The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-06-18
By JOHN c. LAWRENCE

The following Is an opinion on
this initiative measure by Hon. John
c. Lawrence, for seven years state
railroad commissioner, and mem-
ber of the states public service COM
mission. On account of Mr.. Law
;5.ence's long Residence in the state
and the active part he has taken in
public affairs, there is not man
in the state better qualified to Nn-
derstand the needs of the people of
this state. Mr.. Lawrence was a can
didaSe ON the Progressive ticket for
nomination for governor in 1912.
The tax commission shOdld not be
abolished merely because there are
too many commissions. In the pro-
cess of elimination, intelligent consid-
Grafton should be given to the neces-
sity for the work of each, and whether
it could be as effectively done by an
other board or state official
That there is need of supervising
tax official is beyond question. Some
high officials in the state have advo-
Gated reducing the present board OF
tax commissioners to one member.
This would be the practical effect Of
initiative measure No. IL. While the
responsibility for the carrying out of
the laws governing the tax commits
sion, not repealed by this initiative
measure, are put upon the public SER
vice commission, it contemplates a
tax of that commission, with one in
charge of who would virtually be the
tax commissioner, subject to the pub
lie service commission.
This bill is in line with the theory
of consolidating boards and commits
sions in this state until only two or
three of some forty now in existence
remain. But this consolidation should
not take place unless in the interest
of better government. Efficiency is.
or should be, the first consideration.
Objection is made that the public
service commission is now overcrOwd-
ed and could not perform the addi-
tional duties required. 1t is only a
question of organization to extend the
work of this commission over other
related subjects. One~of the principal
reasons for putting the work of the
tax commission with the public serv-
ice commission is because the work
of both commissions has to do with
the valuation of the property of pub
lie service corporations, railroad, teler
graph, telephone. express, water pow
er, irrigation, gas, and electric light
companies, in all making up a very
large percentage of the property value
of the state. 1t is absurd to have two
commissions engaged in the fixing Of
values on such property.
The work of the tax commission,
outside the taxation features, can be
done by any other body. 1t is folly
to have three high salaried commits
sioners engaged in the collection of
Iiauor licenses. This is the work of
a clerk, at best, and if the state should
go dry it would leave the tax commits
sion little to do, as at present the COL
lection of liquor licenses is its big
showing.
The administration of inheritance
taxes and escheating of estates is le-
gal work and should properly be done
through the attorney generals office.
The public service commission has
an assistant attorney general for its
special service who would care for
such legal matters.
The tax commission as now consti-
tuted has no more relation to the
state land commissioners Office than
any other commissioner might have.
They act only at certain intervals. as
members of the public service CON-
mission can do. The land commits
sioner himself is the official charged
with the administration Of the land