The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1919-02-13
PROTEST AGAINST BILL
THAT HITS ASSESSORS
Lynden Township Mass Meeting Ad.
Opts Resolutions Against Measure;
Fish Men Back or Bill

ioii Us INC ICE iSidtuIS " ouoiiSu tuc
office of township assessor was ad-
opted by mass meeting of the cit
liens of Lynden Township at the
Township Hall Tuesday afternoon.
Resolutions were drawn up, and
these may now be signed at the City
Drug Store. The citizens of other
townships were urged by the meet
ing to take similar action. so that the
fight may be carried with vigor to
the legislature.
One feature that has been brought
out in connection with the bill is
that it is backed by the fishing and
big lumber interests alone. A rep
resentative Of the officers organizat-
ion of the townships of Whatcom
County visited Olympia last week,
and learned that the bill had been
introduced by the state tax. commits
sion.
THE taxation system is a mess in
the counties with township organic
alton as compared with those who
do not have it," they told him at the
tax commission office.
Lets have the figures on it," he
asked. "How does Whatcom compare
with Skagit County?
"Oh, we can't compare it with
Skagit County" was the answer.
"Skagit County'o in very bad shape" ="
"Why not compare it with Sno-
homish County. them"
1--WE can't compare it with Sno-
homish. either" the state tax man
explained. You see"
well, If Whatcom County with
township organization is better than
Skagit or Snohomish without it. why
change the law" inquired the What
com man.
"Er, WELL" suffered the official,
getting red
Over in Mountain View township.
the fish companies have an idea that
their taxes would be handled more
gently by a county assessor than by
township farmer. And some of
the big timber owners are of the
same opinion. Hence. the bill to do
away with the office.
The following are the Lynden
Township res buttons:
WHEREAS there is a bill, being
Senate Bill No. Ga, now before the
Legislature abolishing the office Of
Township Assessor and the Township
Board of Review and putting the du-
ties of these offices back in the hands
of the County Assessor and Board of
County Commissioners, and
WHEREAS the present system has
been satisfactory as compared with
conditions as they existed under the
former system, and
WHEREAS the contention OF the
interests back of the bill that the in
equality of assessments as between
townships under the present system
is justification for a change, cannot
be borne out by the facts in the case.
if a comparison Of present and past
conditions be made,
NOW THEREFORE BE 1T RE-
SOLVED that we, the voters Of Lyn-
den Township in mass meeting as
sembled hereby protest against the
passage OF said Senate Bill No. "a
and would beg that, il any change be
made in the law as it relates to the
matter in question. that such change
be made to provide for the election
of Township Assessor for a period OF
two years the election to be held
during the year when only personal
property is to be assessed. A reas
on for this change is that this would
give the assessors chance to ge'
together during the year and be bet
ter prepared to reach a more eQuit
able real estate agreement as betweeI
townships.