Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-02-17
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, FEB. II. 1888.
L0Ose,jOinted Legislation.

VMAYlh, fklDAl NENlNG, lib. II, 1879.
L0Ose-jOinted Legislation.
T A verification of the adage "The
world is governed too much" is ex-
pressed by the sigh of relief which
passes over the whole Territory when
the Legislature has closed its labors.
At present, it is one OF unusual fervor,
and some of the newspapers, which, as
a rule, are an infallible index to popu-
lar sentiment, are enthusiastic in their
demonstrations of joy over an event
which in ordinary times and under us
ual conditions would call forth any,
thing but congratulations for escape
from impending danger. The States
man, with unwonted JUNCTION, an
nounces the adjournment with the
benedictions Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow," and the tone of the
press in all parts of the Territory seems
to be in accord with this sentiment.
Time was when the Legislature rep
resented the will of the people, and
the laws enacted were. to some extent
At least the reflex of popular senti-
ment. The first glazing departure
sfom this custom was made by the
Legislature of 1885, which did not
scruple to enact a provision in the rev.
enue law against which the people had,
on the same vote by which they had
been elected, entered formal and un-
equivocal protest. It was not done in
ignorance, but with full knowledge
OF the fact revived by feeble protest
when the vote was taken, which only
served to elicit the Gouldish exclama-
ton OF "D-n the peoplep from one
OF the more reckless and recreant of
the lawmakers. The profligacy of
that session was the result of DELHI
crate trade, consumated, as was stated
by member on the floor of the lower
house, months before the Legislature
had convened, whereby, under the
give and take" plan, the peoples
money was squandered by lavish
hands. No Legislature ever closed it's
labors under q more intense feeling of
condemnation. No session every
'ihs9ed sdfhant' aspiring politicians
or dug so many political graves.
Every man Of prominence connected
with the jobbery Of that session was
promptly relocated to obscurity, if not
oblivion, by the people in convention
and at the polls, as . solemn protest
against the spoils system which had
resulted ina heavy public debt before
. necessity existed for it to be incurred,
and at time when every effort should
have been made to husband our re-
serve powers for the change of condi-
tons and proper adjustment of the
many interests that arise with State
hood.
The extracts from the press in this
iasue Of the STANDARD are few Of the
many that have appeared. condemning
the late Legislature for making many
large appropriations which might have
been avoided, and for providing no
means whereby the large debt thus
created might have been funded at q
low rate of interest. The general i'm
preston seems to prevail that, while =
repeal OF the gross earnings law was
justified by popular sentiment, the As
sembly has failed to provide an ade-
quate means Of securing just share
OF revenue from railroads in its stead.
This ct least was expected, and if the
tax undor the new law falls short of
- Iount collected on gross earn
~ lawmakers will be held to a
- occountahi|i1y at the bar of pub
nc oD1Dl anne reasons that
sagU bnic administration
two ye ID apply, and uni
versal Seslfl5g a condemnation seems
to exist all over the Territory of a pol
ICY that must result in inevitable hard
ship to the taxpayer.
A summary Of the appropriations
and estimated expenses for the ensuing
two years, compiled by the Tacoma
Ners, appears in another column, un-
der the caption The Territorial Liza
hility." 1t is, in the main, as fair m
estimate as can be made of much that
may be classified with unknown
quantities"