The Seattle Star Newspaper, May 25, 1921, Page 6

e Seattle St 14.40 for @ mantna or $8.00 per year, My carrier, city, b0¢ & month. DITOR THE STAR: Twice or three times lately there has been an article in The Star to the effect that bondholders should be taxed to lighten the burden on the home owners. Now, most bondholders are home owners, and those who are not are tenants. Home owners pay direct taxes and tenants pay indirect taxes. When any landlord has property to rent of any description, he figures his investment, upkeep, depreciation and taxes on same, and the rental he puts on the premists is rated according- 7. Taxes of every description seem to come out of everybody’s pocket, erefore, let us decrease our expenditure, and not ie shift the burden. It is probable that tax revenue could be increased, but it doesn’t seem fair to assume that the bondholders do not pay municipal taxes. If they don’t, I would like to know how they get out of it. AN INDIRECT TAXPAYER. + home, but not on his bonds. The man who owns two houses, however, pays taxes on BOTH houses. Aman may own a $3,000 home and also $3,000 in bonds. His total wealth mot taxed at all in this state. Another man who has a $6,000 home is taxed $200. In other words, the sec- man has no more wealth than the first man, but he pays twice as much taxes, ‘because his wealth is invested in a home—in tangible property.” The first man pays only half his taxes, because his wealth is invested, in part, in intangible at a bondholder may not pay taxes. property. It isn’t th a the home. If he rents a home, he pays indirectly. t he does not pay on the bonds. : What The Star is urging is nothing new. It is urging nothing that is not being done in California, and in Oregon, and in New York, and nearly everywhere else. > “Let us decrease aur expenditure,” says the writer of the above letter, “but not i the burden.” , By all means, decrease the expenditure. But let us not “kid” ourselves into any belief that we can run our government- affairs in Seattle half as cheaply as in San Francisco. Yet that’s exactly what would have to do in order to obtain the same rate on property. In California spread the taxes over nearly twice as much wealth as we. For that reason expenses can be every bit as large as ours, and yet the tax rate remain half of That does not alter the fact “Cut expenses? Surely. Every time, and in every department. d a 50 per cent reduction is possible only fing part of the burden from it and placing just as it is placed in New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, California, Ore- n and other states in the Union. Perhaps the best solution of all is a state income tax. If a man makes a lot of 12 mills or 15, or even 207 Wecan doit just as easily as they do it in New fork by the adoption of the state income tax. _ This state is the biggest sucker in the country, the highest, altho its o expenses are not. We're not more extra elsewhere, but : And we're going to be. The whole country has got to be more economical. use the tax rate is lower in San Francisco, it is no indication that the public officials there are more economical. Not in the least. It is the tax system in Cal- because its taxes are advertised concerned. " The Star has been telling a lot of plain facts—and will continue to do so. It’s going to hurt in some quarters. Naturally. But unless we know the real th, we cannot obtain any real remedy. We've got to cease kidding ourselves. le’ ve got to face the music and realize that our high tax rate is not because we twice as extravagant as they are elsewhere. We're more extravagant in some cts, and less extravagant in other respects. We'll average pretty well along- de any of them. If other cities economized at the sametime and in the same proportion as we, tax rate would still be higher, because they still would have the advantage of ‘BR more up-to-date tax system. So, while we're about it, let’s do the job complete. And that means two things: 1. Cutting operating expenses to the bone. 2. Changing our tax system. One is as essential as the other, and they’re not in the least in conflict with ‘each other. They can BOTH be secured if we make up our minds to do it. To depend on the first alone is sheer folly. And we've been foolish long enough. For in the past we HAVE depended-on Thanks to Lizzic| Let us be more sensible now. Berton Braley= _ AUTO EXTRAVAGANCE AND _ BOOZE KNOCKDOWNS ' Editor The Star: In regard to/ this controversy over taxes. Am | wrong when I assume that you, or the organization you represent, are Anefficient to thoroty understand tax- "ation. If you are efficient and un- Getetand the subject and have the! Interest of the taxpayers at beast, | &s the columns of your paper lead| ‘ene to believe, why don't you come out with true facts, figures and data, ‘and the names of the men that are| Fesponsible for the outrageous taxes of Seattle? ’ It seems to me that The Star prac tically indorsed the present admin- + fetration, and if so, you owe some of your readers an apology. I do not ask you to go Into great! lengthy details, just this, for exam- ple: If you have the people's inter. est at heart, and are man enough ‘to shoulder the Job, investigate the automobile end of county and city, Publis? the nugnber of machines, Oost of operation and mileage, and The rich people ever go touring In huge and splendiferous cars That move with a smoothness alluring, Protected from jolts or from jars: Our car shakes the spine and the liver, And yet it's our joy and our pride— The little old family flivver That cheerfully ‘takes us to rida It's true when we go for a mpin, it Is crowded wherever jt wends; For all of the family’s in it, Along with a number of friends. Though packed till we scarcely can qutver, We still can enjoy all the while The little old family flivver Which carries ug mile after mile. It's funny and dowdy and battered. Tt rattles and jounces a lot, But somehow that never has mattered Compared to the fun that we got In riding by hill, lake and river, Wherever we happen to steer, The little old family fliivver That's served us for many @ year. What care we for mud-cuards that yammor Or springs that complain as we run? This car has brought magic and glamor; cost per mile. I beieve it wil be It's made us all pale with the sun, especially interesting in the ice Tts body may shimmy and shiver, department. Its cylinders mins, yet we praise Are you afraid to publish tn your Paper the booze knockdowns If you don't know, ask some of the men who drive prowlers, but of course You know, and it was stupid of me to think for one minute you did not If you have one ounce of manhood @r fighting blood in your make-up, and really want to start something to gradually bring Seattie out of the! Muck and mire it is m, let's see what The little old family fivver That adds to the fun of our dayst (Copyright 1921 by Newspaper Lnterprise) you can do. Yours for a better and cleaner city rc eh Beate. IE PERSON WHO OWNS A HOME and also owns bonds pays taxes on his sould be $6,000. The home is taxed approximately $100 a year. The bonds are | If he owns a home, he pays on ™ But that’s going to be a comparative trifle, a reduction of 10 or 15 or 20 per cent | the most. We need a reduction of 50 per cent to compete with San Francisco, | by giving property a square deal, by| lan of the tax load on other shoul- | ney, he should pay more taxes than the one who makes less. New York has! income tax and a property tax both. It is gradually increasing the income tax | lowering the property tax. Mrctinre te he & ged thing for thie state if the property tax could be reduced| t that doesn’t mean that we can’t be more economical. We} nia that gives the city an apparent advantage over Seattle, as far as tax rates WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1921. AUTOMOBILES AT YOUR OWN PRICE $25.00 a Day Off Until Sold Big Turnover Necessary Reduced Daily $25.00 Each Until Sold A reduction so rapid that it will be necesmry for yon to watch the car yow Want carefully or it will be snapped up by some one else, unknown to you. Y BID ON YOUR CAR Bids wil be received and posted on each car; anyone can bid any amount by placing a deposit to cover the bid. When the price works down to the highest bid the car will be considered wold. The folowing cars will be placed on mile under thin plan, and will positively remain until sold, even tho they bring only $25.00: APPERSON SEVEN-PASSENGER TOURING; mochanically ex- cellent; excellent finish, good cord tire equipment, five-wire wheels. This ear has been driven privately. Regular price, $1,450.00, an wire telegraphy, but it ts being rapidly improved.—Marconl, wireless inventor. eee Of af! men my father te the mort fomocratic. He does not judge « man by his bank account or the cut! 1 am feeling fine, am in £004) 56 hig clothes. He judges him by | shape and I expect to enter the rink | nig character—John D, Rockefeller in better condition than ever before | 5, 5 in my life.—Georges Carpentier, |" Buropean boxing champion. oe As soon as the revenues and oper ating costs of the railways can be brought to a proper relationship the railway problem will have been | largely, {f not entirely, solved.-Dan iol Willard, president, B, & O, rail road. “iam and ewes at Boldt's—Adver- . tinement, Faoton’y GARONER Woy, Tw wanes cen rene eee A man who could answer all of Edison's questions would be an in- tellectual freak of nature, a mental BACK OF THE GARDNER LIGHT FOUR 18 THE SUC CESSFUL EXPERIENCE OF OVER A THIRD OF A CEN- TURY IN BUILDING VEMI- Jack of all trades.—Dean William Carl Ruediger, George Washington university. eee | Regtnning at the age of 14, and A lot o' follers think they're thinkin’ hen Te ing «joven at 12, boys and girts should be | smokin’, When, old Somer treated as individuals and with the pyost aghey man Bt TOMORROW'S PRICE $1,725.00 Stebbins come bame th’ othe [fame respect ax adulta—Dr. Lily hy saradte « STUDEBAKER SPECIAL SIX TOURING. ‘This cur has been Owen Burbank, Boston. | eee | ‘White sta no longer exists tn New York city.—New York women's police department. eee | ‘The American people at ball parka, | football games, Coney Inlanda and the like devour four million 100- pound bags of roasted peanuts « |year—P. D. Bain, president, United Peanut Amociation of America, eee day with a new suit ¢ clothe on aay’ his hair cut an’ whinkers trimmed, his ewn dog growled at him. THE WOMAN CITIZEN How ts it possible for the woman of today to meet the requirements of @ home-maker, mother and voter, with all her social and political ac tivities, if she is to go on suffering the pain that comes from ailments peculiar to her sex? Check the malady at onse by a conscientious treatment of Lydia EB Pinkham's Vegetable Compound at the first sign of backache and drag- ging down sensations ae common te women who suffer from female @im eanos.—Advertisement. Privately ewned and used under the most favorable conditions Almont new cord tires; bumpers front and rear. Kegular price, $1,476.00, TOMORROW'S PRICE $1,350.00 THIS IS A UNIQUE PLAN —* Mgh standard of salesmanship, and we believe will attract @ great deal of attention and bring many prospective buyers to our salesroom, where our used, rebuilt and refinished cars are con- spievounly arrayed, establishing a standard of ued car values. BUY WHEN YOU ARE READY, but don't wait too long. This {e your opportunity te buy et your ewn price. TERMS TO SUIT. Shields-Livengood Motor Co. 1024 East Pike St. Phone East 100 | Shields-Livengood Motor Company — Distributors & Retailers SEATTLE 1024 Bast Pike #t. Phone Kast 160 SPOKANS Yakima D Leed & Leed, Kirkland, Wash. Morris Motor Company, Olym- pis, Wash. Breer Company, Ever- ett, Waal | | ‘Tenting « garden is good for your health and fine for your table——| John Dill Robertson, Chicago health | eee Wirelas telephony bas not i been developed to the same extent! — commiastoner, Come to 1123 1st Ave., Seattle THE WASHINGTON BROKERAGE CO. Nothing Like This Before In Seattle The Greatest General Merchandise Sale Ever Held in Seattle The Mount Vernon ‘Produce Co. of Mount Vernon ws HAS GONE BUSTED “#4 Sold to Us By the Seattle Merchants’ Associatign at a Ridiculously Low Figure People of Seattle This is Up to You —If You Have the You Can Get a Real Bargain ALBERS’ | SALE STARTS THURSDAY, MAY 26 238.530" Here is where you can buy high grade goods at almost your own price—The Washington Broker- age Co., 1123 First Avenue, corner Seneca. | | 100 sacks “@0OD POTATOES 5c 10¢ MILK 5c CAN pam a HERE IS WHAT THE STOCK TO BE PLACED ON SALE CONSISTS OF The largest store in Mount Vernon—the Mount Vernon Produce Co.—a full line of Groceries, Feed, Crockery, Tinware and Graniteware, Stock Foods and Poultry Foods of all kinds—Gents’ Furnish- ing Goods and thousands of other goods too numerous to mention. A full line of Fruit Jars to be sold- at less than wholesale. | | $7.00 and $8.00 Ladies’ $3.50 Men's Hardeman Leather Hand Bags Hats, each Priced at $2.45 48c ] Men’s $1.25 Summer Under- "ac" [LET NOTHING KEEP YOU AWAY) == | 65c : 39c Each We bought this stock cheap—and we are going to sell it cheap. Bach ’ een We will have plenty of help to wait on you. Remember the place— $1.00 Wool Socks 1123 FIRST AVE.—CORNER SENEC HALF PRICE This stock was so large that it took 4 men 2 weeks to ship it to Seattle. This is a bona fide sale. Here are the list of fixtures for sale: One large Hobart Coffee Mill, Tables, Scales, one up-to-date Hall Safe and other Fixtures. Ice Box, white iile. Milk Flow Dairy Feed, 100 Ibs, 50-Ib. boxes FRUIT JARS EXTRACTS 120 BEANS, PER CAN sort 2127771996 [| ALL 400 EXTRACTS......-20 0 nne+++ 28e FANCY DRIED PEACHES, Ib. ........:.26c | EGGS, FRESH RANCH, dozen ............ DON'T FORGET THE PLACE THE WASHINGTON BROKERAGE CO. 1123 First Ave., Seattle, Wn., Cor. Seneca DO NOT PASS UP THIS SALE—IT WILL PAY YOU TO COME FOR MILES AROUND