The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-07-07
sIl1f CONSTITUTION
relating to Taxation ana
oruership Of Property.
....r.,g.ty in the Tide Lana'
n,.. All Citizens opp"r-
...,t,es Of Commerce.


80 sueressiai - -, s...esruer,
Iss sss ben attribute % ss.,ss
sas.Is-,.herz 70 the happg - 80,
ssa p = ne psisc PIE isas 'fie 81. =. :.
Sen. - alike in the aecs ~ 'ilAlions .
81 49, -. The principle ex'esifiel
shsaf $50, -. ,s.ere shall se equal oppor uL-
resas - a,1 a. equal rights I'D our FaF-
hjc$, g -ss--,esss. IL an Grafton De
ss'n 80 !. plymouth. DeeeEHosl =, -.
pss.s' wsb.tsr aid isat me ehA, -, :,
psh, snsiEu ions OF NV Liasixai
o. r.,.in~a by the fund rneDiaA u IS
~ 80 80 ,ropesty. He enumerated the
MP sa..'. - sts tight Of pTiHlogenitaFe, the
80 ~ "a entails. Ing trusts. and
esf 49, .lss.sss of fe4teTiag and tying ~
~. ~ I'D the ssetiiiiss iof ne ail.;''alaa'n
49,. tl,r ugl sub cling t.ieisi 70 sss's
q So = Debt. through paolic fesissfIes
w. .s,anlls.iy Of oar forms OF convey
srs ~ - snaaguces which fixed tas
sseH -. soa form Of the government
isaa's ss.sYv,s;on u the soil sn5 a : Fesi
!, coalition. which We bsisr Oh
- 49, the tue basis Of I'oiniat s'FtIn-
r,ul,ed, and have genera'iy con.
80 ia th.s country. He was - su'e o.
s.sss a his principle thai ne maze
ns 49, -, srepaeey xhen the FreBch en-
ns..s'4;.sf,t the lsw compelling al
Fss 80, az estates on the dea;h oi
ess.' .-.wr. ttat eli the government DO
- 'seere the Law, The law ia hail eea-
80 h.ngs the government ana ti's
W Mi 40, beln faEor 81 the power OF
thshse .ss,rue European writers have
Is $. sst against H." In ten years the
sefF ~.ssrument vas changed by the
fN .,ss which Webster foreiold, and
r -. spsnged eighteen years later,
nrr -. uave,,,vs, whore
= s.s,,ssrsn Of Democracy Was lad.
sas - s.thers solcmniy eoYenanted
rs I psss such just and equal iass
- b. Tor the general good. In
-. constitution aud state govern
sa &, Washington their policy should
: .ssssei. II our government Is founded
= ,ees.,,.. q Webster demonstrates, we
go s.srps the views which he derived
- nj. nrot,esiiion respecting the dis
-, n prs,terty. and try 10 prevent
:. snumslaEion Of large FORUM IN
- hssds. 10 Tar e. that can be done by
4. sa-.,ra,s action Of the state. The fan
s.mrat.l laws respecting property have
h~n !, Ioug established In this country
=. essential modification OF them val |
t.,r.4efed In our constitution, unless II |
- sIsh respect to the community property |
= sa.ssna. and wives. At the present /
,s,ae me state most sensibiy touches the |
,,o,<rty Of The people through its tax AVS. /
M essential 20 our form OF government, !
.s.greg.te. tbs; ysiem Of taxation should /
4 sst.h,lsh.d which will draw in equal /
n,.,os,sops from the pockets Of the rich |
ssd the poor.
f.ps n the most specieus devices by /
Which many Of the poor-tbe great ma |
,oriig Of them pFobAbly--,nsist upon 6''ar- /
in % unequal shars OF the tax burden, |
i he exemp Ion of property from taxation
"a, debt Experience has shown that TINS
/ The couansanest avenue TO a release Of the !
psopxsty of the rich from taxation that
sser existed. The rich have facilities for
ervaiina fictitious debts that are denied 10
H. L
malax which provides exemption. There
srn Law adhered 10 with more mistaken
.ssseiiy than this. and b. the people who
sussY the mos. from IL. The Law y wfoag
In yrinciple and vicious in operation. II il
d!see,ly responsible for a very large share
Il tie aBeqasi distribution of the tax bur
Den. which has already extended 50 far as
-. F..f.f 9.
injustice II eomplicates the whole sys-
len o. taration aud no iuaieiaus and
psarticahae reform can BE- adopted 80 long
q 1, stands IN the way.
The constitution should declare that ball
taxes shai' be uniform upon the same class
Of subjects and be levied and collected
under general laws. IL should also pro
vide that all laws exempting property
frasa taxation toiher than property Used
fw public and religious purposes and per
sasl property to an amount not exceed
ing 80 IN value for each individual liable
b taxatlonl, shall be void. With the
adoption of these general principles, the
uhoe problem of taxation viii be simpli
hss and the remaining details may bc
sdsasied 80 as IN distribute the burden as
eqaAy a. pessible over ell property ia the
Stale. " u eonira.Y a. the Enlightened
iilsigmi nj Of ogr people 10 attempt 10 tax
The money ef non residents upon the evil
asnets OF their having such money. which
mar exist in the state. Nevertheless IL
saeah he prohibited.
The constitution should limit the public
Indebtedness that must lie borne ty taxa
Ten. Neilaer the state nor any county
bsnship OF municipality should be rer''
nsilsed TO loan is credit or make donations
70 any Individual. association or corposs
saen unless II BE- for the necessary support
OF the poor.
an thoroughly convinced that IL Is the
11 policy 10 sell the sehool lands rather
hsa TO held them perpe,naIly Tor lease.
Other eousidt Fatlons besides income are
involved In this question. No one aaubts
Nat Il has etea good policy for the United
ssaies 10 sell Iho public lands without AZ
srmpiins 70 derive the greatest possible
amount OF money from their sale. A large
smoaht OF the public domain has h,en
wisely given away. Following the prceeA.
eai eslsh ished on the aim ssieu of ohtn
w iss, and increased on The admission az
ofes'n N isse. Congress has giyca the
sss'S I'VE sssicss IN every township Tor
Nas support OF paalle schools This i ane-
sa'eeath Of TIE had in the state. oh
.'sase no EueA 70 b. permanently with
aesa iFca Purchase By tae peeplr The
psV''sioss Of Tie South Dakota conStitf,.
ssoa nsIsvtilg the school lands ana he
Sno0s selia express The right EaIscy 10 H.
tassea III THIS stale. lhe convention
oas ssEoely do better than 10 aiep; thar
49, " provides for the sale ~ tho
ssas'A ssi'ds upon wise plan AID gnaer
ss,8Sf restrictions. and for preserving ;he
-. '''~ 'oss CT misarpFo pristion.
:. 'AS's shea!d b no hesitation r,spset3u,
s' Pe''e! Of The state asseftinz i,s lights
y so'ereign'y in ihe tide land. pnf no
80 'sa have Teae,-lssl mars u,u,a ,h..
s ssss's' WAAoas feeling tia, The d.spo.sl
-. = ''l''8 iaFeisss many mixed questions 81
- shs Justice. itlsto be hope3 hat
=. enh''a'ioa vii TO, entertain the ts,.
-. -. Peti|'se of turning the stare into a
~, s-'ss' tnsaing corporation. hi. il ma,
F'"i%f Function ll endases hy IN.
,sssssei''s'''e OF tae sovereignty az ,he
via grants IF land I,r specified
- IA oFdsf - relieve the ,.cop.e of
Ssss. 10 somc extent. nf th.. l.n.,sn
'"AAe1pa lis gishi 80 lhe t.5, lsnf, il