The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1929-02-14
LEGISLATORS :
TO CONSIDER
TAX PROGRAM
Budget, Road Program, Hart
ley's Capitalization Bills
and School Plan Still to be
Considered by Legislators
By Richard Hamilton


Wednesday, following four-day
rest, it was exactly in mid-session
and probably at the turning point
of its 60-day life. So far, it hasn't
much to brag about. Frankly, it
has a dull, colorless past; but 1t
has a fairly promising future, not
wild or spicy, yet a future of in
terest and reasonable service. It
simply must have a promising fu-
ture, because it is confronted by
difficult jobs of statewide import
ance that must be tackled and
handled before long.
The big jobs are: The $87, 900, 900
general budget, the $24,O0O, 900
road program, Governor Hartley's
Capitalization bills, the Hartley tax
program and the Showalter plan
for reorganization of the common
schools system.
Since it is mid-season, perhaps
it would be interesting to survey
things:
Looking backward, it is difficult
to see much in the way Of accom-
plishment. There are only two high
lights worthy of note, and, curious
ly enough, both are negative. The
senate showed flash of spunk
by stepping out to deny enactment
of the Grange power bill-the
point being that it took action
while the house managed to stall
long enough to avoid facing the is
sue and going on record. Then the
senate took the easy way out by
passing the Eagles old-age PEN
sion bill, but the house, being CALI
ed upon to act, perked up to kill
the measure.
otherwise the Legislature's past
is without sparkle or high spots,
just devoid of dash of life. For
the most part it has moved lies
urely, if not lanquidly, so much 50
that il has aroused a measure Of
criticism, chiefly from those who
have been unable to make progress
with their pet measures. But the
tagging, it might be explained, was
really more of a studied policy Of
safety first" Those who are in
charge Of the mechanics have been
sitting on the lid. The governors
crowd in the house has been hold
ing up bills to avoid the possibility
of vetoes that might provoke re-
sentiment in mid-session; while
those Of the other faction, not be-
ing strong enough to put up much
of showing, have been satisfied
to let things drift without stirring
UP a conflict with the administra-
ton. So virtually every bill that
seemed to carry a trace of dyna-
mite was carefully tucked away by
the rules committees.
Looking forward, however, sew
eral interesting highlights can be
discerned. There are flocks of pri-
vate bills, but, excepting those
measures of purely local concern,
most-of them viii probably be kept
on the shelf. Instead the leaders
will concentrate on the major mea-
sures.
First, it looks as if Mr.. Hart
ley's tax program will go over with
out much tampering. The fact of
the matter is the Legislature is up
in the air on taxes and is pleased
to have the Governor take the full
responsibility. The Hartley tax
which is slated to win, is,
in brief:
IAN excise tax of per cent
on the net income of all financial
institutions. lThis was proposed
to substitute for the share tax on
commercial banks, which was
knocked out by the superior court
of King and Spokane counties, and
which yielded $930,0OO annually.)
The proposed excise tax, which is
to yield more than $1,000,
BOO year, would fall uniformly on
commercial banks, mutual banks,
savings and loan associations, bond
houses, investment brokers and all
other traders in money.
2.-Creation of a fact-finding
tax commission of nine members,
named by the Governor, to make a
two-year study with the idea of
proposing a new tax system for
Washington.
Reconsideration of a general
sales tax or turnover tax to part
tally or wholly replace the present
property tax.
Authority to call on all busi-
ness concerns and individuals to
provide full details of income, turn
over, ETC., which would be conf
Dental, for the tax investigation.