Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-08-10


trend in taxation? What is the
connection between this trend,
the standard OF living of the
workers and the profits of the
rich?
These are vital questions in the
light of the elections coming up
and i'm this time of crisis.
What Did the Tax Equalization
Board Accomplish?
In July, 1898, the King County
Board of Tax Equalization, com
posed of county commissioners
and city councilmen, began to in
quire into why the assessed Valu-
ationS OF some % big business
properties. mostly office build
ings. should not be increased.
The boards announced intention
was to boost the values on bus
mess district property and to re-
ducc the assessors values on
much small residential property.
The action of the board was
largely under tine direction Of
John C. Stevenson. who had pro-
missed his voters to see that the
big business property paid an
equitable share of the taxes.
The property owners who were
called before the board were the
owners of the Northern Life Tow
or. National Bank of Commerce.
Metropolitan Building Company,
Colman, and Collins Buildings,
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
Company. Krcss Building, Sears
ROebuck and Company Wash
ington Mutual Savings Bank,
Peoples Bank and Trust Com
pany. Kitsap County TranSpOrta-
ton Company Joshua Green
Building and Dexter Horton
Building.
The valuations on many small
residence homes were decreased
slightly, cutting the taxes few
dollars.
But what did the big business
property holder do when it was
proposed that they pay an equal
share according to the value OF
their property?
Look over the files of the Sc
attic Times from the latter part
of July 1888. into the early part
of August and you'll find the an.
swer.
On July q the Peoples Bank
Building filed against an increase
from 1894 $50 to $429,4G0 On July
% the National Bank of Com
merce began a tax suit. August
the j. VI. COlman Company be,
gan suit to restrain the assess
or from putting into effect the
boards $3ll.130 assessed Valua-
ton of the COlman building
which was listed in 1882 at $2l5,
80.
In all II suits were tllCd pro
testing the increase.
After various legal steps, on
September Is, 1888, Superior
Judge J. NJ. RalSton set aside the
increased valuations on 4 down.
town office buildings thus saw.
ing the capitalists thousands OF
dollars and leaving the burden Of
taxation where it was on tho
working class and impoverished
middle calss.
Thus we see how Justice works
under capitalism. The bankers
and large property holders who
should bear the cost of govern
ment and system that benefits
them so generously have at thel
disposal the force of money anC
influence to prevent their paying
equitable taxes and showing tho
responsibility onto the backs
of the people whom they have
exploited to attain their wealth
Trends in Taxation
The trend in taxation is away
from property taxes to taxes
spread out over the entire pOpu
latiOn. nj November, 1892, the Il
mill tax levy initiative was pass
cd This was backed by the big
property owners to cut theil
taxes. At the same time i'm order
to maintain revenues to conduct
the state and local government
special forms of revenue of Occu
patton and sales taxes were put
into effect.
May, 1894, business tax re
cciptS from the state for one
month amounted to %1j.0G0
These taxes are not deducted
from profits but are added OntC
the Cost of products or service!
which the masses of people pa!
for.
An Associated Press report o
July 30 states that WHOLESALE