The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-25

Hers no constitutional reqaire-
rents to be fninIied the tran
xitson Of the territory to the state
would involre change OF conditions that
would compel complete re&diustment Of
al laws and practical rs-enactmsnt OF the
entire code The powers Of state iegisla-
ture are 50 mach greater than those OF
territorial legislature that the former
would ct itself discover tasks 20 be per-
formed that would extend It's time far be-
beyond M ordinary session
How long. then, will the legislature be in
session. That is q question extremely
difficult TO answer The constitutional
convention consumed ten entire days in the
discussion Of one theme. the tide lands, and
finally practically concluded BY leaving the
disposition Of the whole matter 70 tte leg
latgIrr. II Is fair TO presume that the legis-
IatuFe wiA find this problem no easier Of
solution than did the constitutional con-
Tention. and viii take up al least ten days
in It's determination. But how long will
ii take 10 dispose OF other qaestieas2 No
one can guess The legislature has the
adyantage Of the convention in that IL Is
divided into two bodies. and both can and
viii consider distinct propositions at the
same time; and when question is settled
in one house, the action OF
the ether will doubtless follow
ia the salne line. az least IN minor afsairs;
and IA more important the decision of one
branch win doubtless be aided materially
by that Of the other. OF course there viii
be times when the two houses will suffer
radical differences Of opinion. but these
cases VIII be exceptional and it cannot be
seriously apprehended that they win arise
often enougl TO delay action for great
lengths OF time
Then as 10 the cost. The daily ordinary
expenses of the Legislature are now about
$50, Of which SIS Is taken up in per
diems Of members at S. per day. The re-
maindeF is consumed in the hire oI clerks
aud employees. purchase OF supplies. print
ing. etc Before the session ends, the ex-
pcndituTe will be much greater and the
average viii be aboat 81 COO per day. Ifthe
session lasts altogether 80 days. which is
quite probable. the contingent expenses
will be $3.50. .0o0 Add to this the appropyia-
tions 70 the various state institutions tor the
maintenance OF the state government until
the next legislature and other heavy out
lays that must necessarily be made, and the
total expense to the state viii. at a rough
estimate be $500 900 or 5000 .Q0o. II the tax
able property OF the state is si00 ,0De coo the
state levy for 1s0O viii be at least 8 mills.
rate that the people OF Washington would
not be content TO bear for many years.
There is little OF no msney in the state
treasury. Occasionally small amounts Of
delinquent taxes. due under the tsrrisoFiai
regime, come in frona the different conn-
ties, but no considerable amount can be ax-
pected before next February. on the last
day Of which the taxes collected unsIer the
Law ef iSS4 are aeiinquent TIE territorial
debt. assumed by the state, Is about $aD0,-
90, and II the taxes due under the present
levy were all TO be turned in today they
would not more than lquidate this deIin-
auency.
The state government, therefore. mast
be maintained on credit until such time as
the extra burden just now imposed can be
removed and the machinery can be turned
ia the ordinary channels. III the legisla-
tnre expends altogether $4,000 in its
various donations. it will certainly not ex-
pect 10 pay cash out OF depleted treasury.
or 70 issue warrants for the various
amounts bearing interest at 10 per cent.
The interest on the total outlay would In
one year at that rate amount TO 1000
almost enough to pay the running ex-
penses OF an ordinary session OF the legis-
lature. IL would be wise, in the face of
these circumstances. 70 create . bonded
Indebtedness for q large part Of the
amounts appropriated and payable within
i've or ten. or twenty years. The constitu-
ton authorizes the ineurrence of an aegre-
gate debt OF $4,000. and the banded debt.
II assumed. could not jndieioHsly be placed
At one-hah that amount; for margin OF
sa0o 90 for the floating and contingent in-
dehtedness OF the state would not be too
large.
Ii Is not surprising that territorial war
rants sold readily at par bearing ten per
cent. interest. running for an indefinite
period and requiring twenty days notice
before they could be called in. Spectators
were eager TO secure them. and they viii
no doubt re just as anxious 20 obtain state
warrants, If the same rate is mainfained.
and. even il Il Is reduced by lag 10 eight
per cent there j. no doubt that ali warrants
issued bY the state will bring them face
value.
One Of the gre eatest items OF expenditure
Is for printing. and q prodigality has 80 Far
must be checked ere long or the
limits OF reasonable outlay viii have
been passed. The other day, after
the governors message was read. 700
copies were ordered printed by che Senate
and 5000 by the House. Just what the
state Of Washington i going 70 do with
1900 copies al the message Of Its governor.
even II il is bis frst 20 one can tel or viii
Try 10 tell. The people OF this state could
have been sufficiently informed Of the con.
tents OF the message through the faT-reach-
ing medium ot the many newspapers that
azve and viii publish the document entire.
Two thousand copies are al that can pos
ssbiy he used hy members, unless the clerk
II hIresi 20 send the other 10000 East as an
isduceraent % immigration, which wouldn't
be bad idea after al
Everybody knows that The state printing
contaiHs mnch plat" anG several parties
have eaGe4vorea 70 obtain the prlnting
contract. Is has heen ies ~ government
rates to the stale PTlnEing and Publishing
Company. os 0sympEz. On taigty days trial
The printing 50 far has been god. FAR bet
Scr tslan II had been heretosors. II Is not
aksly that a permanent centract wsa De
withheld iron the oomp&ny.
x L. n82ee, Charles Pasns~r axla D. ".
Higgins, 81 Seattle, are after another print
so eoRsF1cs. Tksy want 70 prtns toF tie
Esa es the Snxsnbers 80 c0psss of The rep0rs
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