The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-10-03
Patterson Writes of Equalization Work

The following communication from
John R. Patterson is self-explanatory,
and is interesting in view of statements
that are being made. Mr.. Patterson
attended nearly every session OF the
Board of Equalization in the interest OF
the Farmers Grange, and those who
know him will be the last to accuse him
of favoring any corporation, especially
the Panhandle Lumber Co. or any other
Blackwell corporation, or making any
statement except in line with the facts
as they appear to him:
Editor Newport Miner.
Understanding that good deal
of interest had been manifested in vari-
GUS parts OFFEND Oreille county among
your readers about the proceedings OF
the Board of Equalization sitting, and
as further understand that some very
questionable tales are being circulated
as facts, having been present at nearly
every session of the board, | beg to use
your columns to place few real facts
before the people for their better in
formation.
First, the matter of reduction to the
Panhandle Lumber Co. on the assess
ment of timber. The Panhandle Lumber
Co. s valuation was reduced $57, 900, as
theexpedienth horn of the dilemma, rather
than increase the assessment on the
rest of the property holders of the
county by $278, 900, this last being i'm
possible as it could not be done legally
without ten days notice to the holders
of the property, and the further fact
that the time of sitting had expired and
no provision in the law for reconven-
ing of the board. The actual tax re-
duction to the Panhandle will be about
$500, or in the other case other prop
ertY holders Of the county would have
been called on for about $4,000, in order
to get $500 from the Panhandle Lum-
Der Co.
l take off my hat to no one in wish
ing the Panhandle Lumber Co. exact
justice and no more. But fail to see
the wisdom of subjecting the county to
a suit at law from the Panhandle Lum-
Der Co. and paying 8 per cent on war
rants, while $40, 1000 in taves is held up
in the courts for year or two.
Down the river people seem inter
ocfol in OF tho polyol foo%c If
the lone mills assessment. The totals
made by Henry Leeck were 1926, lao for
everything. The actual assessment
passed on the property by the assessor
stood and stands at $191, $40, or an in
crease of $69, 900 over 1911. The prin-
cipal disagreement was over values of
machinery and grade of lumber in yard.
The railroads running through Pend
Oreille county have been increased by
the state from about 20 per cent in 1911
to about 40 per cent in 1912, or an ap-
proximate increase of $685., 900. The
total assessment of the county for 1911
was $4,802, 703, and for the year 1912
So,of,o44, oil increase OIL 91,oI4, o41,
which is source of congratulation, to
say the least. And another fact would
seem worthy of notice. The Panhandle
Lumber Co. made it as plea for re-
duction that they were assessed higher
in Pend Oreille county than in either of
the other three counties in which they
own land. Comment unnecessary.
believe there is a movement on foot for
change in the law of sittings of the
Board of Equalization, and our assessor
was the one to propose it.
J. R. PATTERSON.