Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-29

OACStcu ~ thC ptOplt Dul HO power,
have been conferred upon him ol
duties prescribed. 1t is to be inferred
from the title given to this officer, that
it was designed that he should have
the management and control of all
lands donated by the general govern
ment to the State, but the powers and
duties to be exercised and discharged
by him are subjects over which you
have full control. II is needless for
me to say that until there is lcgisla
ton, this officer, although elected and
qualified, can perform no duties.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
You are required to determine the
number of Justices OF the Peace to be
elected in corporate cities and towns
and in precincts" and to prescribe
their powers, duties and jurisdiction.
ELECTIONS.
In the matter of elections the con-
stitutiOn cOnfers upon you large pow
ers, prescribing, for the most part
however, in what direction they shall
be used. You are Instructed to pro-
vide method of voting which will Sc
cure to every elector absolute secrecy
in preparing and depositing his ballot
In devising such a method you are al
lowed the largest freedom of action
the only limitation being the provi-
sion that elections shall be by ballot
1t Is not necessary, nor do desire to
indicate choice between any of the
methods for securing secret ballot
which may be urged upon you. In
this matter you should exercise the
utmost care, for upon the preservation
o! the purity of the ballot, depends in
q great measure the success of our in
stitutions; and without absolute Sc
crecy we cannot hope to attain even Il
reasonable degree of purity in our elec.
tions. You are also directed to enact
registration law to be enforced in
cities and towns having a population
of more than 500. In addition to this
you may in your discretion, provide
for the registration of every elector in
the State as prerequisite to the right
to vote. You may adopt one system
OF registration in cities and towns
having a population of more than five
hundred, and another applicable to all
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 cannot be too many, mol
too stringent.
REVENUE AND TAXATION.
/ desire to call your attention to the
article of the constitution relating to
revenue and taxation. The matter OF
raising revenue to defray the expenses
of the State government, to insure the
maintenance OF its institutions, and
to pay the principal and interest oI
any debt that now exists, or that may
hereafter be incurred, is left in your
hands. There are, however, several
important restrictions of which you
should not lose sight Taxation shall
be annual, and the rate of assessment
and taxation of all property in the
State shall be uniform and equal
The property of the United States, and
of the State, counties, school district.
and municipal corporations shall be
exempt from taxation. You also have
the right to exempt other property
from taxation by general laws; pro
vided, however, that the property o
corporations shall be taxed equal,
with, and similarly to, the property o
individuals. You are also directed tC
provide for the annual publication. o
statement of the receipts and dis
bursements of public moneys. BY the
wise use of the powers granted to you
in this article, depends, in a grea,
measure, the success or failure of the
State government. The power of tax
alton is one of the most important
delegated by the people to their repre-.
sentatiyes. 1t is not to be assumed
that the laws which you enact relative
to taxation will not be changed
by succeeding legislatures, but it is
most important that we start Alright
If no mistakes are made now, the
probability of mistakes in the future
is not to be presumed. 1 urge you
therefore, not only in behalf of those
who are now residents of the State
and who are deeply interested in this
matter, but in behalf of those who will
hereafter become citizens, to bestow
upon this subject your best and most
thoughtful consideration.
EDUCATION.
1t will also become your duty under
the constitution to provide for a gen.
eral and uniform system of popular
education, to include common schools,
and such high schools, normal schools
and technical schools, as may be es-
tablished. In the performance of this
duty, you should strive for nothing
short of perfection. Upon public edu-
cation depends the success of free gov
ernments. Education brings out all
that is noblest and best in man. With
out it his best efforts are misdirected
and rendered Of no value. Without
which successful government by the
people is impossible. The system of
education which you devise for this
State cannet be too broad nor too lib
eral, and the standard which you fix
cannot be too high. In this connec-
ton desire to commend to your con-
sideratiOn the Territorial University,
which should be reorganized and its
name changed to "The Washington
State University" This institution
should be made worthy of our com
mOnwealth and fit coping stone for
our educational system.
THE MILITIA.
1t will be your duty to provide by
law for organizing and disciplining the
militia and for the protection and
safe-keeping of the public arms. The
organized militia of the commonwealth
known as the National Guard, has
made great progress during the past
few years and is now in n very credit.
able state of efficiency. 1t is provided
with the latest arms and with com.
plete equipments, and, though small
will compare favorably in point of dis
cipline and in the character of its of.
ficers and men, with the organized
militia of any State in the Union
The National Guard of Washington
has on several occasions given abun.
dant evidence that it can be depended
upon to maintain order in any emer-
gency that may arise. Provision
should be made to increase the militia
force propOrtiOnately to the increase
in population and wealth Of the State
in order that the State may always
have at hand a Disciplined BODY OF