Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-09-29
Taxes and Expenditures.

Within the past two years much
has been said and written on the
subject of assessments and taxation,
In which discussion the Herald has
taken no slight part. The prime aim
of this paper in starting this agita-
ton for EQUITABLE taxation was to
interest the large taxpayers in the
matter of expenditures, and in this
we seem to have been eminently sue
cessful
The object aimed at could not be
termed tax reform, it was a tax revo.
must say it was backed by the rec
ord-that certain interests, notably
the holders of large tracts OF timber
lands-had been unduly favored in
the matter of paying their just tithes
toward the expense of local govern
ment. Not only that but, that those
interests to secure this immunity took
undue interest in county elections for
the purpose of fostering this favorit-
ism and in this way aided, or at
least, permitted, the extravagant ex-
penditure of money that has resulted
in a burden on Chehalis county that
is not only troublesome to the pres.
ent inhabitants, but acts detrimental
to the procurement of the capital and
settlement so necessary to the devel-
opment on one of the richest sections
on earth.
1t has cost money, of course, to eff.
feet this revolution. Timber lands,
having long enjoyed this immunity,
the owners felt that vested right
to saddle their part of government
expenditures off on others had been
acknowledgement they were some
what justified in view of many years
Of such immunity, Yet, when one
thinks of it, this class of property,
under present laws land the Herald
does not believe those laws are cor.
rect in the matter of timber taxa
tom, has no more right to special
classification than has, say, the dry
goods merchants of the county. Yet,
in order to procure an estimate
approximate, of course-on this class
of property, in order to be fair, Che
halls county spent some $4,000, and
when this estimate was secured, at
this heavy cost, howl went up to
the sky that timber owners were be-
ing skinned"
The county authorities noted this,
and, in an effort to play the game
square," they ordered all other real
estate "cruised," or appraised. The
appraisement of any class, or piece,
of property for taxation-or any 9th
er purpose, is necessarily approx
mate, and the farmers, merchants.
town lot owners or small household
ers have in all probability as just a
cause for objection to the assessed
valuation of their respective holdings
as has the timber owner.
Suppose for instance, that the dry
goods merchants of the county had
for many years been favored in the
matter of taxation; that this year or
last, they We're required to come
through" along with the rest of us.
And suppose again-and the suppose
ton is not far-fetched-that they de-
mand "recruise," alleging that the
deputy assessor had not sufficient
knowledge of their goods upon which
to base a valuation. If all other
classes of property had been assess
ed upon an equal basis with the dry
goods men, we would find the timber
men right on the spot, Directing to
the unnecessary "recruise" of the dry
goods stores, especially if it was go
ing to cost from $4,000 to 100000
to make it.
However, the equitable distribution
of cost of government has been
deep question among political econo
mists as far back as the history oil
governments extends-and the prob
lem is still open for solution. I'm
der the laws of the state of Wash
ington, no distinction is made. The
Herald believes that to permit dis
tinction at the discretion of elected
officials is not only detrimental to pub
lie service, but an undue temptation
to the official whose good nature Of
desire for continuance in Office nigh
lead him astray from the faithfulness
to the public interests he reall!
meant when seeking the position.