The Tax Collector’s Hostile Expulsion
Kennewick’s county assessor leverages tax law to force a nomadic group out of town.
County Assessor Arthur H. Wheaton has been criticised in some quarters for having swooped down upon a gypsy camp in this city and having carried away $44.60 in tax money. It may be that in getting the money Assessor Wheaton did trample on a few legal technicalities, but we can but believe he did a good day’s work. If, by reason of his activities, he put wheels under the bunch and started it down the river, we know he did a good day’s work. In fact, we sincerely hope that the gypsies will feel so badly abused that they will decide to cut Kennewick off their calling list. If a few more county assessors would pay similar visits to the gypsies’ camp they might outgrow some of their tribal traditions for begging, petty thievery, and general cussedness and turn their attention to honest work. It must be conceded that the assessor showed good judgment in leaving enough money to the gypsies for them to buy transportation out of the country.
“If, by reason of his activities, he put wheels under the bunch and started it down the river, we know he did a good day’s work.”
This editorial reflects the era's normalized xenophobia and aggressive policing of nomadic populations. Today, such actions would be recognized as state-sanctioned harassment and a violation of civil rights, highlighting a long-standing tension between local civic identity and the policing of marginalized groups.
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