Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-09-14
OLVNPI,. NsuiNaro> TYR.
OLYMPIA. FRIDW Nf\IM. Nrl. ii. lN>5
The Right 10 Vote IN the City,


low" "'-ru->'> ilt' ""'"rnn'ni "i
ciii"- IA the September nnin'rr "l
'iic Norm 'N'"'rl'"h i'''''N' IN
regard I" their 'lrh'~' h' "rI''~ ri
The '""'i''>'"h 'lia' tine people
VIII" d" not pay are AWAY really l."
Great" d"hi~ against the people "i"
must pay. Nr, Mason 'h"'k>
that the "nI, remedy i"rmlhlclral
tN'ia'"E'i''c l." r'-'ri''l"i 81 -''i-
iraTc. \ plan which n" -aW work
my !" lc""' pleased hi" very
'n"'h' Inc voters 'h'" are Ill
'id"i mi" three rla->''N. 'i ti"~r
''l' highest 'a\-l"\'r~ 'i''' one
''l'i' "' Ut" '''"''''lS'' ''''''c'''
WINE another ana Ic->'r SET pawn"
taxes above IL certain amount ""'
les IMAM '''e sum p''" "I Inc '"N-
payers "l me ''r-' 'ia~-' elects ais"
"iie-'mrd 81 the rl'y council. All
"'her persons emitted I" vote elect
'''e ''>' ''''r" "' me "l''er'''ei' u"
mayor l. ''l"@'''' ny Il "'arr''! "'
all ''' ''''''''e'lE'i representatives.
Inc ana wan" ! hi"h' III com
men''hS on tins Plan' advocates
registration law and combining the
privilege Oh voting Tor Mayor and
'o''nci''"eh TO citizens without re-
gar" 10 sen VII" pay taxes on pro-
Perty' While 1t Is not prepared t"
advocate the restriction OF the fran
chlse' IN all elections :" those who
pay taxes on property is believes
that the interests OF a municipality
will be better served by men elected
oy the votes OF those possessed OF
property interest in its welfare
than II IN the hands OF men chosen
ny the votes OF those whose only
q"a''ncat'onS Z" vote are age, sex'
anu the payment OF u tax upon
their heads. Members OF Legis-
iat"re or OF congress are too num-
o"s' ana TOO many OF them are
elected ny the votes OF owners OF
the la''d' I" make 1t necessary to
reN.r'c' the r'eht OF choosing them
7" ',oSe owning property but the
""S'rs OF clty' are managed. its
tax-rates fixed and its eNPediturcs
made by so lew men, that it is pos
s'b'e Tor designing men to buy the
votes OF the 'mpecnn'"us, the float
ing population, in such numbers rs
TO elect those who will Squander
the p"o'ic money levy ex"rbitant
taxes ana fhwart the wishes OF those
who pay the taxes.
There is no question but that this
position is correct. and that it will
gradually become incorporated into
the fundamental law OF municipal
't'es. Walla Walla is now prepar-
ing a new charter, to he submitted
to the next Legislature. in which
TINS object is prominently outlined.
We can see no reason why prop
erty q"aI'f'caf'"n should he required
Tor eligibility Ms councilman, as in
the Olympia charter. while no such
test is demanded rs condition of
S"nfnge "i those who vote for that
omcer'
The ideas which have prevailed
81 unrestricted suffrage, under any
and all circumstances are rapidly adj
lnHt'"g Themselves t" common sense.
The s'ubb"rn facts of experience
constitute the neither stone upon
which public sentiment is ground
into serviceable shape. The ire
s'st'ble conclusions which they
nave addnted has disPelled the illu-
sion that citizenship carries with it
unlimited political privileges which
may ana often tunes do seriously
Inherent r;.h,s IF o,h.rs Tla
n,uss,, s..h...J Ian. ,,.,,:,. :.