The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-09

/ State auditors estimate OF expendl-
tures isfsss4Se -
state auditors estimate Of balance,
March 81, 1893 --->.....----.---S $40 IL
| Appropriations asked for various
| state institutions and not included
in state auditors estimate -------s 81 800 %
/ Estimated cash balance in treasury
March 81, lc95---- .--------.----.--.* ol-s2 III
The rates of state taxation for the year Isse in
/ the Pacific Coast states and territories were So
MIS- Kals.
| California ...-.--- :. Idaho 81
| Oregon S Utah -.------....-
Nevada .---..-.--.-9 arizona -.-----.--- 81
Montana .--..--...- 2 New Mexico
Our present rate OF taxation Is 8 mills, but
from careful review and estimate OF our taxa
bic resources, and taking into consideration the
assumed increase IN valuation which We may
expect during the coming two years. ! am Of
the opinion that reduction of our present rate
OF taxation can be made and tax OF p mills
viii De sufficient @ cover the necessary iegltl-
mate expenses in the maintenance Of cur state
government for the fiscal years lssI-Iese
careful psrasaI OF the recommendations con-
tanned in the report OF the state auditor win show
q conservative line of policy. which, IL acted
upon sfhEativeiy, VIII, in my opinion, condEee
TO the continued prosperity OF the state
STATE LANDS.
The act admitting Washington into the Union
made 70 the state, for various purposes, exfen-
siye grants OF public lands OF the United States,
Out cZ2 90 acres OF these lands were granted for
educational purposes. Section 10 OF the act pro-
sesnitv 10 , as s.ssa n = sal b
selected under the direction of the secretary OF
the interior from the unserveyed, unreserved
AID unappropriated lands OF the United States"
Not one zcre OF this grant has yet been selected
Tor the state Il has been, and Is, impossible 10
Eaake any such selection under the present rules
and regulations ct the United States land de-
paTtnenf- The congressional appropriation act
OF August %. 1880, provides that the commits
sI0oer OF the general land Office NAY allow the
specified maximum rates for the survey OF such
lands as those granted To the state OF Washing
ton
By instructions from the land department 10
the surveyor general Of Washington, issued DC
t0fser s. Isaa. the geners land office allows Tor
the survey OF lands heavily tirnbered. mountain
Gus, Or covered with dense underground. in this
state, rates not exceeding SIS PER Hneal mile Tor
standard and meander lines, sl5 for township
and slZ for section lines These retes 50 low
that no competent surveyor in the state can be
induced u make surveys Tor them in Western
Washington. IL is doubtful whether competent
surveyors can be induced 70 take the work for
less than double these rates There Is, there
fore, practically no provision whatever for the
survey OF the cate lands IL Western Washington
and their consequent selection
The assistant COMMISSIONS 81 the general land
Office, Hon W. " Stone, visited our state during
the last year. His attention was called 10 the
character of the country and the inadeauacy OF
psrtment for surveys He immediately recog-
nized the impossibility OF having surveys made
| at those rates. and has since recommended the
raising Of the rates 10 s. for standard, So for
| township and Sd for section lines
Neither congress nor the land department. OF
| the United states have made any provision for
as against the rights OF settlers or squafters II
| is weil-known fact that the available unsur
veyed government lands Of this state are very
extensively occupied by such settlers. whose &C
cupaney Is years in advance of the United States
surveys.
In the valley OF the Okanogan river. as an ex-
A Ezr vas7 Ec-
yeyed lands, cultivated them, built their homes
thereon and maintained them for the last thirty
years; yet all that land remains unsuryeyed,
and there is not base line within thirty miles
OF any part OF IL cite this simply as an Illus
| tration OF the culpable neglect OF congress and
i Ike these the late commissioner OF the general
land ofhce, W. A. J. Sparks in his report for the
year ISIS 70 the secretary OF the interior, says:
| Largely the forests Of Washington territory
are already surveyed. and in al the
Western Land states and territories, the surveys
have anticipated actual population for years 10
4 come"
/ tits difficult 10 comment with moderation
4 upon such an outrageous misStatement OF facts
/ as this II shows either an invincsble ignorance
! on the part OF the commissioner, vicious
! disposition 10 prevent or delay further surveys
| in the West
see no possibility of relief from the ernbar-
| RAISING and dangerous situation in which the
| state is placed by the course of the United
| states Land department., and the iDsdeauacy OF
congressional legislation upon the subject. ex-
J
| pass act positively directing the land DEPART
ment 70 SET aslae its present rulings and instrue
such rates for surveys Of these lands as viii en-
| able the surveyor general OF this state TO carry
out the purposes OF the enabling act
/ Congress should also Be asked to make clear
| and definite provision for the immediate seiec-
ton hy the state, preferred claimant against
| any and al settlers, OF sufficient unsuryeyed
| lands - satisfy the grant
| The failure 10 secure such legislation as this
| has not Only prevented the state from enjoying
| the gift OF these lands, but has also, believe,
caused 10 the state loss OF 81 least 81 eao 90 BIZ
| reason OF the appreciation IN the vslue OF lands
| which the state could and should have owned in
fee simple bad immediate provision for the
| selection OF these lands supplemented the grants
| made IN the enabling act
recommend that you strongly menorislize
congress to enact iegislStson Necessary 10 enable
this state 70 acquire the lands granted Ia IT, sud
| t1zt You request our senators and Representa-
| tive in congress. in no uncertain terms. to
| delay not urgent efforts TO this end.
The policy Of the first state legislature seemed
| % be 10 establish q large number OF commits
| sio1s, o. boards, for the control and manage
state, and 70 make the land commissioner,
| VI hose Office IS provided for by the constitution
| little more than clerical assistant 70 them
| / cannot too strongly condemn the ulwisdoEa
| Of this policy. AGexperierce has shown that
| one responsible head. who i provided with 8
sufficient force OF assistants, Is much more eff
variety OF boards or commissions In sreh
| bosrGs or commissions II = impossible 10 FIX
definitely upon anyone the Responsibility for
| failure or neglect IL the administration OF the
trusts committed 70 them Such. however i
not the case when TIE possibility clearly de-
wolves upon one man, ard he Is given full power
- discharge efficiently the duties imposed riro-l
him. The experience OF the state 50 far viii,
! think. fully attest the So1ld1esS OF the view
am presenting. The commissions low consist
/ CT StSte officers. whose ElultfSrsous duties hare
| rendered L impossible fcr them 20 devote 10
s-Sce Land rlstieEs that specific and constant al
| tsntsen which Is irnTse-atiyely demanded
| The indicioGs management Of this naurifceus
! heritage OF land calls for the very highest ex-
( ecUtve ability snd ERremit5lng attention and
/ care. Tho osace Of land commissioner. IN nv
opinion, Is one Of the most important eSslces IN
I the state government. sud uTsoa It's Successful
| SGd hgs.EeSs ike management depend larger
! financial interests o. the common Exzllh than
. upon the management Of any other ozice. or
/ even OF al tire state departments combined la
| view OF this fSeE- nothing could be more iuiR-
dIeSoaS thar the distribution and subdivision Of
/ this management among number Of boards or
/ commissioner made up Of officers whose time
/ Is sUgrpsssd BY other duties more properly I'M
I c1DbeuI upon them, SE1 20 which they must
| give precedence.
| ! reeoruenG reversed Of the uolfcy iuanrT,-
rated hy tes last legislature, aad sSch s revision
~ the law as VIII make the state land commits
/ slcne- tie sctGal, as well IS the nominal head
Of the as21 interests Of the state. sud IS viii tx
| upon him definite responsibility for the prompt
5EdlcioGS Sa1 Successful administration o. that
! g-eSs trust.
/ The exSlnple of the United states government
I and az the great railroad ee-porsilaas OF the