The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-01-19
oRRow COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER
ForeiSu Advertising Representative
The AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION
Washington Leads the Way.

Taxation and the Lumber Industry.
1t was addressed to the State of
Washington Tax Investigation CON-
mittee and presented at a public
hearing held in Seattle, November
l6, 1921.
Taxes have risen 10 such point
in Washington that it has been nee
essary for the state &c take action in
order TO find means Of reducing the
overhead and, as result, the 1921
laws empowered the governor to seek
expert assistance to solve the prob
lem. As a result, the governor Sc
cured a representative committee OF
men OF affairs in various business &C
tivities of the state rather than call
ing for the advice Of so-called tax
experts"
The lumber industry's brief of the
situation shows, that during the 80
years of statehood, tax levies have in
creased l2l455 per cent; assessable
wealth 1884 percent; population
27e.75 percent. During the same
period per capita tax for all purposes
in the state has increased from SIS
IA to S53.35; while per capita wealth
as determined bv equalized assess
ment rolls has increased BY Sl3.04
The per capita debt for bonds and
warrants outstanding in the state is
Sl27.64; interest $3.50.
This is the staggering tax burden
under which individuals and indus
try operate in Washington. AS the
bulk of the capital for the develop.
ment of Washington industries
comes from outside the state, it is
apparent TO all that the headlong tax
increase must be stopped and that
Furthermore, drastic measures must
be adopted to reduce the tax burden
if Washineon expects to secure in
vestment of the funds needed for the
development of its industries.
The state has discounted the fu-
ture and assumed burdens of govern
mental development that would moi
be needed BY state with many times
the population and invested capital.
The lumber industry Of Washing
ton in 1920 produced Sll9,939,l 1852
worth Of lumber; emploved 63.07l
men: and furnished 20l,4S2 carloads
Of logs or raw material. In other
words. il was the great employing
and tax paving industry Of the state
and was the very life of business.
The tax load on timber has become
so great that the accumulation oil
each wears taxes on the capital in.
vestnent has already mounted to
point where it is beginning TO equal
the value Of the timber itself.
After analyzing various methods
proposed for raising money by new
methods Of taxation" and for finding
new sources Of wealth to tax, the
brief shows the folly of hoping Il
remedy the situation by merely en-
larging the tax levying power of the
government.
II shows that there is nothing
wrong with our system of a genera
property tax as adopted in state ant
nation Ii does show, however, tina
there are too many tax leyying bodie'
and too much waste in the admins
ration and expenditure Of publi
funds due to lack of any uniform
system of checking expenditures o
deciding on the necessity of expendi
tures before they are made.
The brief points out that busines
was compelled to pass through tn
period Of readjustment following tn
war and cut down overhead. Ever
tax payer in the state was compelle
to do the same. Up to the presen
time, there has been little indication
Of cuts in government overhead 0
curtailment Of any work due to di
minished ability Of taxpayer to pay.
If public sentiment can finall
force a return Of governmental ez
penses to those Of the year 1916 tn
gross tax exactions will be reduce
from S72,665,820.ll Of 1920 to tn
$37,446,785.05 Of 1916, or a redu(
ton of S35,le9,335.t6. II is clea
that a drive should be made for les
need of revenue rather than for NOR
revenue
1t has been the general experenc
that merely finding new sources
revenue to tax, simply adds TO take
already imposed. Up to the preser
time new revenue has simply mear
more money to spend. If Washing
ton simply uncovers additions
sources Of revenue to tax and doe
not provide way for correspondent
decrease in the present tax exaction
no relief will be obtained
II would be well to add that tn
condition pointed out in the State
Washington by the lumbermen's bri'
exists in other states and that I'll
fight for tax reduction must be unr
lenting Let our law makers seek
discover" ways of reducing taxi
rather than to inaugurate new met
ods OF taxation.
Washington is courageously poin