The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-08-26
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE I
Caldwell BOOSTS
FOR HOME RULE

Its properties for the purpose Of fix.
ing It's rates and another for tho
purpose Of paying taxes 10 the city.
county and state. You also suggest
that this injustice should be rem.
edied by legislation.
To facilitate any effort you may
feel disposed 10 make To secure
u change In the laws as they now
exist, In which effort this office Will
heartily cooperate. you are Inform.
ed OF tho following specific facts
bearing upon this matter.
The legislature adopted the rub.
lie service commission law In 1911.
came being chapter M of the laws
q said year Section % OF said
act provided that the findings OF
the public service commission as
10 tho value OF the properties OF
a corporation
shall be admissible In EVIL.
dence in any ection. proceeding
or hearing In which the state
or any officer. department or
institution thereof. or am
county. municipality or other
body polite and the public ser.
vice company affected II Inter.
eSted. whether arising under
the provisions OF this act or
otherwise. and such findings
when 80 introduced shall be
conclusive evidence OF the facts
stated in such findings AS OF
the date therein stated under
conditions then existing. ."
Thereafter the state board OF
tax commissioner valued the prop.
critics OF the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific Railway com.
panics and placed the yalu. OF such
properties ut the amount which
had heretofore been fixed by the
public service commission ms the
true value OF said companies prop.
critics.
AZ the next session OF tho leg1s.
lature. In 1918. Section 81 OF the
public service commission act was
amended 80 thNt the findings OF the
commission were rendered admis
sIhlc In evidence IN any suit or
hearing except with respect 20
matters OF assessment ard tara.
ton" and said section was further
amended so as TO render the find.
lnxs OF the commission conclusive
EXCEPT As A BASIS FOR TAX
ALTON"
You will. therefore. see that the
legislature Of 1913 no amended the
law as TO bring about the result OF
which You Justly complain.
There IL in the opinion of this
department, no reason In Law or IN
equity Why q oorpora,,s-f should be
permitted &c place valuation upon
lie properties for the purpose 81 ss.
curing a release from its contrnc.
,uai obligations and at the same
time b. permitted to put a lesser
thereon for the purpose
Of taxation.
In this connection your attention
In invited To the fact that there II
now pending before the public scr.
vice commission an application By
the local traction company for q
os NIL It's properties: that
II claims :he value OF its proper.
ties IN the city OF Seattle 10 be In
excess OF SIS. 1000. 900. and IL seeking
TO have the valuation fixed Vt such
sum for the purpose o, having the
rubllc service commission relieve IL
NJ practically all OF Its franchise
obligations. An application 10 be
30 relieved OF its franchise ohiiga-
fions is now pending before tho
commission eoncurrcniiy with the
for valuation.
Upon the city Of Seattle Directing
10 the jurisdiction OF the commits
sion To hear the application OF the
company for relief from Us
obligations. the commis-
ION overruled the clty's objection.
The only reason why that proceed.
Ing has not been brought en- for
hearing II because this department
objected to the commissions pro-
rsriing TO make n valuation until
he commission itself had completed
It's own investigation and valuation.
This II has been unable TO do be-
cause OF lack OF funds. and this de-
partment. in Directing TO n valua.
lion being made practically upon
The compauy's figures. has receiv-
I'd the cooperation OF the utilities
Of the city council.
As the law now stands, the valu-
ition of the public service commits.
sion 10 made conclusive upon the
-ity OF Seattle. IL not even being
! party to the proceedings and be.
ng denied by the law. as II now
,tands, OF any right 10 appeal TO the
from the valuation made by
he commission.
II has ct all times been impos-
,ible for the city OF Seattle to sc
-ure a review OF the valuation rlRc.
I'd upon the telephone company's
property and the latter IL apparent
" content with the same at least
Insofar az It mas bearing upon its
fates IL concerned.
(SiEned)
HUGH NJ. CALDWELL.