Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-12-12
GOSSIP OF THE
COUNTY SEAT
Tax Suits of Aberdeen Mill
Companies are Dismissed
on a Demurrer
MAY COME UP AGAIN
Mothers Pension Law Makes
Chill dren Worth While.
Law Suit in Point

MONTESANO, Dec. 11.-Judge Ben
Sheeks has handed down a memoran-
dunn decision dismissing the case of
the Aberdeen Lumber & Shingle COM
pany against Chehalis county. The
memorandum will apply also in the
cases of S. E. Slade, Grays Harbor
Commercial. National Lumber e. Box,
Western Lumber. Donovan Lumber,
Anderson & Middleton Lumber, Bay
City Lumber and Federal Mill CON-
panies, and later in court dismissals
of all these cases were filed.
These are the cases in which the
nine mill companies ALLEGED that the
assessments on their property for tax
alton purposes were too high, COM
pared with the valuations placed up
on other classes of property, and
sought to enjoin the extension of the
assessments on the rolls. The COM
plant was demurred to by the coun-
ty, on the ground that there was no
be none until the rolls were made up
and taxes levied thereon
Judge Sheeks, in his decision, sus.
tains the contention of the county in
every particular Attorney j. C. Ho-
gan, for the mill companies has an
nOunced that the actions will be re-
commenced when the tax levy is
made, but this is doubted, in some of
the cases, at least. It is said that
majority of the companies were reluc-
tant parties in the action just dis
missed, and may not be induced to
join in the second suit. The decision
of Judge Sheeks place the contention
where the tax contestants will stand
to pay penalty and interest if they
lose. Taxes are not payable before
February next, and become delinquent
May 81, after which date interest al
Is per cent is charged
Owners Will Get List
Next year when the field assessors
go out they will leave with personal
property owners a duplicate list sheet
of the owners property as assessed.
While this plan is new in this
county, it has been tried out in sew
eral counties of the state and has Civ
en- general satisfaction. Every prop
erty owner will know just how his
property is listed and what valuation
is placed on it. before even the as
SCISSORS Office knows it. If he has
any fault to find he will have lots of
time to do it in before the board of
equalization meets.
The assessor also plans to have his
field men in Office for few days get
ting acquainted with his plans for
fixing values. Each man will be fur
nished with all data by which values
are arrived at, such as where posi-
BILE original costs and tables of depre.
citation for machinery and such things.
Children Become Valuable
The enactment of the mothers pen
sion law has given children value
hitherto unknown, is a fact that prom.
ised to develop in a suit that has
been brought by Mrs. Mary Alice
Virtue. Mrs. Virtue sued to recover
possession of her three children.
which have been adopted by Mr.. and
Mrs. John H. Wolfe.
Mr. Virtue died about two years
ago. leaving his family destitute. The
Wolfe family are relatives. and they
brought the widow and orphans to
their home and cared for them, and
at the urgent request of the mother,
finally adopted the children. Friends
of the Wolfe family say the Mothers
Pension law is responsible for the
suit, as with the three young chill
dren, Mrs. Virtue would be entitled
to pension.
Judge Sheeks decided against the
mother today, although the mothers
pension feature was not brought out