, 1889-11-28

number, of justices OF the peace to be
elected In corporate cities and towns, and
In precincte, and to prescribe their pow.
ors, duties and Jurisdiction.
ELECTIONS.
In the matter of elections the constitu.
ton cunfers upon you large powers, pro-
scribing for the most part, however, In
what direction they shall be used. You
are Instructed to provide a method of
voting which will secure to every elector
iting his ballot. In deyising such q
method you are allowed the largest free.
dom OF action, the only Limitation being
TN. provision that elections shall be by
ballot. II Is not necessary, nor do de.
sire to indicate a choice between any Of
tho methods for securing secret ballot
which may be urged upon You. In this
matter You should exercise the utmost
purity % Of % lie ballot is depends o" IN !. q great
measure the success OF our institutions;
ard without absolute secrecy we can not
hope TO attain even q reasonable degree
Of purity In our elections. You are also
directed to enact a registration law to be
enforced In cities and towns having o
population of moro than 500. In addi-
ton to this you may, IN your discretion,
provide for the registration OF every
the right to vote. You may adopt ono
system of registration in cities and
towns having a population of more than
800 and applicable to oil other portions
Of the state. This should receive your
careful attention. The safeguards to be
thrown around the ballot box to prevent.
fraud and corruption can not be too
many, nor too stringent
RgvGSuE AND TAXATION.
= 4 .ts t..s. kT~t thc
article of the constitution relating to
revenue and taxation. The matter of
ruisins revenue to defray the expenses
Of the state government, to insure tho
maintenance OF it's institutions and to
pay the principal and interest of any
department that now exists, or that
may hereafter be incurred, Is left In
your hands.
.%s mns1i % sSch several ysa .hSpna %nGa"t ant
lose sight. Taxation shall be annual
and the rate of assessment and taxation
Of all property in the state shall be uni
form and equal. The property of the
United States, and of the state, counties,
school districts and municipal corpora
tions shall be exempt from taxation.
You also have the right to exempt other
property from taxation BY general laws |;
provided, however, that the property Of
corporations shall be taxed equally, and
similarly TO, the property OF individuals.
You are also directed to provide for the
annual publication OF a statement of the
receipts and disbursements of public
moneys. BY the wise use of the powers
granted to you in this article, depends
IN d great measure, the success or failure
Of the state government. The power of
taxation Is one of the most important
delegated by the people to their repre-
sen.atives. 1t Is not to be assumed that
the laws which you enact relative to
taxation will not be changed by sue
ceeding legislatures, but II "a most i'm
portant that we start Alright. 1fno mis-
takes are now made, the probability OF
mistsk kes in the future are not to be pre-
sumed. urge you therefore, not only
In behalf OF those who are now residents
Of the state, and who are deeply inter
ested in this matter, but In behalf Of
those who will hereafter become citizens,
10 bestow upon this subject your best
and most thoughtful consideration.
EDUCATION.
II will also become your duty under
the constitution to provide for general
and uniform system of popular ,educa.
tion, to include common schools, and
such high schools, normal schools and
technical schools as may be established.
In the performances Of this duty, you
ohcutu hOt hOshhhS VI poi-
Ssssna, ssstS% qRsn ibs susss.. essc sS''ss 81 ss
governments. Education brings out
all that is noblest and best in
man. Withoutit II his best efforts are mis-.
directed and rendered Of no value,
without which successful government
'Ss cs gsSps . gcsssiSs hgcs be. d,Si. Ine .ys ts-
this state can not be too broad nor too
liberal, and the standard which you fix
can not be too high.
In this connection I desire to COM
mend to your consideration the terri
torial university, which should be reor.
gxniFed and its name changed TO "The
Washington State University" This
our commonwealth and a ht coping
stone for our educational system.
| THE MILITIA.
II will be your duty to provide by law
for organizing and discipliniDg the militia
OF the public arms. The organized
militia OF the commonwealth, known a:
the National Guard, has made great prog
ress during the past few years, aud Is
now In a very creditable state of eff
cheney. IL is provided with the latest
arms and with complete equipments
and though small win compare favor
apiy III Poiut oi ulsciPiihc anu III tnt
character Of its officers and men with
the organized militia of any state
in the Union. The Nationa
guard OF Washington has on several &C.
casions given abundant evidence that II
can be depended upon to maintain ordel
in any emergency that may arise
Provision should be made to increase
the militia force proporsionately to tn,
increase In population and wealth Of the
have at hand disciplined body of mer
who will give confidence at any time o
danger and maintain its authority al
times of public disturbance.
SOLDIERS HOME.
The constitution also directs you tc
provide by law for the maintenance o
soldiers home for honorably dis
charged Union soldiers, sailors and
marines, and members of the state
militia disabled in the line Of duty.
would recommend that the scope OF this
Its benefits may be shared by citizens o
the state who have been honorably dis
charged after service In any wars of the
republic, and who have been disabled
while serving the United States or the
territory Of Washington In any of the
Indian wars that have taken place with
in the borders of this state.
COUNTY ASD MUNICIPAL GovERSMESrs
| desire to direct your attention 10 sec
tons 4, 8, 9 and 10 of article II of the
constitution relating to the subject o
county and municipal governments. IN
accordance with these sections IL will bs
your duty to produce uniform system
of county and township government; tc
provide for the election Of county, dis
irict, township and precinct officers, ano
to fix the compensation by salaries o
county officers and ofconstables in cities
having a population Of 5000 or more. II