Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-04
OILY MPIA. WASNi>GTON TER.
FRIDAY ENEG, AUG. i, 1882
The Special Taxes.

The Special taxes.
Two proposi;iuu5 are nov lefjro
tie ciizci.s III olympia Tor levyln1
SPECIAL taxes in very worthy and al
most indispensable Objects. The
first OF these, in order II not i'll ini-
portance, Is to afford meals for more
adequate protection against tire.
Tli-, with the late losses SO prom
men Is in view, seems to be an object
of paramount Importance, but wien
We CONSIDER the other great Necessity
pressing for recognition, the maIn-
tenance of a public school, it will
require considerable discrimination
to decide which proposition Is most
entitled to support, CT inded If 1t be
not the part of sound policy to sus-
tain both by an affirmative vote.
Our taxes are high, it is true, and
some of our people are poorly pre-
pared to sustain an increase Of the
burden, but it is sometimes the part
of wisdom to acquiesce in public
measures, however onerous, which
will result in a positive benefit.
If the corporate authorities had
but submitted some definite plan
whereby the people might be the
judges of the degree of benefit to be
derived from levy for fire purposes,
and as to whether the object seemed
feasible with the amount of money
which could be thus collected, there
is but little doubt but that the vote
on the 9th instant, would be decid-
" in the affirmative; but without
this information, and not altogeth-
or implicit faith in the ability Of the
Council to grapple with the subject,
and with the probability of still
further drain upon the pocket, it is
but prudent to weigh the matter
carefully, before authority is given
to pile up responsibilities which,
when incurred, cannot be evaded.
The last Legislature, in its inscru-
table wisdom. made it obligatory
upon each incorporated city or town
in the Territory whose enumeration
of school children is three hundred
or more, to establish graded school,
and confers authority upon the di-
rectors to levy tax of ten mills for
building school houses, and one Of
of five mills for tuition purposes,
and it is under bota these provisions
that the proposition is submitted.
In the language Of the directors, the
object is, to raise the sum of three
thousand dollars, for making addi-
tons to the district school house,
providing two houses for primary
departments, pay of teachers aud
the purchase of necessary school
appliances" The amount required
in addition to the annual apportion.
ment does not seem to be more than
will be required, but is indefinite as
to the ratio to be assessed. As there
is a disposition in some quarters tc
evade the payment of special levies
all technical points should be well
guarded.
The vote on these propositions
will take place in the several wards
of the town, on the levy for fire pur
poses, on Wednesday, the 9th inst.
and in the Olympia school districts
on the school tax, Saturday, thu
18th instant. 1t behooves every cit
izen to consider well the purport O.
these measures; to consider: First
Whether the present high rate o.
taxation shall be increased under
any circumstances; Second, Which
to support; and Third, Would it no
be we'll to authorize both levies
The question is thus presented il
its widest scope, to ensure that con
sideration which its Importance de
mands.
Popular sentiment seems to bt
decidedly averse to assuming bott
taxes, and it is probable that one OF
the other will be defeated by neg.
alive vote.
Tkn fafo