAYS THE
COMMISSIONER.
Predicts that States Valuation
Will Reach $775, 900, 900, or a
Total Increase of 5000, 600, 600
Timber Cruise Has Done Much
to Bring Total Up.

Tacoma, Aug. 20.-State Tax Com
missioner j.. A. Frost, who spent day
in Tacoma hearing testimony of local
business men regarding Pierce county
valuations, estimates that the total
assessed valuation of the state of Wash
ington will this year reach $775, OOO,-
600, a clean increase Of 5000, 600, 600
over the last one. Practically the
entire increase, he says, has been made
in the assessment of timber alnd pub
lie service corporations and large hold
ings.
The hearing was for the purpose of
ascertaining with accuracy the actual
values of property in this county. Sim
liar testimony is being taken in all
other parts of the state. Later the COM
mission will receive from the county
auditors certified copies of the assess
ment rolls, and the two sets of figures
will be compared in order to get at the
percentage of the actual valuation at
which the assessment has been placed.
The legislature of 1907 passed an act
requiring the commission to assess OPP
Grating property of all railways, Car
companies and other public service
corporations at the same proportion Of
valuation rs other property. These
companies have been this year assessed
at so per cent of the actual valuations.
In the case of the railroads, the valua-
tions were largely secured by the state
railroad commission; in other cases
the tax commission has followed a rule
of valuation that has been approved
by the supreme court of the United
States.
Thinks Companies May Fight.
It is said that the corporate ons are
preparing to contest their 50 per cent
assessment. A hearing is to be given
them in September and they will then
make known their position. Their
ground will be, it is expected, that pri.
vate individuals have not been assessed
on the go per cent basis. Some of the
witnesses at the hearing here say that
much Pierce county property is not
assessed at more than Is or 80 per cent
of its real worth.
Mr.. Frost would not verify this
statement after the hearing. ''The
testimony said he, was taken by
stenorgapher and has not yet been
transcribed. When receive copy
will be unable to sform an idea as to
the percentage until also have copy
of the assessments on the same proper
ties. I examined large number Of
well informed business men as to the
actual present value of business, resi-
dence, timber and farming property
and stocks of goods. From real estate
dealers secured the figures at which
actual sales had been made since the
first of the year.
''The figures which are being Sc
cured in all the counties will serve to
equalize not only the assessments Of
public service companies, but Of the
various counties as we'll. I do not an
ticipate that the corporations will con-
test their assessments, but if they make
any fight it will be in an endeavor to
show that other property has been as
sessed at smaller proportion of the
real value. They will have hearing
in September, when they may ask for
a lower per cent. /"
Mr.. Frost has already visited most
of the counties Of Western Washington.
Change in Timber Valuations.
Speaking Of other work of the COM
mission, Mr.. Frost said: "The COM
mission has been instrumental in
bringing about a cruise of timber lands
in almost every timbered county in the
state, even such counties as Spokane
and Kittitas. This has shown that
timber lands have heretofore been un-
equally assessed. In some counties we
find land has been increased 600 per
cent over last year, and in other places
that certain tracts have been somewhat
reduced. The result has been to bring
about an equalization to a remarkable
extent. In my opinion, based on accu-
rate information, from $50, OOO, 900 to
875. GOO, 600 will be added to the tim
her assessments of this state. believe
thea assessments this year, except in a
few counties, are more equitable and
uniform than any others ever made in
the state.
tsAs q result the increase will amount
to about 5000, 600, 900, principally in
timber lands and the property OF pub
lie service corporations. This ought to
mean much to the small farmer, the
home owning wage Garner and the lit
tie man generally, who has been bear
ing too great burden. "
Teachers Paid $50, 478.50
Ritsville, Aug. 20. According to
.ha annnal renort lust completed by