The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-08
THE WORK TO BEDONE
Not a Moment of the Sixty Days
Can Be Wasted.
MODERATE RAILROAD CHECKS.
Change in the Revenue Law-If the Hill
Code Is Accepted IL WIN obwiate
Vast Amount of Labor.

OLYMPIA, Jan 7.-lspeciaL1- 1.-The sixty dsys'
limit imposed by the constitution upon all ses-
sions OF the Washington legislature after the
first will effcctualy prevent any waste of time or
dilatoriness on the part of the legislature whose
session began today. There is = vast amount to
be done, and the most constant and assiduous
attention TO business will be necessary If the
work is to be done within the required time.
The prompt manner in which the members re-
ported for duty, and the hussness~tik methods
that marked their initial proceedings promise a
record OF active and intelligent work
during The entire session. There
was no delay in getting the machinery
OF the legislature in motion, and its operation
for the whole sixty days is not likely to be in-
terrupted except by the senatorial question.
The chances OF deadlock in the election being
so small, the attention Of the legislators is not
likely 10 he diverted from their duties for a
great length of time, even by that very distract
ing and exciting question II may be expected
that permanent organization win be thoroughly
effected and the standing committees appointed
by Monday OF next week. and that thereafter the
usual business of the session can proceed.
Among the matters OF first importance to
which the legislature VIII be expected to devote
large part of its time, viii ne the settlement of
the question of railroad control There is
very decided feeling among the members from
east OF the mountains that effective railroad leg.
vor railroad commission, with power to fix
freights and fares. or commission with
judicial powers and a maximum rate
law. The Farmers Alliance wants graia
rates fixed at x OF cent per ton per mile. a re-
duetlon OF nearly one-haif from the present
rates The charges from Walla waila to the
Sound are now 81. 20 per ton, and the new SEIZED.
ule would bring them down to SEQ. Ii this
average were followed 10 the regulation OF fares
throughout all Eastern Washington it would re-
suit in a minimum saving of s. per ton, or 62s
cents for every hushcl of wheat. About 10000
tons were raised for export in Eastern Washing
ton last year, and the total saving would there
fore be sl,0oo.0oo. The members from Western
Washington are not so keenly alive to the need of
railroad legislation as those from the East. They
are loath to enact severe restriction laws be-
cause they want 10 do nothing that viii prevent
railroads from extending new lines and
ducing materially to the prosperity OF the coun-
try in the future as they have in the past They
will consent to moderate laws, but they do not
want to brighten or artagonize the railroad cor
porations The division of sentiment on the
question between East and West is generally
clear and distinct The result viii doubtless be
compromise and bill viii probably be passed.
Its details and provisions cannot be outlined.
A bill to appropriate s250.0oo for the Worlds
fair viii be early introduced, and viii doubtless
excite great deal of opposition. Tho members
from the cities generally in favor OF gencr~
OILS appropriation, but those from the interior
viii unquestionably make fight against such
large expenditure Representative Meany of
King has the matter in charge. and expects to
show how every part of $4,000 can be expended
iudiciously and With assurance Of liberal re-
turns for advertisement. 1t is possible that the
matter will be delayed until the oregon legisla~
ture has passed upon the same question. aud
then similar or somewhat larger amount viii
be appropriated
The revenue law passed by the last legislature
needs amendment in many particulars. The
members agree that the general system OF assess-
ment and taxation laid down in this law is cor.
rect and win work satisfactorily when its in
constituencies and defects are cured. The pro-
vision making taxes delinqent on January | OF
each year meets with general objection, and it
will doubtless be changed until March or
March 81. At present the law provides that
assessments shall be made by the county assessor
and delinquent taxes collected by the sheriff. A
proposition will be made to amend that all
taxes, city and county shall he payable
TO one collector. Another will bs
that before any deed can be recorded
with the county auditor, certificate must BE-
secured from the county treasurer that all the
taxes are paid. Another viii be that personal
and real property will be assessed separately. A
serious objection to the law is that in section n
ii declares that taxes shall be levied by county
boards in specific amounts. Section rs provides
that the levy shall not exceed a certain number
of mills. Here is trouble. The boards of county
commissioners meet in August and the state
board in September. The latter may entirely
change the valuation OF one all the counties,
and il is impossible for the former to levy taxes
in August in specific amount at fixed ratio
upon unknown valuation.
The constitution of the state fixes the limit OF
state Indebtedness at 100000 The present
bonded debt is now o000, bearing 50 per cent.
interest. A floating debt of about 100000 yields
10 per cent, or about $4,000 year. II is plainly
desirable to fund this debt and sell the bonds
bearing the lower rate OF interest. The limit of
Indebtedness must be raised, or the state will
soon have exceeded the $4,000. II is proposed
to submit constitutional amendment fixing
sliding SCALE that the maximum OF legal indebt-
edness may increase in the same ratio as the as
sessed valuation of the state
Senator Owings will introduce the following
bill:
section l. That at the election held in this
state there shall be submitted to the electors Of
the state the following proposal as an amend
ment to section !, article s, OF the constitution
of Washington. namely: The state NAV meet
casual deficits or failures in revenues. or for OK
penses not provided for, contract debts, bus
such debts, direct or contingent. singiy or in
the aggregate, shall not at any time. exceed
per cent OF the amount Of the last assessed
valuation of the property of the state OF Wash
ington shown by the records in the Office OF
the state auditor, and moneys arising from the
loans creating such debts shall be applied to tina
purpose for which they obtained or to repay
the debts so contracted, and TO no other purpose
whatever.
The last assessed valuation of property was
SIT ,5a5.739, aud the limit would be increased
for this year TO s425, AIS The estimated
valuation for 1891 is 500 900 600, thus allowing
maximum debt OF s6Ooo00 for next year.
81 1T.
that the mechanics lien law needs amendment.
As il is now il gives protection to the workman,
the rnaterialrnan and the contractor, but very
little to the owner against bis contractor.
The contractor may misapproprfate funds
placed as his disposal By the owner, and ths
latter has no effective remedy, and his building
Is liable for the debts of the contractor made in
building.
The irrigation Law passed by the late legisla-
ture needs amendment in q number OF particu-
lars, chief of which Is the provision that no
bonds of an irrigation district shall be sold for
less than 80 per cent. OF their face value. some
difficulty has been experienced In disp0sing Of
the bonds ut this figure, and sn amendments
viii be offered to reduce the minimum TO 80 per
cent.
There are several minor defects in the new
code Of road laws A great many farmers object
seriously 70 the provision which requires them
TO pay their road tax in cash, instead ~ having
the option OF paying money or working
The constitution requires that police courts
shall be organized In the cities but the last leg
isature failed 70 pass bill creating such courts.
Another bill to salary justices and eonstables in
cities of 5000 inhabitants VIII BE- also intro