The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1922-12-14
CONFERENCE URGES
STATE INCOME TAX
Would Have Legislature Adopt
New Plans To Lift Burden On
Real Estate

ers, representing every section
and interest of the state, pro-
duced out of their state taxation
conference in Tacoma last week
the State Tax Limit League, and
platform declaring for rigid
governmental economy and elm
nation of several state tax lev
les, a tax on personal income, a
business income tax, gross
earnings tax on all public SER
vice corporations, and limitation
to 40 mills on a so per cent val
uation the total tax to be paid
by property.
The Tribune has been steadily
urging the adoption of a state in
come tax, as the only reasonable
way to lift the burden from the
real-estate.
rne income tax was strongly
favored by thu convention, and
~ the majority of the legisla-
I 'rs present, to lift the tax bur-
len materially off of property.
/. was estimated that the incom'
tax would produce between ten
/ ~ u lWclNc IllIlioh MINI "a 49,
enue to the state.
The conference heard propos-
ais that a sales tax be adopted
and refused the measure.
Represented at the conference
were: Wash. Coal Producers,
Farm Bureau, State Grange, Hor-
ticultural Assn, Berry Growers
Assn, Manufacturers Assn.
Lumbermens Assn, Shingle
Mfg. Assn, Federated Indus
tries of Wash, and the Associat-
ed Industries of Seattle, Tacoma
and Spokane. Tax leagues Of al.
most every county also were rep
resented, and in the meeting were
Senate and House Leaders, coun-
ty officials and others.
In brief. the program of the
State Tax Limit League, adopted
at the meeting, proposes the fol
lowing:
/. Budget law, with office hold.
er liable on his personal bono
for excess expenditure; requiring
county commissioners to annu
ally adopt road building program
for ensuing year, which shall moi
be departed from.
2. Pay scale for work done fol
municipal bodies shall not ex
ceed pay scale of private con
tractors.
8. Serial bond retirement plan
compulsory formation of sinking
fund to provide for retirement or
such bonds according to theil
terms.
4. Extension of Consolidated
Election Law to all counties, a:
we'll as those of first class.
5. States permanent highway
levy to be optional with countie!
and public highway levy repeal
ed, to be replaced by One-cen
additional gasoline tax.
6. Repeal of half-mill state lev!
for capitol buildings; repeal half
mill levy for reclamation fund
this fund to be turned into thu
general fund, with exception o
amount sufficient to maintain ny
draulic engineers office.
T. Consolidation Of department.
of government, to prevent dupli
cation.
s. State wide school survey t,
eliminate waste.
8. Reduction of statutory lin
its on certain millage funds, AS ii
lustration: State General t
" mills; County Currents t
mills; Schools-10 to mills
Road and Bridge to mills
Road Districts-10 to s mills, de
pending upon what complete in
vestigation will show to be pos
sible.
10. Retention of fifty per cen
valuation basis of assessment.
II. Constitutional conventio
with amendments to be submit
ted to 1924 electorate.
70. Tax on net income earne
in the state or elsewhere. $1,0O
exemption single person.; $500
married person.. $500 additiona
for each dependent. Rate q
first $1,000, 2 per cent; $500
3 per cent; $4,000, per cent
$4,000, per cent; $1,000 or II
, 6 per cent.
13. Business tax on net il
comes, to be offset on persona
income tax statement.
IA. Gross earnings tax on u
public service corporations.
Is. Limit OF total millage I
: forty mills on a SO per cent val
, If.tion as a maximum to be lev
led on real and tangible persona
property.
, 16. These recommendations t
hr Irenared for Suhnlis sion [