Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-04-08


week, suit was filed in the superior
court yesterday to compel Assessor
r. A. Wiley to place on the tax rolls
certain properties that had been omit
ted from them. The suit was insti-
tuted by w. Fl. Bush, pioneer citi-
zen of Montesano, and former sher-
III of Chehalis county and was brought
by Attorneys r. E. Taggart and ].
M. Phillips of Aberdeen.
While the action is confined to a
few forty-acre tracts, its consequence
es have a far reaching influence. Its
ultimate conclusion means just the
end aimed at by the Chehalis County
Taxpayers league, viz, that every in
dividual piece Of property Of every
taxable class shall appear on the tax
rolls at the same identical ratio of
valuation. and stand their just and
fair proportion of the burdens of
county and state government.
The condition of Chehalis county
for many years, in the matter of fav.
oritism in taxation has been motor.
ious. The state tax commission has
by its action in increasing valuations
for state purposes and In its reports,
given this county a most undesir.
able reputation in this connection.
Through means best known to them.
selves and hired officials, the tax dodg
ers of Chehalis county have almost
swamped one of the richest counties
in the richest state in the union. II
was not so much by reason of the
sum evaded as it was in the debauch-
cry of the county electorate, and the
consequent extravaganza of officials
elected-not to serve the people, but
to stand by the dodgers. It required
more than ten years agitation to Sc
cure the cruising of the timber of
the county, although the small hold
ings of the farmer, merchant and
workingman were cruised every year.
And why? Timber was held in large
tracts, largely by non-residents, for
the raise in stumpage and every tax
evasion was regarded as legitimate
way of making additional profit. As
the song has it, "Everybody's Doin'
it," so everybody interested thought
it was all right. Those not imme-
diately interested were too busy pay.
ing the taxes Of the dodgers to notice
from which direction the stones were
coming.
The Chehalis County Taxpayers
League was organized about a year
ago for the express purpose of rem
edying this condition of affairs. Par
ty political lines were not recognized
by the league-any more than they
had been by the tax dodgers. And
this obliteratiOn Of party politics in
county affairs was the swan song Of
the Ancient and Honorable Order Of
Tax Dodgers. Thenceforward it was
but a question of time. The primary
elections did the rest. So long as a
few paid agents and aspiring poll
ticians could control nominating con.
ventions, the job Of controlling local
officials was easy. Elections follow.
ed, and tax lodging became almost,
if not quite, respectable, the result
ing wasteful extravaganza newt
able.
1t should be borne in mind that the
League had no special class of prop
erty in mind, all were-and are-to
be treated alike. The fact that tim
Der lands are most frequently allud.
ed to is due to the prominence Of
this class in the artful art of dodg.
ing the tax man.
That the suit instituted yesterday
will be resisted goes without saying,
but that resistance will force the
dodgers into the limelight-a posi-
ton they do not especially care to
occupy. It is suit brought by one
of the best known and highly respect
ed citizens OF the county, and it is
asking no favors. He asks the court
to place other properties on such a
level as the county has assigned his
modest holdings. An absolutely fair
proposition, all will agree, but one
that If sustained by the court and