Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-11-04
STATE on wAsuisOros,
OFFICE OT SECRETARY ~ NrAsn
OLyNpIA. October n, lswl

STATE of NAsutNoroN,
OFFICE oI SECRETARY ~ STATS
OLYariA, october y, lsg2
In response 10 many inQuirles received st this
office to the purpose aud probsss easst ~
the proposed constitutional smenataesi ~ b.
voted upon In the ensuing state sleect Ion snd IN
order that the salient facts IN roHn~esiun thsFs
with may he properly understood, hsvs PEE
pared the following ststemsnt tor The iHfoF'as
w" VI '"' P"'"'' ssers,.ry y state.
To tie Voters If The state ef WdshiHgteH'
BY vote of iifty-siS Ia five ui the
House and twenty-four io one the ssn.
ate, and without regard to party lines,
the Legislature at its last session agu't,i
TO the following proposed amendnhent to
the Constitution. which is submitted a.
you for your approval or rejection al lh"
coming election
That section / of Article viii Of the Csasll,s
tion Of the state OF wsshinR'os ee ssasnaea ."
SECTION l. The state may for the paspsss ~
constructing public buildings sna Other vsfks
and for the acquisition of lands aud fof uthef
debts In any amount not TO sxeesd IN the aeafe
gate one per cent Of the value Of the hsahit
property within the s,a,s. .s .ho-s eI ~. :.
ceding the incurring OF any each dsh's sud tasY
further contract, for any pablie purposes. ~ ets
not exceeding In the sggfvRs,s hss haaaFea
the loans creating such debts shsii b. spptlsa hs
the purposes for which they we're eb,slaea, %
to repay the debts 80 contracted sud "a No u,hst
purpose whatever"
At said election the electors v0tiagite suyfsye
and ratify said amendment shall vots tes esR
stitutionsl amendments raising the hmii - s,sss
to approve or ratlfy said smesdmsn, shslf ss,s
" Against constit itutionsl amendment Fsistna The
limit Of State Indebtedness, NO"
The object OF this amcbdmen; IL H.
avoid the sacrifice of the grant III lands
from the United States 10 the State ~
Washington for the purposes hereinsfteI
set out, and to enable the Legislature to
provide for the erection of the inHtitu
tions for which the grant Was made.
1t is not contemplated by the amend'
ment to create any debt that the people
will ever be called upon 30 pay, as the
proceeds of the aale ot these lands n q
conservative estimate will much more
than repay any Indebtedness that might
be incurred Hereunder. The present
bonded Indebtedness of the state In bu,
three hundred thousand dollars, hearing
interest at the rate OF three and one.
half per cent, ard these bonds we're sold
at premium Of one eighth of one Jses
cent.
The erection OF such public buildings
as the State requires is q matter 81 time,
and were the next Legislature 10 author.
ize the work, long period of yeafs
would be required for it@ completion
The State is now paying q renial III
81, 600 per year for inadequate quarters
for its officers, and without q sufficient
hall for legislative purposes.
The following certificate from the
State Commissioner of Public Lands
gives the amount of lan'ls already &C.
lecfed and their appraised value, and
shows that the adoption of this amend
ment does not mean any additional bur
den to the taxpayer, but In the end Q
saving 10 the State:
STATE OF wAswisoroS.
OFFICE or CosxisHioska % PunLio i-Ann..
Hon. Allen Weir. Secretary er state
"DEAR SIR: Iu reply 90 yess regssst tss m
formation, have the honor % subsslt hstswist
q certificate which embSacss infernsatiea assifrd
by you:
"SrArE OF wAsHIsoros, %.
"I hereby certify that is2,ooe ssrv. hsss t>ss
granted by sections IL aud ~ sf she sssbi~E .s'
fol the construction Of psblis hsilalass y ~
State capital. or SAID amouut 81 ,its acres haze
been selected BY the state Land Csasssssss
and :eSe," valued .s.... g SSa -. &c. z X
Governor under the provisions u ssstiss Z. psss
800, Session Laws Of lssi.
"That 100 oo0 acres asve been sssstsa hy zee
tion IL Of the enabiag Get for the sHes
and maintenance Of . setsntiae seheei uf sakl
amount ~ 6is.32 acres have been ssiessed W ~
State Land Commission. vaieed % tSsa sis. - q
reported by said agepts.
"That 10000 acres have been granted By zee
ton u Of the enabling iaes foe sssss ssssitssis
educational penal and refevwaissy lnssisssssss
OF said amount 81 ss7 % sefes have hssA ssiestr<
by the State Land Commission, vslss1 a etes.
$500, a. reported By said sgeats
"That 1000 acres have been gsssssa hy see
tion 10 Of the enabling Get for tie zee ss8 ssf
port Of agricultural colleges. " ss1d snsssus
IS $3.50 acres have been selected BY tks sssi'
Land Commission. waived % ests. .gaase. ss ~
ported by said agents.
:" Witness my hand this ssA deg cf ossss<s
| 1892. (signed, W. Z, FossssT,
Commlssioaer of ruhiie LAsAs.
Without the adoption Of this or = sim
liar amendment the Legislature win h
powerless to provide for the erection o
the various public buildings and insti
tutions contemplated bv the enablin,
act, except by the imposition of dires'
tax upon the people there being no con
stitutional limit on the taxing power o
the Legislature for State purposes)