, 1884-02-21
Weekly Argus.
The New Exemption Law

ll4t laws ~ l'NN' NiLNA4'sI'i7 tt9 A'4iNNN-
"Be II enalted ETC. That section
:i47 Of the code Of Washington 1881. ,
be amended to read a. follows: To
teamster OF drayman engaged in that
business for the support of himself
or his family, one sl'an Of horses
mules or oxen, or a horse and mule.
with harness. one wagon. truck, cart
or dray."
SEC. :. This act to take effect and
be in force from and after its
approval.
Referring TO page 81 of the code
of Washington 1881, it Will be found
that section 347 reads as follows:
CSC 3i7. The following property
shall be exempt from execution or
attachment, except As hereinafter
specially provided:
1. All wearing apparel of every
person and family
. All private libraries, pictures
and keepsakes.
,. To each householder one bed
and bedding, and one additional bed
and bedding for every two members
of the family, and other household
goods, utensils and furniture, not ex-
ceeding one hundred and fifty dol
lars coin in value
l., To each householder, two cows
with their calves, five swine, two
stands of bees, twenty-five domestic
fowls, and provisions and fuel for the
comfortable maintenance of such
householder and family for six
months: PrOCided, That In case
such householder shall not possess, or
shall not desire to retain the animals
named above, he may select from his
property and retain other property,
not TO exceed one hundred and fifty
dollars coin value.
s. To farmer, one span of horses,
or mules, with harness, or two yoke
of oxen with yokes and chains, and
one wagon; also farming utensils
actually used about the farm, not ex-
ceeding in value two hundred dollars
in coin.
6. To mechanic, the tools and
instruments used to carry on his
trade for the support OF himself and
family; also material not exceeding
in value five hundred dollars in coin.
Z. To a physician, his library, not
to exceed in value five hundred dol
lars; also one horse and buggy, the
instruments used in his practice, and
medicines not exceeding in value two
hundred dollars in coin.
9. To attorneys, clergymen, and
other professional men, their libraries
not exceeding five hundred dollars in
coin value; also office furniture, fuel
and stationery not exceeding in value
two hundred dollars in coin.
9. All firearms kept for the use of
any person or family.
TO- To any person a canoe, skiff
or small boat, with its oars, sails and
rigging, not exceeding in. value fifty
dollars in coin.
IL. To person engaged in light
ering for his support or that of his
family, one or more lighters, barges
or scows. and small boat with oars,
sails and rigging, not exceeding in
the aggregate two hundred and fifty
dollars IN coin value.
II To a teamster or drayman en-
gagged for his support and that of his
family, his team. The word team in
this subdivision means a span of
horses. harness, and one wagon or
dray.
1S. Toa person engaged in the
business of logging, for his support
and that of his family, three yoke of
work cattle and their yokes; and axes.
chains, implsments for the business
and camp equipments, not exceeding
three hundred dollars coin in value.
IA. A sufficient quantity of hay,
grain or feed to keep the animals
mentioned in tho several subdiyis-
ions of this chapter, for six weeks.
But no property shall be exempt
from an execution issued upon a
Judgment for the price thereof, or
any part of the price thereof, or for
any tax levied thereon
Doubtless it was the intention of
the law making powers to add to the
exemptions already on the statute
book, but the effect-of tho law is to
sweep away all exemptions except the
ones mentioned in the new law.
The result of the legislation of
1888 shows that there was q wonder
full lack of proper ersexanaination of the
bills brought before the Legislature,
and of the laws enacted by it, or else
an entire lack of ability to compre-
hend the purport and scope of the
same.
One of the most important meas
ures of the Session. the socalled omz
nibus bill, has been declared uncen-
stitutional BY the courts. aIany
others of the laws will take the same
course if the same question is ever
raise1 in regard to them. as they in
clude more than one subject of legis-
lation in the same law. Others will
have questions ip regard to their
xalidity raised owing, To deEects In