The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-07-20
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GENERAL OFFICES
NEW YORK AND CHICAGO
BRANCHES IN ALL THE PRINCIPAL CITIES
It seems to me that the people OF
Bellingham are taking Assessor kauf-
man too seriously. What has ne
done or said that would warrant
them in thinking he was menace 10
the governorship nomination? he
was elected assessor, but SO far as
have been able to learn every county
in the state elected an assessor, ana
so far as l can learn a good many
of those new assessors have done
their work just as we'll and Just as
economically as Mr.. Kaufman. But
what else has Mr.. Kaufman done!
He has talked-a lotIbut there are
other good takers in the county.
Our own Frank Bixby is something
of a talker himself.
Kaufman made a lot of promises
That's what elected him assessor.
1t su icks me he will have to make
good as assessor before he can even
have the support of his own county
for governor. For instance he was
going to make the out-of-the-county
Spectator pay more than his share
and ne was going to let printing
offices-at least the country papers
off without any taxation, and he was
going to make the taxes next to moth
ing on mills and factories and other
industries that helped to build up
community. and he was going to low,s
the taxes ON improved land.
Has Mr.. Kaufman done any Of these
things or has all been talk-nothing
but talk? The only thing that knoT
of that he has done is to raise an
awful hullabaloo about the B. b. ].
Co.. and he did that to help out his
friend Darwin Of the Amsrican-Re-
veille. If he was reaiis GUMS
what he said he was going to 90 20
800 ,s =, sSo,iS have been; BEEN busy uy
lowering the taxes Of the B. B. l. Co.,
instead of hunting for excuses to an
noy the company. 1t has done more
than any one other company, to
build up and populate Bellingham.
However am not defending the B. P.
I. Co., I never imagined it was over
taxed and l never promised to lower
its assessments either. What / am
doing is saying that Kaufman has
done nothing but talk yet and that
can't see any reason for worrying
about him as a candidate for COVER
nor.
Personally have whole lot Of
confidence in the people. They are
not going to elect Kaufman for
governor-they are not going to even
treat his candidacy seriously-until he
show that he has some ability
more than the ordinary man. that
will tit him for the office. AS have
said before there are thousands Of
men who can talk as loud and to as
little purpose as he and there are ut
least hundreds who can get articles
printed in agricultural junk heaps.
The only serious thing about Mr..
Kaufman is his amazing self conciet
w. A Prinsen, general agent for the
Great Northern at Bellingham, isn't
tax reformer and SO far as I ever
heard he doesn't butt into politics
either but he Is a reader and n
thinker and he has more ideas going
to waste than many would be COVER
nors ever dream about 1 was visit
ing with him the other day and nat
ureally the conversation turned tot
taxation: He said:
II am not criticizing Mr.. Kaufman,
but l can't see where his proposed
reforms would accomplish all the
good results that he hopes for. 1t is
natural that We should all want
more equitable taxation, and 1t seems
to me that the New Zealand plan
would give us that more than the
Kaufman plan. AS I under
stand the New Zealand plan each pro-
perty owner is his own assessor, but
y case he puts false value on the
'erty he forfeits 1t. He gives the
county the value Of his pro-
ne has under valued 1t the
or some citizen can by
Of 10 per cent take
strikes me that
honest under
'restly l be-
$ are dis