The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1910-01-21
ASSESSORS OF THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON
In Annual Convention at Spo-
kane Last Week.
Assessor English of Whitman Coun-
ty Spoke on Assessment of Per-
sonai Property" Setting Forth q
Few Sound Principles.

Washington met in convention at Spo-
kane January 10 and remained in seq
sion the entire week. Every county was
represented but two or three. Probably
no gathering OF county officers OF the
state has more Importance attached to
it than that of the assessors, hence what
they said and did at the last annual
meet is of interest. From the report Of
proceedings We excerpt literally.
Judge Webster of Spokane made the
address Of welcome and, as is customary,
gave the assessors the freedom OF the
city.
The afternoon session was opened by
]. E. Frost, president OF the tax commits
sion. on the subject OF Tax Legislation
and Constitutional Amendments He
advocated several amendments to the
constitution which would give more
liberty to the legislative part OF the
government to enact such laws as would
be sure to bring relief to the taxpayers
as well as the assessors and the tax com
II.
made to work by comparison with the
states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New
Jersey and New York, and other eastern
states. which have made like changes in
their constitutions.
After the address OF Commissioner
Frost followed the election of officers, in
which E. B, Galbraith Of Spokane cOun-
ty was elected president and j. Kelly De-
Priest of Benton county secretary.
Tuesday morning Thomas A. Parish
made an address on unsurveyed lands
and other property escaping taxation.
he advocated hunt for these proper
ties and a survey OF all lands which had
escaped taxation.
An able paper on the assessment Of
mining property was read by Leroy
Marbell, a son.in-law of II. L. Schneider
OF Colfax. Ii the discussion OF this
paper was revealed some OF the Difficult
ties confronting the man who starts out
to assess mines.
In the afternoon T. d. Rockwell made
an address on the taxation OF monies.
He informed the convention that they
would receive notice to assess mobies the
coming year.
Wednesday morning an able paper on
" Basis of Assessment was read by
Assessor A. 4. Mcdonald OF Lewis
county. He showed that the boosting
OF values did not always result IN lower
ing of levies. 1t was clear case OF at
traction of gravitation. The larger
body pulled the smaller one after it
nearly every time, leaving only enough
exceptions to prove the rule.
In the afternoon a paper was read by
M, Toner OF Walla Walla on Assessment
OF Farm Lands" He advocated cruis-
ing and charting of each piece OF land in
the county. In this way the office would
have a check on every piece listed by
field deputies.
Following this came q paper by the
assessor OF Whitman county, +. N. Eng
lish, on the " Assessment OF Personal
Property. He laid down the principles
of an equitable and just taxation as
they we're first worked out by the Father
of Political Economy, Adam Smith. de
said that there must be at least three
factors in the assessment Of both real
and personal property in order TO 90
good work. First, an intelligent and
efficient Office force. Second, an honest
and determined force Of field deputies.
Third, strictly honest constituency ln
his paper Mr. English showed some o.
the Inconsistencies resulting in the equal
jxstion OF the county's taxes. 1t was q
shock to some OF the commissioners and
they promised to make up to whitman
county for mistakes made in rating and
equalizing.
A. E. Parish had paper on Equality
and Uniformity of Assessments. he
showed up some of the Inequalities
against which different counties founo
they had to contend. 1t was easier to
point out errors than make suggestions
as to how they might be corrected.
Prof. Vandeyeer Curtis OF the State
University read a carefully prepared
paper on General Property Tax and the
Reason Why It Should Be Amended"
There was one paper in which the peo-
nle of Whitman county are interested
It was read by E. P. Galbraith OF Spo-
kane on the subject of " Land Examlna-
tiop for Assessment Purposes" H'
showed what he had done in the matter
Of land examination, and promised to
send out sample copies OF work done s
the assessors that they might get what
ever Of good they could from his work
In closing 1t was decided to meet a.
Olympia the second week in January
1911.