Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-10-23

submitted to the Legislature, and are
now in the hands of the printer, but as
the former is necessarily of considera-
bic length and may not be finished until
late in tho session, we here present that
portion embracing suggestions for leg
islation by the present Assembly:
THE REVENUE.
The financial condition of the Terri
tory, as is shown by the accompanying
statements, is very satisfactory. The
indebtedness, Notwithstanding pro-
longed season of depression Of business
and q consequent decrease of values,
has been reduced upwards of $4,000
during the past two years, and the cash
balance in the Treasury, October LIST,
constituting the reserve fund to pay a
certain class Of preferred warrants, may
now be applied for the redemption OF
the regular issue of warrants.
The suggestion Of his Excellency, the
Governor, that some means be devised
for the payment of warrants on pre-
sanitation and thus avoid the payment of
interest" should receive careful consid-
Grafton. The object is believed to be
practical under the plan proposed, OF
placing the ratio of taxation for 1876,
at say six mills, and thus obtain suffi-
cient revenue to obviate the necessity of
anticipating each years levy to meet the
current expenses. The ratio of two
mills for the succeeding year will then
probably be sufficient to defray all nee
essary expenses. The amount now re-
quired for interest and the excessive
charges for all services the compensa-
ton for which is not fixed by law, will
thus be saved by the Territory. Anoth-
er means of redeeming the public credit
is believed to be by repeating existing
laws authorizing the issue of preferred
warrants. Such authority appears to
be unfair in principle, and is certainly
destructive of that confidence in the
ability of the Territory to pay its debts
within a reasonable period so essential
as basis OF financial credit.
It ia respectfully urged that some
penalty be affixed for failure to pay the
Territorial revenue into the Treasury
when due. 1t would seem that to exact
o percentage equal to the rate of inter-
est paid by the Territory, would be no
more than fair adjustment of the loss.
The county delinquencies, as shown
by tabular statement, appear large and
somewhat in excess of former years,
but the amount embraces o large por-
ton of the delinquent tax of 1874, and
in some counties of previous years.
The deficit in those counties through
which the Northern Pacific Railroad
passes, is unusually large, and will eff
feet material reduction. Credits for
costs in criminal cases to which the Ter.
fitory is party, will still further re-
duce the balance against some of the
counties.
THE CoNvIoTs.
The expenses of keeping the Terri.
torial eonvicts the past two years, end.
ing Oct. LIST, aggregate 1923 ,305 &C, an
increase of 81 ,010 Is, over the expend.
lures for that sci vice the previous two
years. This expense, though probably
no greater than the increase of crimi-
mails would seem to warrant, is larger
than it would be under the economical
SYSTEM contemplated by the trainers OF
the law Of 1871. The intention of that
act is. as expressly stated, to make the
labor OF the conyicts q source of income
to be applied in defraying the expenses
OF aeir maintenance. That this object
is defeated is shown by practical opera
f'ons of the law. The expenses of main
tanning the prisoners while at at labor,
in addition to the charge per diem au-
thorized by section which are audit
cd and allowed by the Judges of the
District in which the convicts are con-
fned-defeats the object intended, and
results in loss to the Territory when
ever the convicts are kept at "hard la
boz" 1t is suggested that SO much of
section as allows an increased per
diem be repealed, or some provision
substituted. which viii better serve the
purpose designed. In this connection,
1t might be as well TO confer authority
upon the Auditor to sudit the bills of
sailsrs, after the items have been ap-
proved by the Judges as lawful charges
against the Territory.
THE rssayF