Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-28
A weRD OF wARsasc.

EDTToB OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES:
There are no doubt tremendous infiu-
ences al work in this county for the de-
feat Of Judge Jacobs for the Council.
IL would be q great triumph for the
Northern Pacific Railroad 10 say that
the man who advanced and voted for
the unjust gross tax bill had been
returned 70 the Legislative Council from
this county. Are the voters of this
county prepared 90 make such an en-
dorsement ? Has Mr.. Collins ever
pledged himself for the repeal Of this
odious law II 20, where and when !!
The Star of last Sunday had la
bored defense of Mr.. Collins and this
Law. Ii the logic of that paper il COR
rect, then the law, denounced as IL has
been by all OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
Republican and Independent-so far
from being wrong. 10 but an embodi-
ment of justice and equity. Are We 20
understand that the views expressed in
she Star ara the present views Of Mr..
Collins on that Law /? II 50, how can
the honorable men in the Democratic
party give him their support ? The
writer of this has always freely con-
ceded the vantage ground of the Demo
cratic party on the railroad questions,
bat can IL be possible that their pro-
fessions are all sham, and that they
can support man whose organ justi-
fies and, by whatever facts and logic it
may be able 10 command, vindicates
his coarse and vote ? We were 90
credulous as TO think that after the
ringing denunciations of this gross in
come " Law by the County and Terrific
rial Democratic Conventions, and the in
dienant demand for its repeal, that that
meant that Mr.. Collins had confessed
bis mistake and that in obedience 70
tha platform ON which he was nomi
mated he was in favor of its repeal. Not
50. His organ justifies and vindi-
Gates his course. So far from making
any mistake, he acted justly and ear
nestly, says the "organ.n Very well
We were glad to know the exact situa-
ton Of affairs. Is the Law then a just
law? Mr.. Collins organ" argues that
IL is-that IL has worked well elsewhere
and that IL will be beneacent in its ro-
suits here. Does not the Star know that
this Law was passed az the instance and
request, not TO say demand, of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company
That company gets 25.600 acres Of land
for every mile of railroad it builds-al
81 80 per acre this would be $64 900 Pc
mile, at least $4,000 per mile more thar
the railroad would cost. This land OF
this side Of the Cascade mountains i,
valued by the " organs" of the compa,
ny at eight dollars per acre, giving the
sum of $l96, 400 per mile for each mile
Of road bnilt. "The Gross Income
law exempts all Of this land from taxa
ton as well as the rolling stock, road
bed and stations, and Mr.. Collins says
through his organ" that this is right
and the organ" reaches this conclu
sion by this remarkable process of ra
tiocination-that whereas there are
railroad companies in this county thai
have no property but their rolling stock
road bed aud stations, and whereas al
applied to them this law is not an unjus
law-therefore as applied 10 land sub
sidy company it must be- Just law
Logic, how profound aHd convincing.
The excuse given by Mr.. Collins TO
bis vote on the bill in question not onl,
does not harmoAize with the logic Of
the Star, but Is unsatisfactory of itself
He said that there were two more bill,
pending before the Legislature, bott
bad. and he chose the least of the two
Does a legislator discharge his duty
fully when he chooses between the bilIi
introduced by others Has he no righl
or power to introduce bills himself
What becomes of his right to amend OF
to offer substitutes Ii Mr.. Collins
should be reelected and two bill,
should be introduced to levy specia
tax on the valuation of this county fol
. court house OF other public building
one fixing the rate at i've per cent. ane
the other at three-would he be reduced
to the dire necessity of choosing be
tween them ? Could be not offer al
amendment to make it one per cent. OF
less To ask such questions is to an
swer them. IL Judge Lewis or Jacob,
are elected to the Legislature the peopl,
will expect more of them than simply
TO choose between the bills of others
They will be expected TO promote tn,
interests and secure the rights of tn,
people of this county by the originatior
and presentation of bills of their own
II bsd law is passed we do not pro
pose TO excuse them on the ground tina
IL was the best bill presented.
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