Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-12-20

lions hardship on them. There were various
r . why he did not wish the poll tax law
r..ucal.d, many of which would b- obvious to
,br House. lie would like to know from
ron,lcn.n who were advocates Of the meas
nrr what were the objects Of its repeal. He
intended at an early day to submit a PROPOSE
zion TO the Houss, which would embody this
noll tax law, or one providing for poll tax,
and which would also provide for the re-or.
,,onizstion Of the whole revenue system Of
the Territory, and with this view he moved
,hat the bill 10 recomnitted to a select COM
,ntcc Of five.
Mr. Hunt said that the present law was ex-
,r.m,lv odious to citizens in his district, and
,Lat they would be glad to have it repealed.
In its operation it had been failure, for not
, cent had been received into the Treasury
,yon east of the mountains. lie said the law
is very unpopular, and thought the proper
way TO rai.r revenue was to increase the num-
,,.r -. mills on the dollar, contending that
property was the only available source Of
revenue.
VIZ. Potter, from thu committee to whom
the matter was referred, said that the recon-
nynla,ion f,r the passage Of the law, was not
will, view to effect the revenue at all. lie
cont,p,lcd that the existing law was imper-
Rect and imperative in many ways, amongst
Them he cited that it failed to provide in what
manner and at what time the monies collect
cd under it, were to be paid into the Treas
urv. That section and l3 of the law con-
ficed the one directing 80 per cent. to he
maid into the Territorial treasury, and 40 per
cent. into the County treasn"y; the other d.
recting that 80 per cent. be paid to the Terri
torial treasury. and 80 per cent. into the
County treasury. The present law had been
copird with some alterations from the Cali
tornia poll tax law.
.lir. Baglv thought this matter OF great
impo.iance and IA at no distant day, the i'm
torrance and wealth of the Territory would
h. greatly au@ncn ed ana for the reasons as
med 6v .lE. Reed, lie should second hat
.srnlc,,.al.s motion to refer it to select COM
, mi,trc of five.
Mr. Griswold alluded to some remarks
made Ly lir Raglry in reference to the ex-
,c..ses Of the Territory, and stated that they
were provided for by the General Govern
men. The great object of Legislation should
NE to make taxation equal throughout the
whole Territory. lie said that the poll tax
had not been generally collected in the upper
eov!trv, wb.,, here and ON the Sound it had
lc,n almost Invariably collected. lie hoped
Il, law would be repealed, ana then let them
,lnke Il l., ter one.
III. Elglty co,tcndcd thu. the reason for
IL n,n.cuilrc,ion of the take, in til" upper
country, GINNING disilict.) WAS from the fact
that the population were in sach IL transition
s;atr.
lie alluded to the Territories Of Nevada and
New Mexico rai>in. revenue Independents of
Hongrrss;na aid pay the expense of those
governments, and contcnded that before long
his Territory would do the same; that the
voice Of jie people cast of the mountains
would he heard in the matter. He hoped it
would he referred to Mr.. Reed.
.Ir Reed said that hc was not DESTROYS Of
being On the committee, but hoped it would
bc referred to some members from the upper
country.
h. Potter was opposed 10 the present law.
rs it was perfectly imperative. lie was not
opposed to IL genera, poll tax law, but was in
ilvor oft. but poll tax should apply equally
10 AL parties lie contenlcd that il suit were
had in the colris to recover monies collected
tv thu Assessor for poll tax, that he (the
.is-essor) would not be held responsible.
There was no provision i'll the law reluir-
Ing the Assessor to give bonds. The law
vas Il Il race On the statute book.
Mr.. Huntington said that the poll tax
had been collected in Cowlitz COUNTY by
the assessor, wholly Irresponsible. Several
people had applied to pay their poll tax
before the first of October, at the Office of
the Assessor but he was not to be found.
consequently they had TO pay 81 instead
Of -.
Mr.. Reed said if the features of the pres
.nt law were obnoxious. why not amend
them. lie thought the Assessors were liza
bic under their bonds when they first quail.
ity ana take their Office.
.llr. Frost said that the debate had ex.
extended to great length and would state
that the reasons for the committee reporting
favorably on the bill WERE that the present
law was in lis operation. unequal, unjust and
oppressive. That it was with the express
view of forming general revenue law, that
they recommended the repeal Of the poll tax
law. Only small portion Of the tax had
been received from east Of the mountains
some of the revenue from it had been ap-
piled to building court house. One instance
WIS OH record where the lSscSSOr iidu colcCtc&l
the tax and then taken leg bail. lilo had no
objection for the members east Of the noun
tains to pass law imposing a poll tax Of s.
on their constituents. but was opposed to the
honest, hard working laborrrs Of this end Of
the Territory paying the tax. 1t bore heav.
lily on them, the bone and snew Of the land,
whilst the transient population east Of the
mountains paid little or nothing.
After some further discussion, the bill was
read a second time, and referred to select