, 1890-11-20
THE TIDE LANDS AGAIN


THE TIDE LANDS AGAIN
Having stripped the state Of the
greater part of Its tide lands by dis.
graceful methods we'll known to the
people and the members of the last
legislature, the grabbers are now
seeking to render nugatory and
valucless the section of the const-
tuition reserving forever narrow
strip in front of the incorporated
cities of the seaboard. Their greed
seems Unsuitable, and left to its own
restraint would pause not until 1t
had acquired the last shoestring.
Full details of this audacious at.
tempt were given in the letter from
Hurbor Line Commissioners Prosser,
published in the REVIEW of yester.
day, after having been rejected by
the leading daily of Seattle. But
the extreme length of that state.
ment, which ought to be read by
every voter in the state, has pre-.
vented the great mass of the public
from looking into the matter. The
REVIEW will eudeavor to present
the case more concisely, in order
that 1t may be more generally com.
pretended.
The constitution asserted the
states ownership Of the tide lands,
including those upon which citizens
of the state had erected wharves,
sawmills and other valuable im-
provements. Long possession OF
these tide lands had imbued the
squattcrs with an idea that the lands
belonged to them. In other words,
the states liberal policy OF permit
ting the occupancy of these lands
without charge or rental was en-
ployed as au instrumentality for the
wrestling away of property OF
enormous value from the people.
But the grab paused not there. The
absurd proposition was advanced
that the shore or bank owners
owned all the tide lands, in many
cases sweeping away for miles TO
deep water. This was about on
Dtti WIN uli pNiph AheN ''S
owner of real estate owns likewise
all the air for mile above his
realty, and that balloons shoulds not
pass over his ground without first
paying tribute. This contention
antagonized the men who owned
improvements ON the property of the
state, and led the two CLASSES OF
claimants to consolidate their forces
upon compromise measure which
left the state only narrow rim to
be located by harbor line commits
sion, as prescribed by the constitu-
tion,
Having worked the Legislature to
the extreme limit of its gift powers,
the grabbers now invade the courts
and seek to overthrow the constitu-
tion itself. The slender basis upon
which this contention Is raised is
the provision that no man shall be
deprived of his property without
payment therefor after due process
of law. Seattle wharf owners, who
have built their wharves upon the
property of the state, set up the ao-
surd claim that the harbor Limo com
mission must not locate this strip,
as prescribed by the constitution,
" here the needs and requirements
of commerce may be served, where
wharvcs and docks are naturally
needed by n growing commerce, but
must locate 1t out in Elliott bay,
where nobody would desire to build
n wharf, and must make that strip
so narrow that nobody could build
wharf thereon, even II he so desired.
With admirable rectitude ana
keen appreciation of the rights OF
the people and the needs of com
merce, the harbor line commission
has resisted the corrupting influence
of selfish and interested men, ana
has detled their threats by declaring
that commerce needs n strip OF the
states tide lands 900 feet In wtdth,
and that wharf owners who have
squat'ed upon this strip must pay
the public at least II nominal rental
for the privilege of occupancy.
In the fulfillment Of their sworn
duty these honorable gentlemen
have incurred the hatred of u little
clique striving To ni0nopoiize tho
commerce OF great city, and nave
excited the abuse Of the Seattle
press. They are Scnttle's truest
friends. Armed with the command
of the constitution of the state. aiid
equipped with lofty sense of duty,
they are endeavoring to preserve the
property of the people and to un-
loosen the vicious grasp OF monopoly
from the throat of the commerce oil
Seattle. They are striving to invltes
the worlds fleets to the harbors oi
Puget sound. Seattle's newspapers
are endeavorlng to strengthen that
greedy grasp, and To rcpel COM
merce.
The REVIEW will have something
more to say upon this important
question. With the aid of the pup.
llc and the assistance of officers Oh
known integrity, 1t will cndeavor 10
convince this Legislature of the ur-
gent necessity ofmaking ample pro-
vision for the defense OF the peoples
rights before the highest courts OF