Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-05-02

We give space 10 this issue to The
opinions Of Judge 0 Q. Pratt on the
new constitution Of California as ap.
pear 10 the San francisco Chronicle
We do this from the fact that many OF
the journals Of that State are loud in
It's condemnation, and because some OF
the reasons they urge seaiust it are
similar to those urged by the opponents
Of the Washington constitution and are
prompted solely in the interest Of the
capitalists and In antagonism to the
people: $500
BENEFITS THAT WILL INURE FROM
THE NEW INSTRUMENT.
Ia a conversation with Chronicle
reporter at the Occidental Hotel on
Thursday afternoon Judge O. G. Pratt
briefly expressed his opinion of the new
constitution and the probable effect Of
its adoption on the industrial and com.
mercial interests Of the State. The
powerful opposition which was being
directed against it was to be attributed
entirely, he said. to selfish aud interest.
ed motives. He had too high an APP
PROBATION Of the intellect and intelli
gence Of the men who opposed the
adoption of the new constitution to i'm
agine for an instant cha. they we're sia-
cere in their objections and really be
lieved4 IN tho logic and truth Of the
Aimsy arguments which they advanced
to support their conclusions. The Sc
cret Of their fierce antagonism was self
interest. The new constitution pro.
posed ito tar oil the property in the
State. ard to tax it for all it was worth
and as natural consequence the men
who had hitherto escaped their just
share of,taxatlon opposed it's ratification
and raised the cry Of 'douhle taxation
and hard times" "Now this" said he.
ssis mere foolishress and sophistry. l
myself am large property holder, but
I am willing to abide by my convic
tions and sense Of right and paw my
share Of taxation. All this talk about
the paralysis Of business 10 the event
Of the adoption Of the new organic Law
is npf,unded. and as for double taxa
ton, the whole purport and spirit OF
the instrument is directly opposed to il.
Much has been said Of cor, ora,ions be
ing cafpell d to pay taxes, not only on
their capital stock. but upon the prop.
erty which II represents. There is not
grain Of truth 10 this assertion aud
no foundation for il. The new organic
law only coaiemplstes inst and equit
able taxation Of all the property 10 the
State. and merely considers the number
Of shares owned by any one individual
as az nnerring indication Of his pro
portion or The entire capital Of the cor
poration. To short. the new constitn.
tion taxes . msns for what he owns.
minus what he owes, and BY fixing
certain day and hour at which every
man in the State must give to the as
sessora sworn statement Of what he is
worth makes fraud almost an impossi
bility. can consider nothing more
monstrous than the law which says that
man BY merely transferring his req
estate into money and becoming CAPT
talist can avoid taxation"
Judge Pratt next referred to the
loud plant raised by so many Of the
opponents Of the new constitution If
the glaring injustice Of making the d.
rectors OF corporations directly add per
sonallss responsible for the moneys
placed under their supervision. Every
body knows" said the Judge, "the use
which has hitherto heen made BY banks
Of the names Of influential and veal by
citizens. A savings bank is incarpo
rated, Aageutlemau occupying high
position in the community, whose bust
ness. credit and integrity arc uaim
reschabh; who u known BY all and BY
whomscever known respected this gen.
tleman is, requested BY the newly or
ganizea institution to lend il the weight
the respectability, the good reputation
which accompany that name. In other
words he is asked II permit his name
to be placed in the list Of the bank 3
directors. That ID the only favor ask
ed Of him. ond - il il favor easily
accorded. one which attaches no respon
sibility no care TO the wealthy citizen.
he grants it, aud in consequence be-
comes b very handeome 6rurehead for
the institutions benefit. People, per
ceiving thatM b cosuected with the
bank. Immediately conclude that its q
naWcial basis il solid. its officere trust
worthy. its objects honest. and so think
Ing hasten !" invest. A crash comes
.tne bank fails, the accumulated Dc o.
It's dis appear. and thu deposi,ors natu
rally lock to the gentleman whose rar.
utsble name tirrt inspired them with
confidence in the institution and led
them to invest. but they look to him
only to be informed that he had moth
ing 10 do with the hank and conse.