The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-03

Reports from Olympia represent con-
siderable beHildermeut ia legislative circles
IN respect 70 the financial prob ems by
which members fiad themselves confronted
Much 10 needed 10 be done and the means
st command are limited. This is very
common condition among states and In
dsyidnais. The only rational solution is 70
cut the garment according TO the cloth.
use the means At command to do these
thiags which are most isnperatiyely neces-
sary, and leave undone for the present
those things which are not 30 imperative
and for The doing Of which just nov the
means are NOS ~ hand and not to be OBJ
tanned except by destructive sacrifices.
As 10 the constitutional Limitation on the
creation Of . State debt. Il Is well settled
that such limitation has no reference 10 APP
pfopriations 20 meet which money 10 In the
treasury or provided for by = tax levy.
Ouch appropriations no more create a debt
than does the check Of an individual drawn
upon his bank account. with provision for
meeting il when presented.
As to the requirements Of the constisu-
ton In respect 10 the establishment and
maintenance Of certain institutions, their
binding obligation IL limited by the legis-
lstiye discrimination ~ 10 what IL possible,
reasonable and practicable. The constiiu-
ton 10 not 10 be construed a. requiring the
impossible or palpably unreasonable or
impracticshle.
Its very common-in sact - unvary-
ing--experisncs b every legislature that
many mcmbers are insatists In demands
for appropriations 10 be expended In their
particular localities These are pressed
with such pertinscsty that II requires .
strong senss OF duty and great force Of
character 10 resist them. and the demand
on thass characteristics II still greater
when the advocates OF several such
schemes combine. but Just such emergen-
cies are required 70 bring out the strong
points Of prudent. far-sesiug and conscaen-
tious legislators.
The true policy 10 first 10 settle upon
conservative estimate Of taxable porsperty
and . reasonable rate Of taxation. This
latter should be moderate. The reasons for
this are strong. and will at once commend
themselves 10 intelligent legislators. TO >
remarkable extent this state has been and
Is attracting great Influx Of moneyed in.
vestoss. ID must Re conceded that this -
highly desirable class 10 attract. and that
anything which would arrest or check the
acquisition 81 population so desirable
would be little short Of public calamity.
IL Is undenIahle that In teis respect the
past anexampged good fortune OF Wash
ington has been very largely due to her low
rate OF taxation and to the other liberal
inducements sne mas offered to capital and
industrial enterprise.
The present taxable property Of the state
Il roughly estimated At one hundred and
fifty millions. IL Is considered safe 10
assume that wish moderate rate Of taxa
tion--not much II any greater than daring
the last two ycars--withan four years this
total would be qaadrapled. giving as a tar
roll 81 six hundred nHsssslless. while an ira.
some TAI rate would cheek Investments
and IL Is aoahsfnl il four years hence ere
could safely count upon Tar roll Of three
hundred millions
IL Is manifestly impossible 10 tulnn all
The requirements Of the constitution As 10
pubic institutions a. The prescott time. A
part mus, be postponed II il clearly 10
the interest Of these latter that no more
shall he attempted than il eosapAtible with
The fullest conservation OF present favorable
conditions
The situation In nutshell is this: The
tan roll j. nos heavy eHough 10 accomplish
all that ea9hs 20 os doae: with heavy tar.
alton the time oil be extended In wAich
needed Improvements can hs made: with
hght taxAtAoa the tax roll wial seen he
strung saoagA 10 furnish At = moderate
rate ~ Iaxataaa al sAe means necessary 20
accomplish grand reSalta
II nethiax h done % mar eur prospects
and tAls legislature mEEhs do much in that
dsrvetten--tAe sams rate ct tar wAScA
wcald produces sxsaooe nov would yield
81 5000 fear years hence. with every.
body letter established ard hssser able 20
pay IL On the other haaa. an ovexreaeh.
lns polAcy non xoaid probably reduce the
possibilities of tour PEARS hence 81 least enc
bait Thai Il ncs long b wait Tor essax
- assAz esass