The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-05-22

.a
not a dollar of that fund is expended
in the corporate limits Of any town
or city. The force of this statement
may be understood when you apply
it to the expenditures for road ma
chinery made during the past two
years. North Yakima and the part of
the county above Union Gap has paid
60h per cent of the bills for all ma.
chinery purchased, and paid for out
of the general road and bridge fund,
but used in the several road districts.
"As matter of justice, every dollar
of expenditure for road machinery
should have been made from district
(not general) road funds. Then, per-
haps, the commissioners might more
justly have been criticised by the tax
payer, who as a matter of fact, the
taxpayer of the incorporated towns 10
paying 3-5 of the entire cost without
receiving any value III return, furth-
er than may come to him in the gen.
eral advancement and Improvement Of
county, when taken as q whole"
Tax System, Not Men, at Fault
In an interview Friday Assessor B..
F. McCurdy vigorously criticised the
taxing system of the state, which, he
says is more at fault than the county
officials in causing the present dissat--
isfaction on account of high taxes. Mr..
MoCurdy welcomes the formation Of
taxpayers leagues and any organiza-
tons for the intelligents discussion Of
tax problems, but decries the indis-
criminate condemnation of county of.
|ficials.
THE constitution of the state con.
firms us to the general property tax"
said Mr.. McCurdy, "by which is meant
the assessment and taxation of every
thing which the courts may construe
and declare to be property, at an equal
and uniform rate, regardless OF it's
character, class, condition or taxpay-
ing ability.
Comparing the states and countries
who have abandoned the general
property tax, to which we are con-
fined, our system is crude. unjust, un-
fair and a serious hindrance to the
industrial, commercial and agricul-
tural development Of the state, 1t has
resulted in placing the heaviest burd-
ems upon the common, everyday and
ordinary forms of property, known as
tangible, while the form of property
known as intangible, escapes alto,
gether.
The legislature Of 1907 saw fit to
exempt from taxation all that class of
property we know as credits. This
class of property rearesents at least
one-half of all the property of the
State of Washington. Why did not the
legislature go a little further and give
some relief to the farmer and me.
chanic and the man in moderate cir
cumstances by exenptfng farm imple-
ments, merchandise, tools and house,
hold furnishings?
"The amount of visible property
possessed by person might have been
a fair test of tax-paying ability. but
comparing exemption Of intangible
property, it is no longer fair meas
ure of worth. wealth or ability what
ever.
''rhese are the proper topics and
subjects to get before the oranges.
leagues and commercial organizations,
present system OF revenue and taxa
ton.
Board Not Responsible
1.-THE present board of county com.
missioners, or other county officials
are not responsible for the high and
excessive tax levies for the year 1911.
1.-THE assessed valuation of every
piece Of real property for the year
1911 is exactly the same as for the
year 1910, unless additional improve
ments were constructed during the
year or prior to March /, 1911, which
was added to the particular tract or
lot.
1.-THE county commissioners make no
levies for state funds. municipal funds,
drain or dixie funds, special school
funds nor the county general school
fund, the amount of which is govern
ed by law, but the law regarding which
in the year 1910 was ignored and a
deficit had to be met and paid ON
1911 valuation.
''For the year 1911 there was an
increase Of nearly 20 per cent over
1910 for school purposes. In nearly
every Incorporated district the tax
doubled, and in some instances the in
crease was several hundred per cent.
County Doesn't Do It
Neither the county commissioners
or county assessor are responsible for
these increases, for each school dis
trict, municipal corporation and DRAIN
age commissioner certifies to the
county commissioner and assessor in
specific amounts, or fixed sums in
dollars and cents, and the rate nee
essary to raise these sums is figured
out. This is why the rate varies in
different districts
= II am positive the present county
Officials are as much interested in an
honest and intelligent administration
of county affairs as any citizen in the
county, and before condemning their
acts taxpayers should investigate and
arrive at the facts, and place the
blame where it's rightfpll belongs"