Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-10-21
SENATOR EXPLAINS
REAL TAX CONDITIONS
+. j. Wilmer Tries to Find Way
TO Relieve Tax
Burdens

state OF Washington are oppressNely
burdensome to real estate will
scarcely be disputed. Much of the
poorer producing properties will not
meet tax and insurance charges and
unimproved realities in increasing
numbers are being forfeited for
taxes.
Owners are struggling to pay taxes
and save their properties, hoping for
relief but not getting it, vast guam
titles of real estate will be aban-
doned for taxes and state ownership
of land will have begun, dream of
socialism realized.
Agriculture, our basic industry, is
especially threatened. In Whitman
county, one of the six most produc-
tive counties in the United States,
taxes this year are from 80 per cent
to SO per cent of the gross rental in
come of farm lands. Tax levies are
increasing but taxes are not being
paid. School districts and munich
palities are going on a warrant basis
but liquidation of the warrants is
uncertain, and their negotiability
impaired except at heavy discounts.
Such conditions if continued must
result disastrously for the public
welfare.
Tax levying authorities, state,
county and city, are exhausting their
ingenuity to reduce levies, with but
negligible results. The press and
public opinion is aroused, tax COM
missioners are active, and the con-
yiction will soon be firmly estab-
lished that relief must be obtained
and unusual measures to give relief
may be expected.
What effect will drastic expedi-
ents to reduce taxation have upon
roads?
OF the 1914 million of taxes paid
in this state the current year 1921
millions are for roads, exclusive of
the four millions paid in auto Ii
censes and the gas tax. The largest
item of public expenditure in this
state next to education is roads and
therefore roads are certain to receive
close scrutiny in the search for ave-
nues for tax reductions. OF the
12h millions paid for roads this
year, 8 u millions are for road dis
trict, road and bridge and Donahue
road taxes, all local taxes, locally
controlled, and retrenchment will be
a matter of local concern and will
not affect the general road policy
of the state.
The three millions derived from
the permanent highway and the
state highway taxes bulk largely in
the road resources controlled by the
state, and any diminution of these
funds would retard progress in the
road program.
Good roads men may congratulate
themselves on the fact that more
than half of the road revenues con-
trolled by the state highway depart
ment are derived from taxes on the
travel of the state, and not from
taxes on the property of the state,
auto licenses and the gas tax pro-
ducing about four millions of the
seven millions total annual road
revenue,
In the final adjustment of the tax
question it is probable that it will be
necessary to substitute other re-
sources of revenue for our entire
state levy on property. This is the
probable solution, because it is the
reasonable solution.
II real estate can be released en-
tirely from the present heavy state
tax levy, in addition to such re-
trenchments in local expenditures as
may be expected to follow, the. re-
lief will be substantial.
Inc stupendous amount of 72I6
millions paid in taxes this year would
not be distressing if the burden were
equally distributed In comparison
with private expenditures of our peo-
pie the 1874 millions bulk less large
ly. In the single item of auto ex-
penditures Washington people nav
more than 115 millions annually.
Lest l be charged with talking
recklessly and foolishly, I will
enumerate: Licenses, three million;
gas, q million; tires, 80 million: re.
pairs, at 8 per cent, II million; de.
probation at 162s per cent. SO mil,
mion, and lubricants, three million
and not including property taxes
garage storage, ehauffers.. doctor
and undertaking bills, 115 million.
is an underestimate. and yet our peo
pie pay it without the flutter of Ar
eyelid.