Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-01-23
The Special Election.

. .Ih~t. a ullul.'Y Il - IN favor OF a
I,,N i4.-' the ~uin 81 100. As
o. vii, be- some time heioie the =
-,~-upu' Ioil of the rGrrcnt year
viii hc ready iul u>c ~ Il basis fox IA
ilN i,,>, the present rad on the
peoples pocket, Will doubtless be
based upon tie very unfair, unequal
uul,Nc. e-IVc is. Of valuations which
ou~,d 80 much dissatisfaction last
N,ar The Consequence will be that
-auc oi our people will pay much
more than their share Of a tax i'm
posed without their consent and I'M
d,l protest.
Wm.c. under ordinary circum-
Stances, thelc Is scarcely anybody
who would orrO,c tax for the
education f II c Youth, there are
conditions which make 1t the duty of
a / consoIyaiois of the Popular veal
10 strip the question of sentimental
huus,n~e and release the pub ic from
the thrnldum winch week nerves
. ami tlInld b,aiu-iorces have imposed
upon 1t. There Is nothing so good
IN tbs world as to be free from evil +;
nothing so pure as to be devoid of
dros~ no question Of public policy
winch may not have arguments on
either SIDE, and which it is the priv
! lcgc of the american citizen to dis
cu's, and favor OF oppose as his
| Judgment directs.
1t is singular fact, however, that
there are some people who seem to
believe TINT citizen has no right to
say 10y his vote that lie is opposed to
aspcclal tax, if it happens to be lev.
led for public schools. While he
may consistently oppose any other
tax, he must not lay violent hands on
this sacrcd object. He must stand
with raised hands while the tax-col-
lcctor goes through his pockets for
the few remaining dollars after the
yea, tithes are paid. What does it
matter il his childrens' stomachs
are empty If their heads are filed
What if they do go ragged in cold
weather, If they can take part in the
stage exercises at the close Of the
tenn? What does it matter il the
family larder is reduced to pork and
potatoes if those who receive fat
salaries regale themselves on turkey
with cranberry sauce?
The main objection to the present
tax levy is, rs has been intimated,
that II will be based upon an unfair,
and what is believed to be an illegal
assessment. This is not, however,
the only cause for complaint. The
notice which was given, though it
may have filled the technical require
ments Of the statute, was wholly in
adequate. Very few of the tax.
payers opposed to the levy knew
anything about the election till late
IN the day, and some were not in
formed Of it till the polls were
closed. The feeling that was mani
Tested is indicated by the close rub
given the advocates of the tax under
these adverse circumstances. The
imperfect manner of informing the
people of the submission of this
important question for their decis-
ION is shown when we find that only
27l votes were cast in the district out
Of total vote of $40 in the pre-
cinct last November. As the dis.
trict comprises East and West sides,
besides the main town, it covers
nearly the bounds of the precinct
and full vote would have been
at least three times as large as that
polled.
| Advocates of high ssessments
and frequent levies should remembe,
that our county is heavily bonded
and that interest on this class Of
indebtedness alone takes $4,000 pei
annum out of the peoples pockets
Our town-peoplc have many add.
tional burdens to bear. They are
beginning to realize the effects o.
the nickel.p!ated policy adopted by
the City Council one year ago. AL
the money raised on an excessive
levy has been squandered and the
city liz still in debt for an amount
larger than the entire revenue of the
present year. Our school district i.
about $1,000 in debt, and it is pro
posed to piece out with annual spec
,ois until new debts and old are paid
In the management OF private affairs
sound business discretion general,
suggests retrenchment as q means of
reducing debt, but no such old-fog,
idea prevails in this latitude, not
outstanding there is room for i
without materially interfering will
the school service. Let us figure .
little and see: The Principal of tn,
District School receives 81 200 be
year for an eight months term
This is equivalent to $50 per montl
for time actually employed in teach
ing In order to place this compen