The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-03
STATE FINANCE.

TO TIE EDrToR: In the great scramble going
on in the Legislature the present last week Of
the session, among the advocates Of bills Of =
direct personal or local nature, one Of the most
important and far-reaching OF ail-one that
greatly concerns the whole state. its prosperity,
reputation and credit for many years 70 come
Is In danger Of neglect and the press of the
state should wake up To the fact and insist on
its passage.
The House concurrent resolution No. 10, In
troduced by Mr.. Yancy, Of King, providing Tor
flexible limit to the state debt, has been sp-
proved by six of the seven members OF the COM
mittee on constitution and revision in the
House, and is now on me calendar Tor second
reading, awaiting Mr.. Yancy's return from sick
leave to call II up, or the pleasure Of the expe-
diting committee who have been given the re-
Sponsibility Of favoring bills
The resolution in Question submits to the
people, ct the next general election, the privil-
eye Of changing the limitation on the state debt
from 100000 to limit of per cent on the
grand list for public buildings, works and
grounds, and 100000 for incidental indebted
ness
The present condition OF the state may be
briefly summed thus: A debt nearly reaching
the limit, Inherited from the territory; heavy
state tax OF mills per annum, draining the tax
payers OF 100000 each year. Of which $4,000
has to be paid BY the already grievously bur-
dened citizens OF King county alone; and finally,
an OUTFIT Of public buildings which range from
those that are at the best insufficient for even
present needs, down to those which are laugh
ing-stock, shame and disgrace
A large penitentiary for the west side Of the
mountains should be built ct once. The insane
asyiums are both too small. The various be-
neyoient and charitable institutions required
are either wholly or partially neglected. Scores
OF boys and girls going to the bad far lock OF
reformatories. Besides all these, and more, the
needs of the state government are so notorious
and evident that they need not be stated TO any
one who is familiar with the condition
of things at the capital There the
state possesses absolutely nothing that
is fit for ito purposes. The present
provisions for state that inside Of twenty years
will require more state capital accommodations
than any except ak states IN the Union, can
best be described By extracts from the governors
message:
..since the organization Of this state the
various officers hDve had no settled abiding
place. Their Offices are scattered about the
highways and byways OF Olympia, and are To-
Gated wherever rooms could be secured" 1.-THE
taxpayer and citizen are put TO great incon-
venience and annoyance In doing bus
mess with the state" "The written bust
ness history OF our government, from the
earliest territorial days. 10 much OF 1t
stored for supposed safe-keeping in sheds
and outbuildings." 1--WE have no vaults for the
preservation Of our valuable land plats, or for
the safe keeping Of and storage of numberless
other valuable documents-the loss of which
would seriously impair the business standing
of those institutions whose organization dates
from the earlier territorial days" "The dig.
nifty OF the state is compromised BY
the humiliating spectacle Of the supreme court
being located wherever chance or accident Of
location permits" 1.-THE legislature, with due
regard Tor the convenience Of the people, and
with decent respect to the judicial, executive
and ministerial offices OF the state, should zee
that accessible and ample accommodations for
the coordinate branches Of the state govern
ment are provided without delay" ''Our per-
mancnt state buildings should be ample enough
to accommodate the public business for q CEN
fury, and should be commensurate in form,
dignity and appointments with the magnificent
certainties of our future"
Few, am afraid, yet realize what this state
must have been for this one purpose alone to
give us due credit and respect abroad. In short,
100000 for capital and 100000 for other
buildings are needed at once, and ~ the state
can afford to have what it wants, it cannot
afford To do without what it wants.
Seeing the condition of things: We now have
three courses open before US. Increase the
already burdensome and oppressive taxation;
use the boundless credit Of the state to bring in
cheap money to supply our needs and reduce
taxation-meeting both principal and interest
with the proceeds from the granted lands, of
which only enough for interest will probably
come in during the next ten years, or else con-
tinue to drag along in the stupid, shameful,
mossbaek condition into which things are now
drifting.
When the constitution was adopted the ques-
ton of state debt was treated as sort OF super.
sttious fetch, instead of plain business propo-
sition that should be met on the same common
sense principles that national, county and city
debts are. Ii is curious fact that most of the
opposition to greater freedom OF action for the
representatives OF the people comes from the
very persons who make the greatest professions
as guardians of the people, but whosby this very
act betray their distrust of the people and of
the legislators who will be chosen by the people
hereafter. l hold that such distrust is utterly
unwarranted in state that is being filled up
with the best blood and brain Of the nation.
Every indication points to a commonwealth that
will be as conspicuous for its self governing ca
pacity as for It's material development.
Ii is filling with class OF people who will not
consent to creep along in the wake of Oregon,
Pike county and Old Virginny; and predict
that if the people are allowed to vote on the
amendment in 1892, they will endorse it with
such unanimity as TO astonish all the anxious