The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-01-06

Submitted by representatives of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Everett, Wash, Dec. 30, 1910.
The committee from the Chamber of
Commerce desires to submit the follow
ing as its idea of the general policy to
be pursued in supplying the deficiency
in municipal revenues, caused by the
elimination of the saloon, and the con-
sequent loss of license money. While
this committee believes in the careful
administration of city affairs and the
exercise of due economy, it is not in
favor of cutting down the expenditures
Tor 1911 to point where the activities
of the city would be curtailed and its
conveniences impaired. There is no
doubt about the steady growth of Ev-
erett, and it is highly probable that it
viii lcost more to run the city in 1911
if the same standard of efficiency be
maintained.
1t may be possible by the exercise of
rigid and intelligent economy, to cut
down the deficiency of $77 900 which
confronts the city by from Is to Is
per cent, but the remaining 100000 can
only be met, in our opinion, by the
levying of an extraordinary tax upon
the individuals, firms and corporations
which make up the citizenship of Ev-
erett.
We thoroughly realize the fact that
devising such schedule of taxation as
will be impartial and fall equally upon
all, is difficult task, and we feel that
the chief care of the trainers of tax
law such as is proposed should be to
see that no citizen escapes paying mis-
just proportion thereof.
This committee recommend the i'm
and every individual working for wages
or on salary in sum equal to one
day average earnings of such individu-
al, provided that the minimum tax I'M
der this schedule shall be $3.50 From
this source we estimate approximately
$4,000 may be obtained.
We recommend that the manufacture
ing establishments of this city, num-
bering some 81 plants, be assessed ST.
for each person employed which would
yield a revenue of $4,72s.
We recommend that the public ser
vice corporations be assessed as fol
lows: Telephone and telegraph lines,
$3.50 each; street railway companies
$1,000; water company, $1,000; electric
light company, $500; gas company
$500; steam railway companies, $3.50
each, thus producing a revenue of $4,-
$50.
We recommend the following tax OH
teams; Three-horse teams, 81; two
horse teams, So; one -horse, So Estimat
ed revenue of $4,000.
We recommend tax of so cents per
horsepower upon all automobiles owned
within the city, producing a revenue of
So, 900.
We recommend tax of 500 per year
upon each theatre; 50 per year upon
each bicycle and So per year upon each
billiard and pool table; producing an
additional revenue of $4,000.
The items set forth above will pro-
duce an approximate revenue of $45 5000
leaving the balance of the deficiency
to be made up by careful and impair
tial tax upon all persons doing business
in this city, as well as upon men in all
professions not touched by the per
capita tax hereinbefore mentioned. We
believe that the formation of this lat
ter schedule may safely be intrusted to
the discretion of the city officials.
AS hereinbefore mentioned, this com
mittee does not want to see curtail-
ment carried to an extent which shall
render Everett less desirable place in
which to live than it is at present. We
want to see clean streets kept in good
repair an efficient fire department,
adequate police force and good system
OF street lighting. These are matters
in which everybody is interested and
from which every citizen derives benefit
and it should be a matter of pride, as
well as good Judgment to keep these
utilities and conveniences fully up to
the standard heretofore set
General schedule submitted by Cham
Der OF Commerce, December 80 1910.
Respectfully submitted,
j. BRUCE GIBSON.
H. w. STUCHELL.
b. HOCHSTADTER.
II. T. FOWLER.