Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-08-29
Attorney for Aberdeen Mill Combination Pub
fishes Misleading Statement Concerning
Assessment and Equalization
CHARGES CONSPIRACY AGAINST The MILLS
Statement Isl Probably First Gun in Movement
to Recall Assessor Wiley, for Fidelity to
tie Law and the People

name and location of the company,
whether incorporated or not, its real
property and the nature and value
of its personal property. I'm case
of failure or refusal of any person or
officer, company or association to make
such return or statement, 1T SHALL
BE THE DUTY OF THE ASSESSOR
TO MAKE SUCH RETURN OR
STATEMENT FROM THE BEST IN
FORMATION HE CAN OBTAIN"
1t does not require lawyer to in
terpret that. The assessors Office call
ed for those statements, and receiv-
ed them from about one-half the mills
on Grays Harbor. The concerns which
failed or refused the inform alton
should have no standing in court
of equity If the assessor did rate
them too high in complying with the
law he is under oath to obey, and
which they deliberately violated
For instance, Mr.. Hogan complains.
that the assessors information on the
National Lumber & Box Co. was eight
+ years old. If it was the best tho
assessor could obtain, and the COM
pany failed or refused to give the in
formation required by law, who is at
fault? The assessor who was doing
his duty, or the company which was
evading the law? He cites some of
the mills as not having been paying
concerns, but what has that to do
with the duty of the assessor? He
is allowed no discretion under the
law, and If he was, he need not con-
fine himself entirely to the lumber
business In exercising lienency to
those who affairs have not prospered
to their expectations or liking. But
the law that is his guide in manda-
tory.
Manufacturing Prejudice
1t is clearly evident that statement
of the attorney was written with view
of prejudicing the public mind against
and Assessor Wiley in particular, with
the possible view of framing up a re-
call on that official before time to
make the assessment of next year.
This suspicion may be far-fetched, but
is amply justified by the tactics adopt
ed by Mr.. Hogan before the equaliza-
tion board.
Now that the work of the board is
over, Mr.. Hogan cites instances of
valuations in Aberdeen business blocks
which he alleges are too low, and one
is compelled to .wonder-if his story
is actuated by public spirit-why he
did not make this statement to the
board, and ask that they be raised
to a ratio he alleges his clients were
valued.
Sworn Statements W. Cuff
We have the statement of Mr. Ho-
gan to the effect that the raise in
mill valuations were unjust, yet we
have the statement of former county
officials as to the ratio those estab-
lishments were valued for taxation pur-
poses. In the Office of the State Tax
Commission will be found the testi-
mony, under oath, of H. H. Carter
in 1910. Mr. Carter was then asses
sor, and he swore that he had not
tried to assess the mills at more than
ten per cent Of their value, and that
the property Of the county generally
was assessed at less than 20 per cent
OF its value, and this testimony was
corroborated by DR.. H. C. Watkins,
former chairman Of the board of coun.
ty commissioners. The values of the
mill underwent no material increase
in 1911 or 1912, SO that we have the
sworn testimony to the effect that the
taxing authorities of the county were
permitting this class Of property to
saddle so per cent of its just obliga.
tions to the county upon other prop
erty. A glance over the rolls for that
year will show that the timber hold
ers were escaping much more than
the mills, the two facts together in
dicating clearly upon whose shoulders
the escaped burden fell.
A Square Deal Wanted
The attempt Of Mr.. Hogan to excite
prejudice against the preesnt taxing
authorities. simply because they are
the first this county ever had who
evinced a disposition to treat ALL
CONTINUED to page eight.