The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-05-18

experience. The senate had but four.
The House. fresh from the people
with demands for lower taxation yet
ringing, was jealous to redeem its
prediction pledges, but did not re-
alize how much had been promised. A
fine body of men and women, but IN
dividualistic, unaccustomed to work
ing collectively, and lacking cohes-
iveness, there was much confusion
and tumult, and much wasted effort.
The same members another session
would do splendidly. 1t is waste to
send new men to the House each SEES
sion.
The Senate was conservative. 1t
was a highly efficient body and the
work went smoothly. Many of its
members have seen long service. some
of them too long, perhaps, and the ten
dency is to get into a rut and conces-
sions must be wrung from them by
the progressive element.
'Tempermentally different, results
in both houses were paradoXical. The
progressive house not only failed to
pass its own progressive program, but
it killed the two important progress
sive measures from the conservative
Senate, the school bill and the tax
commission bill. 1t strongly opposed
progressive road legislation yielded by
the Senate, in the gas tax and the re-
peal of the one mill public highway
levy, and prevented the provision of
ha nnfn fn
highway levy from 1 12 to l mill.
The House was emphatically commit
ted to economy yet it was left to the
Senate supporting its steadfast apprO-
priations committee, to withstand the
raids on the treasury that were at
tempted repeatedly, to the very last
moment of the session"
A study Of what was accomplished
by the legislature discloses that with
the exception of failures to act in two
or three important respects mentioned
by Senator Wilmer, the legislature
acted with high regard to the wishes
of the people. The failure of several
important acts is not to be charged to
the legislature as a whole. The other
budget laws would undoubtedly have
passed If they had come to a vote. One
was suppressed in committee for
reasons not apparent and one was
suppressed in committee by reason of
the activities Of city officials, who
would be, controlled by the act if it
should become law. 1t was unfortu-
nate that the act providing for reor-
ganization Of the state tax depart
ment did not become law. 1t was
unanimously recommended by the
State Tax Investigating committee
after exhaustive study, which recon-
mendations was Endorsed by the Tax
associations throughout the state. 1t
apparently failed because OF want OF
understanding of the subject by many
of the members. The principal reasons
which were voiced in opposition to 1t
were that it would place too much
power in the hands Of the governor by
enabling him to appoint board that
would have control over local taxing
bodies; that it should be elective In
stead of appointive and that it would
| be unwise to have the state taxing Of
| ficials constitute majority or the
State Equalizing committee. 1t is
most unjustifiable assumption that the
governor or any of his appointees
would have any disposition to be par
tial in assessing property throughout
tne state. There could be no induce
lment for such partially. The purpose
of tho act was stated therein to be
Ito the end that all property snail
he valued and assessed for taxation
and shall be valued and assessed equi-
tably and to the same extent as any
and all property real or personal, is
reouired to be listed and assessed
for taxation. and that all taxable
lnronerty in this state. of every class
kind and character, real, personal and
mixed. shall be listed upon the assess
ment rolls and valued and assessed
according to the provisions OF law
and equalized between persons cor
porations and companies, and between
tbe differenent counties of this state
and between the different municlpall'
ties and counties therein, so ina
eouality of taxation shall be secured
according to the provisions OF law
No thoughtful person can believe ina
a self nominated individual would pe
more desirable for this technical wori
than one appointed because OF Ms
qualifications.
AS to the composition of tx Stat
Eoualizing Committee, the stat
BOARD of Tax Commissioners OF thre'
members, together with two ex-offlci'
members. composed the Board o
Eoualization from the time OF It's ere
alton in 1907 until 1915. NO com
blaint was heard during that time Of
account of the Board of Equalization
The change was made. not because o
anv objections TO the composition 0
the Board of Equalization but pecaus
the membership of the Board OF ia
Commissionersewas reduced. The SUI
iect of taxation is complex In the OK
, treme, The taxing authorities are tn
; only ones who can nave an intimat