Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-03-07
ASSESSOR JONES
ON TAXATION
The Assessor Makes Lengthy
Explanation at Commercial
Club Lunch
HAS HEATED DISCUSSION
Will Assess on Fourty Per
Cent Basis--Declines to
Give Timber Plans

1ONSU lam, MafCn O.-l was elect
ed assessor of Chehalis county by the
people, and as long as am assessor,
don't propose to take orders from
any one else" This was the state
ment made by Assessor F. E. Jones,
before the Hoquiam Commercial club,
here today, when asked whether he
proposed to be guided by the values
set on timber and lands, by the cruis-
ers, who have about completed their
work in the county. Mr.. Jones later
qualified the statement saying that
he would be guided by the cruise to
certain extent and that his remarks
We're made under the heat of a dis.
cussion.
Mr.. Jones had submitted his re-
port on what he proposed to do in
raising the valuations, and stated
that he was willing to answer all
questions
you stated before the state tax
commission under oath that the ba-
sis of valuations on property in Che
halls county in 1910, was 1877 per
cent. Was some of this property as
sessed at that rate, and some higher
or lower, and what property was as
sessed lOwer?" was a question asked,
to which Mr. Jones replied: Some
was assessed at that figure and some
lower"
A. c. Girard then launched into
discussion of taxation and said in
part:
"Gentlemen, you have heard that
Mr.. Jones proposes to increase the
valuation on timber approximately
100000. The timber of the county
is now assessed at $8,377,S9 The
cruise just completed shows 25.000,-
100000 feet of timber, at a rate of
81 per thousand, for example, brings
it's value up to $25,0O0,OOO, but the
true value of this timber is more than
$50,0OO,00O and Mr.. Jones proposes to
raise it to approximately $11, 1000, 900
or about 25 per cent of it's value,
while he will assess other classes
of property on basis of 40 per cent.
"As assessor, he comes before you
and asks for information regarding
a raise of city property, out of all
proportion to his proposed raise on
timber. The assessed valuation of
the city of Hoquiam is $2,71S,165, or
so per cent of its value, because you
could purchase everything in the city
for $5,000,0O0.
What is needed more is a move
ment looking towards bringing the
assessed valuation up on timber, the
city property in most instances is
assessed high enough.
"Mr. Jones has told you that sec.
ton 1876 contains approximately ST.
100000 feet of timber. it Is assessed
at $4,000 and is worth 100000 and
this is the kind of unequal taxation
we want to prevent"
Here President Brewer called the
speaker to order asking that the mat
ter be sent to a committee, which the
speaker objected to, stating that the
matter was of too great importance
to be buried in a committee, publicity
was what was needed in the matter
and the Commercial club was the
place to discuss the matter.
The matter was finally referred to
committee of seven men engaged in
different lines of business to report
as soon as possible, on motion of Mr..
Hull.
Assessor Jones read a paper, ex-
planning the assessment of the coun-
ty and tax matters, in which he stated
he was making the assessment this
year on a forty per cent basis, that
is, he had so instructed the field dep
uties, but he was silent as to the
basis to be used in the Office in valu.
ing timber lands, for which he has
more complete data, in the cruisers
reports, than it is possible to obtain
on any other class of property
He expressed his pleasure at the
formation of tax payers league and
promised his cooperation with it in
adjusting the assessment equitably,
although he doubted it's effectiveness.