Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-03-13
DEBATE ON THE SEATTLE WALLA-
WALLA RAILROAD BILL.

Seattle and Walla-walla Railroad bill.
on the 18th ult., pending the vote, is
given below in a condensed form. We
copy from the Congressional Record:
The bill g. 5sil granting the right of way
Transportation Company, and for other pur-
poses, was considered as in Committee of the
Whole.
The Committee OIL Territories proposed to
strike out All after the enacting clause and
insert the following:
That the county commissioners of the coup-
ties of King, Yakima, and Walla Walla, and
the city council Of the cities OF Seattle and
Walla Walla, i'm said Territory, be, and they
are hereby, authorized and empowered sew
orally to contract with the Seattle and Walla
Walla Railroad and Transportation Compa-
raroad oM the Sty Of Seattle ia in KIns
county, to the city of Walla Walla, in Walla
Walla county, and to issue the bonds Of their
said counties and cities respectively i'm aid
$3.50, 900 in any one county, and 100000 in any
one city, and to designate the time and man
ner Of payment of the principal and interest
of said bonds.
Sec Q. That when the county commits.
sioners and city. council, or any one Of said
boards, acting for its own county or city,
shall have agreed upon the terms for the con-
and Walla Walla Railroad and Transporta-
ton company, or its assigns, each board,
acting for its own county or city, shall call q
special election at such times as it may des-
ton, which said notices shall contain the
terms of the proposed contract, to be posted
for twenty days i'm each election precinct of
said s counties and cities at which the pro
gal voters of said counties and cities. Such
election shall be held at the same places and
in the same manner, and the returns thereof
Is required i'm case of election for county Off
GERS under the laws of said Territory. And
II two-thirds OF said votes cast at said cleo.
such two-thirds shall be equal in numbers
to a majority of the votes cast i'm said coun-
ties or cities at the then next preceding
election for Delegate in the Congress Of the
missioners and city council, or any one of
said boards, acting for its county or city,
shall, complete the said agreement, and is
as the said railroad is completed, in amounts
bearing the same proportion to the whole
amount of bonds to be issued in the county
that the completed road i'm said county bears
to the entire length of the proposed road in
said county, and not otherwise and which
bonds shall bear interest not exceeding 10
per cent. per annum; and the principle there
the taxable property e Of the County e or city is
suing the same, as legally assessed for terri
torial taxation, and not In any event to ex-
coed $3.50 600 In any one county, or 100000 I'm
either of said cities, Notwithstanding the sums
may be less than per cent. of such taxable
valuation; and any such bonds in excess OF
Z per cent. of the territorial taxable valuation
or in excess Of saso,ooo in any one me- of said
counties, and $500 900 in any one city as afore-
said, in any event. shall be absolutely void.
and all persons interested are required e
take notice thereof: Provided That the said
railroad company, or its assigns, shall exc
cute and deliver to the said counties and
cities, or such OF them, as may aid In con-
to be- s county ana
sioners and city councils, binding them
selves, their successors, and assigns, to OPP
crate and maintain the said road for the term
OF twenty-five years, in an amount equal to
the aid furnished said road by said counties
and cities respectively
Mr.. Scott. Mr.. President. that bill. if
have caught Its purport Alright, proposes to
Committee ON Railroads concluded ought
not to be permitted in any case in the Terri
tories. Itauthorizes. II ! have been correct
has been reading 1t. the county commission
ers and the authorities OF townsend cities in
the Territory OF Washington to issue bonds
Of the counties and of the municipal corpora
struction of this railroad. That is principle
against which amendments have been In
troduced in very many of the constitutions
and sG S@
being granted In this form for the construc-
ton Of railroads: Especially IL 1t considered
objectionable where a large portion Of the
community vote against such aid or such sub
sidy, upon the ground that IL Is taxing them
for improvements against their consent.
call the attention of the Senate to the bill
some extent considered in the Committee on
Railroads, and was Incorporated in the gen.
eral bill which passed the Senate during the
last session. The principle itself is one upon
which there Is avery considerable difference;
and Nnless there be something in the special
circumstances of this case which can be ex-
planned by the chairman of the Committee
on Territories to justify It, the bill ought not
to be passed without full and ample consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. foreman. Mr.. President the mat
tiers stated 6y the Senator % from
Territories and duly considered. The situa-
ton of Washington Territory, and particu-
larry that portion Of it which is intended to
lar, its necessities are very great, and the
deemed 1t proper and advisable to
report in favor Of the passage ofthis bill.
~ 70 @ G the lnles om
two hundred miles to Walla Walla, passing
through three counties with population OF
twenty-odd thousand, who have, exceptthose
near the Sound, no outlet whatever. A por-
ton Of this route for the first thirty or forty
or probably fifty miles, has fine coal and other
minerals which wopl3 be Of great advantage
III they were aCceSStDl0s Inc anterior Oh INC
country beyond the mountains, in Walla
Walla county and that region of country, is
very fertile and produces largely OF grain
and all the cereals and stock, as may be seen
by reading the elaborate report which was
made by tho committee but they cannot
get their produce to market without very
heavy expense. II costs more to get q bushel
of wheat or any other commodity % that
sort to market in that region of country than
It Is worth, or nearly as much as 1t Is worth.
Indeed It will not bear transportation. 1t Is
some distance from the Columbia River.
These people ask that they may be per-
mitted to build this railroad by taxation upon
themselves. The Legislative Assembly, as
the committee il advised, have Endorsed this
anpiication. The Delegate who is here rep
resenting their interests has pressed the
matter. and says that In doing 50 he repre-,
these people. And now the question. is one
simply Of policy on the one side, against the
expression of the wishes of these people on
the other. / do not think the question OF
policy in this particular case should preveil
dociro tI,ls act II will certainly be of adyan-