Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-09

tefmtns f4 h;msslf the present nsoss-
Gity Of Q nes, darshle s11aefu,e, 10 -
boili upon the bess sanitary pisn.
nm MILITIA
Sinoe she month of March, 1854. six
companies of militia have been organ
ixsd and mustered into the service Of
the Territory; and the foroe consists at
pressat sf is conmissiosed officers and
Sol non -eonmisgoued officers and pfi-
vatss- They are armed 9th tue Spring
Heid brsech loading rife. 50 calioer,
vita metallic cartridges. and equip
ments of the latest pattern used in the
Uaised essses regular service. The To-
cations Of these companies are as fol-
lows: st Seattle. az Tacoma. ] at
| Olympia, l at WalIs Walia, aad at
6oldendaie- There are four other CON-
psnies enrolled ready to be organized.
The Acj1tant General Of the Territory
| - energetic In endeavorina 10 perfect
the military organization At consid
cradle personal expense he instituted 9
camp Of instruction. near Olympia, in
the month Of August, which was pro
ductive of improvement in drill, disci-
pine and esprit dy corps.
IL is important that the Territory
have an efficient military organization
for the preservation Of order in certain
emergencies, when disturbances Of the
peace may be beyond the control Of she
civil authorities. The mere fact of the
existence of loyal. obedient. disci-
plined force. at q scene of portended
disturbance, may serve in q time Of ex-
eiteEsnt to allay undue apprebensions,
and even to prevent outbreak, riot and
bloodshed.
The element Of reliability is all i'm
portant on such occasions, and no
amount Of eenteel display or holiday
finish can make up for the lack Of is.
The first duty of q soldier is obe-
disncs to Law and to bis authorized
commanders. Daring the past few
~eek ks ve have seea the need of an or.
gained military fierce in eur midst. As
our commonwealth natures and puts
forth her claim of fitness for statehood
and self government, she must show her
power to maintain the Law and to pre-
serve order.
The United States Government can
not be expected to interfere with its
military arm, except in the case of ex-
treme necessity. Il has announced it's
policy in this respect. Hence it will
act only under circumstances of an ag
Rravatsd character; and its decisions
may come too late to avert trouble.
Therefore We should lose no time in
preparing to meet all sach emergencies
without calling upon the general gov
erDnent for assistance. The militia
Law under which ve are now organizing
Vas passed in 1863, and 10 net we'll
suited 70 our present requirements.
A new Law should be devised, which
may be framed with reference to econ
envy and yet provide for the formation
Of An effective force, we'll drilled and
we'll armed, with an allowance for pay
when actually engaged in camp Of 10
struction or in active service; and there
should be provision similar to that
contained in the cid Law, providing for
more generally calling out those subject
to military duty in case of extraordinary
emergency.
IKPoRTs OF TERRITORIAL OFFICERS
herewith hand you the reports OF
the Auditor, the Treasure, the Super
iptepdent OF Public Instruction, the
Regents of the University, tss Trustees
of the Hospital fer the Insane, the Goa
Inspector, the Pilot Commissioners, the
Adjotant General, the Qoartermsstel
General, the Territorial Warden anG
tse Librarian, all of which, l trust, vii
receive the personal examination Of
each of you.
| notice that some disbursements b,
the Treasurer have been made withou
the authority of the Auditors warrant
The Treasurer informs me that in thi
respect be has conforued TO the prac
tioe of former years. would respect
fully advise you to enact that al
moneys be disbufsed by warrant, ant
not otherwise.
Oomplaints have been made to M
that the people have been grossly de
fraudsd Of their jast rights by worth
less insurance companies; and it seem
proper that law should be enacted {.
protect insurers from imposition. Thi
can to some extent be done BY requiring
statements TO be filed in the Office of tn
Territorial Auditor, showing to-
amount Of capital sock. the assets an,
liabilities of each company, and sucl
other information az may be required
IL suoh statements are properly verifiet
and published In the report of tn
Auditor. they may do much to correc
the evil complained Of. A REASONABLE
tax should be imposed on the com
pauies as compensation for Office worl
and publication.
BOARD or EQUAL EATON.
The act of Congress to establish tn
Territorial Government of Washington
enacts that "ail taxes shall be eQus
and uniform, and no distinctions shall
be made in the assessments between
different kinds Of property, but the as
sessment shall be according to th,
value of the property" At the presen
time the Commissioners of the variou
counties appear 10 be the sole authorit
10 regulate assessments, and there are
great discrepancies in the rates Of differ
emit counties. II has been found neoes
sary in many Of the older States to q
tablish Boards Of Equalization. 10 ths
the taxpayers may all pay their JUS
proportion of the taxes. would theirs
fore recommend that o Board be ore
ated to sQualiEe assessments in thi
Territory. At the present time Their
are two assessment districts- In To-
first one the assessment ID required {,
be made between the first Monday il
April and the first Monday in July. Il
the second one the assessment is to b
made tWo months earlier, namely: be
tween the first Monday In February an,
the frst Monday in May. would sue
geet that in order TO strictly oonpl,
With the Law Of Congress. all assess
msuts in the Territory should be mad
during the Same period Of time, mas
much - the values Of property are sub
jecs 70 dao,uation and liable 10 b,
changed, il distinction BE- made @ :,
the time Of apprsissment.
This whole subj sos of assessment, in
cludiHR the method Of levyine tax-
upon railroad properly, merits you
most careful consideration.
TERRITORIAL LrBRARY.
The Lao in regard TO the Library
seems to be sufiietently rigorous in re-
spect 70 the Improper sbssrscting o
books and retaining them vhen md
bot. for some reason, find many OF tn,
sets mutilated and many copies missing
| do nof charge the fault upon the pres
snt librarian or any other particular
psrsou; bot ~ at present conducted, Il
seems to me, this institution is MOI
credltabIe to the Territory. II IL i,
worth while 70 paw the librarian foul
hundred dollars . year for services, Il
- certainly propef TO provide NOR
efficient method for storing and CAIRNS
| far - In hfs Ia. k<,rk~