The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1922-08-24
ADJOURNS WITHOUT
REACHING TAX DECISION
(From the Bellingham Reveille)

(From the Bellingham Reveille)
The committee of property
owners representing seven coun-
ty townships which met with the
board of equalization and the
supervisors of the townships yes
terday afternoon in an effort to
come to an agreement regarding
assessment failed to form a pro-
position, which they thought
would be acceptable to all con-
cerned and adjourned yesterday
afternoon at 5 o'clock without
having reached any definate con-
clusion. Seven of the committee
will be on hand at 10 O'Clock
this morning to continue the dis
cussion and it is believed they
will have something to announce
before the day is over.
The entire morning and early
part of the afternoon was taken
up with heated discussion of
taxation, and the assessment
question was discussed from all
angles. 1t was only after hours
of confusion that the committee
was chosen and went into session
and even then nothing was ac-
complished. Many property own
ers of the seven townships, Lyn-
/ den, Nooksack. Ten Mile, Fern
dale. Mountain View. Delta and
Custer. were on hand to take
part in the deliberations.
Chief among the verbal clashes
of the morning was an attack
H. To- y I los Il in
other county officials which
brought forth heated reply
from Commissioner Ed Brown.
When the meeting adjourned az
noon it seemed the opinion of
! the majority that assessed val
uations should not be raised. but
rather that in equalizing the as
sessments of the various town.
/ ships the tendency should be to
go down. Chairman Z. c. BaX-
/ ter declared that if the township
assessments go down, the city
assessments must follow the same
route. He declared, however that
pay three or four times as much
per acre in ole township as
man in another. both living OH
the same kind of soil.
Brown voiced the opinion that
Whatcom County would have to
! get back to earth, stating that
its citizens are paying SO taxes
where they ought to be paying
81.
Several times during the meet
ing two or three or more en-
deavored to talk at the same time
and one man from Nooksack
township was repeatedly on his
feet. Any time anyone mentioned
stricter economy and retrench-
ment. shouts, handclapping and
stamping of feet ensued.
A. ID. Foster of Laurel and
]. p. Lawrence of Ten Mile were
among the principal speakers.
/ Foster, in his talk, pointed out
/ the difficulties under which the
farmers are laboring. with the
dairymen producing milk at
loss, poultry being assessed for
more than the market value and
farm produce not bringing in
sufficient returns. He urged, with
others, that a committee be APP
/ pointed to meet with the board
to equalize the values in a fair
manner. Lawrence insisted on
/ threshing the matter out in mass
meeting.
Chairman Baxter obtained a
motion which included that
member of the Bellingham Real
Estate association be on the COM
mittee to meet with the board.
which also would include the
township assessors. but loud cries
of NO, no." came from the crowd
at this suggestion. The motion
was voted down.
Both George Bacon and w. r.
Moultray, from the real estate
association, spoke. Bacon con
tended that ii would not be fair
to lower the township valuations
and leave the city valuations stay
as they are. He also pointed out
that il was not fair for an acre of
cleared land in one township be
ing assessed at 500 an acre and
cleared land of like character in
another township being assessed |
SAP, for example.
I'VE are not getting anywhere
rapping each other" said Moul- |
tray, when he arose. " We all |
admit taxes are too high. 1t is
now a question of equalizing val
uations as between townships"
X. W. Mize OF Rome, declared |
that some time in the near flu !