The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-08-02

tAAs-< tSzf> SssUNs SeaGsy su exer
sa>e part of the sovereignty oE IN
state. II every locality can he per
nsifsed Ia ieSsi itself dosn with deb
the time Will come when the state vii
reed the help ef these counties. ans
tsaevr viii fsnd they = IL Ros be sll~ q,
render IL
e'rr~sER re raE mEASrEE.
Joues-i viii vote against this pro
position that private property sssai
not sse sxkezs for pysvate asa.
REgn Is EAyv..
Mr.. Reed have been somewh ha
asaaGBaesi as the attitude which som,
CT the gentlemen have taken usSos
this 9ues ton saying that this WAS To-
private use. This Is for public use n,
much as sewer running dean
street This provision is 80 hedges
about with limitations that no posi-
bic harm can come from il IL lama
lorsty ol the people OF any part OF thi,
state Want to app'y their money fui
any psblsc JsSe. they should
be allowed 10 do so. Il
saight ee possible that 0lsmpis
would desire 30 construct water works
Some want il. soEise dent. Wouid il
he consistent for the eity 10 tax thoss
who don't WANT water wcrkse Ger
tsinly il would The majority want i
and they should have il. Railroad.
are essential to oar government. Ia
our growth. 10 our every interest
Some OF the speakers on this tioor ina
pagn the motives. the intelligence
the integrity OF the people of the
various counties when they say they
uon't know what they want.
An AMENDMENT OFFERED.
Power Offered an amendment to
insert in the section the provision
"for the construction and operation
OF a competing railroad, so that this
shall be the provision of the granting
Of subsidies. Power regarde, TIE
amendment as very essential.
Weir claimed that the amendment
was 80 worueti that subsidies could be
granted 10 al other corporations with
out limit.
WRONG AND UNJUST.
Warner was surprised that there
WAS any considerable number In the
convention who would agree TO estab-
lish in the constitution a principle so
Well recognized as wrong and unjust.
There comes a voice from across the
mountains CRYING that wherever this
principle has been tried il has always
been found 10 work hardship.
When We look over the field OF time,
We find there many and many strus-
gle in defense of the right of individ-
ual property. There are just two
things for which a mans property can
be taken from him. They are for
the right of eminent domain, and tor
taxation for governmental purposes.
Can We afford To part with a principle
50 well and clearly established
Power here Withdrew his amend
ment and the question was on Dun
bars motion 10 Adopt the majority
report.
uscHAsGEABLE FOREVER.
Dr. Blalock failed to zee the vicious
ness OF such proposition. He wanted
To know why those states which have
such provisions in their constitutions
have not repealed them. II il pro-
posed here by the advocates of the
minority report To insert = castiron
clause into this constitution that can
not be changed in the yicissitudles of
time.
ADDING NEW RESTRICTION.
Stiles moved an amendment that
the section read that the purpose 10
be subseryed by the amendment must
be public in its nature. Stiles hoped
the amendment would be entertained
so that the original proposition would
be perfected.
Browne raised point OF order that
the amendment was out OF order.
Dnnbar declared that the opponents
cf the measure merely wanted 10
ssss section open TO SO many
objeetions Ma Is would he defeated.
Ishe question VAS put on lT 49, end
ment and was lost, ~ toSt.
Az kvvEIAsrsxa nEsxfsr.
I.illis belle yusl that while eosnm uns~
tses strained every. nerve 10 get rail-
roads, they we're generally dissatisfied
WITH them after thay had them. Hat
If they found thst they we're abous to
lose the railroads they woufd net lake
back their bonds or anything else and
allow their removal Ii the conven-
tioa should pass this section he be-
lieyed IT would confer an everlasting
benefit on the counties. He saw Wis
dom in the provision and hoped il
would be enacted for the whole state.
coRRuPTTN6 AND MoSsTRoUs.
Browne closed the debate. IF this
principle is established in the consti.
tuition, he said. mo mans property
will be safe when the plea is set up
that il is needed for public purposes.
He illustrated the working of the
principle by citing TO sn that de
sired 10 start an establishment rival 10
already in the business. "A
tax was levied and the original estab-
lishment had to pay It's share of the
subsidy for its rival in husiness. Tn
der the working of this section Won
can vote away every dollar Of every
man = property ia the state. The ag-
gregate of the amount Is not limited.
The county can vote as many 1 Ter
cent. subsidies as Ii pleIses. These
propose TO build roads
can get out of il. Are the minds OF
the members so beclouded that
they cannot see any difference
between public interest and private
necessit; Can they not see the diff
ference between railroad and sch Bol
house? There is another feature
about this" said the speaker. II
have seen the workings OF the system
here proposed and say il is the
most corrupting of any influence
under the sun. Another evil is that
communities will be set 10 bidding
against each other to secure q rail-
road. II railroads cannot get enough
otherwise they can corrupt the peo
pie with their own money 10 carry an
election voting them n subsidy. This
is monstroas proposition because IL
forces more money INTO elections than
any other measure. II this PROPOSE
ton carries, not another mile OF road
will be built in this state unless sub
sidy iS granted Yesterday this CON
veniion decided that this state shall
not give it, credit to any corporation.
The principle involved today Is eg-
act'y the same. No one voted against
il and say we ought every one to de-
clare ia favor OF the same proposition
today. | ana not afraid 10 iotuit any
public political proposition 20 the peo-
pie: but ! am unwilling to hay. q
majority take money ont of one
msn's > pocket and put 1t In anosher's.
The speaker closed by reading from
Cooley on constitutional limitations,
in which this measure IS declared ex-
eseGingly Tnischeyieus am baneful.
THE PRosEcr DEFEATED.
The question then recarred on the
motion to adopt the majority report.
The motion gss lost. - 10 a..
The question vas then span the mo-
ton 10 adopt the minority report.
stiles moved t0 amend by inserliug
except for the necessary support OF
the tsssos. - if,@t.