Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-03-18

county property, such as railroads,
telegraphs, telephones, express, sleep
ing Car and private Car companies,
should be taxed for state purposes
only, giving to the several counties
absolute home rule on the question
of the taxation of local property. Tn
der this plan, the state would not tax
the property of Chehalis County; Che
| halls County would levy such taxes
as it saw fit and as might be neces.
sary to properly conduct its county
government. 1t could exempt such
property as pleased it. If it desired
to exempt from taxation the mills AMI
factories, which have done SO much
to build up the county, it would be
it's privilege to do so. Under this
system, the state would in the be
ginning have to levy, probably, only
very small tax to raise the state
school fund-the common school fund
of the state, but in time, as the
sources of indirect revenue increased.
We believe this could also be taken
care of land possibly we might reach
the condition of Wisconsin, where
they raised enough money for their
state government under this system
and had something left which was
distributed fairly among the differ
ent counties.
We expect to put this matter
squarely up to the next legislature
for their approval or disapproval. and
in the meantime we hope to in some
way inform the people of the state
of the intent and workings of this
law, that they may take that interest
in it which the subject demands.
As to Chehalis County
Chehahs County. in its wisdom. has
undertaken to exempt a large part OF
it's property without the aid of the
law contemplated. In the equaliza-
ton of the property of this state, the
State Board of Tax Commissioners
went to every county in the State
and took testimony with regard to
the value of property actually sold.
We did not take testimony from ex-
perts, but only from grantor or gran
tee or the agent conducting the sale,
and this testimony, of course, was
under OATH When all the testimony
had been gathered, the proper county
official was called upon to certify to
the Board the assessed value of the
different pieces of property inquired
about, and in this way the ratio of as
sessed to actual value was obtained
This testimony in Chehalis county
for the year 1910 showed ratio OF
assessed to actual value of 2017.
Much criticism of this Board was in.
dulged in and some very harsh things
were said, but we think We can dem
onstrate to any fair-minded person
that the Board acted honestly, fairly
and justly, and made correct YER
dict. We have the sworn testimony
of the then assessor, Mr. Carter. to
the effect that he had not tried to
assess the mills at more than ten per
cent. of their value, and that the prop
erty generally of the ounty was as.
sessed at less than twenty per cent.
of its value. This testimony was cor
that time chairman of the board Of
equalization Of Chehalis County. We
also have the testimony on file, which
is open to public inspection, of a
great number of the best citizens Of
Chehalis County. all going to the
same effect. These valuations were
not changed to any appreciate ex-
tent for 1910 from 1908, when Mr..
Carter and DR.. Watkins made these
statements, and We have the certi.
ficate of Mr.. F. E. Jones that for 1910
the property of Chehalis County was
assessed at 1877 per cent Mr. Jones'
figures are in our Office and can be
seen by anyone interested. Members
of this Board. in conversation with
citizens of Chehalis County, have been
able to verify this finding from state
ment made very recently.
What does the county gain by this
low valuation? If this Board is able
to find out what the proportion OF
assessed to actual value really is, I'M
der our system of equalization, so
far as the payment of state tax Is
concerned, it makes not particle Of
difference. If the merchant, the home
owner, the mechanic and the farmer,
desire to assist the mills and timber
interest in the payment of their taxes
this Board thinks they have a per-
feet right to do so, but they should
not expect aid along this line from
other counties, and We will use our
best endeavors to protect the other
counties against such condition.
This low and unequal valuation Of
the property of your county works
against the sufferers in more than
one way. For instance, 1t not only
increases the taxes on certain classes
Of property in the county, but it de-
prives the county by actual calcula-
ton of over $4,000 in taxes every
year that they would receive from the
public service properties. The law
requires this Board, in fixing the val
ue of the railroads, to value them at
the same proportion Of their value as
has been taken by the assessor for
the general mass of property of the
county. The average ratio of valua-
ton for the state Is 1898, the ratio
for Chehalis County for the year 1911,
ia 26.17, which reduces the value Of
the railroads and telegraph lines
from $3.O51.733 to $1,997.593, loss
on the present rate of levy of $50,
232, in actual money.
Timber Cruise.
1t is with much qualification that
we note that cruise of the timber
of Chehalis County is now being
made and We sincerely hope it will
be thorough and just one. If a
reasonable value is placed upon the
timber of Chehalis County, it will
make vast difference in it's taxes.