Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-10-21
STATE or WASHINGTON, =,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE,
OLYMPIA. October &, 1872

STATE or WASHINGTON,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE,
OLYMPIA, October 8, 1892.
In response to many inquiries received at this
othce M to the purpose and probable effect of
the proposed constitutional amendment to be
voted upon in the ensuing state election and In
order that the salient facts In connection there
with may be properly understood, l have pre-
pared the following statement for the informa-
tion OF the public ALLEN WEIR,
Secretary of State.
To tile Voters IF tie State Of Washington:
BY a vote of tifty-six to five of the
House and twenty-four to one the Sem
ate, and without regard to party lines,
the Legislature at its last session agreed
to the following proposed amendment to
the Constitution, which is submitted to
you for your approval or rejection at the
coming election:
That Section of Article VIII of the Constitu-
tion OF the State of Washington be amended to
read as follows:
SECTION l. The State may for the purpose of
constructing public buildings and other works,
and for the acquisition Of lands and for other
expenses incident to said construction, contract
debts in any amount not to exceed la the aggre
gate Cne per cent. of the value Of the taxable
property within the State. as shown by the as
sessment Mt for county and State purposes last pre-
ceding the incurring of any such debts; and may
further contract, Tor any public purposes, debts
not exceeding in the aggregate five hundred
thousand dollars; and the moneys arising from
the loans creating such debts shall be applied for
the purposes for which they were obtained, or
70 repay the debts so contracted, and to NO other
purpose whatever"
At said election the electors yotiuoito approye
aud ratify said amendment shall vote " For con.
stitutionsl amendment raising the limit of State
Indebtedness fEs; and the electors voting not
IN nann tfxr \
" against constit utional amendment raising the
limit OF Slate indebtedness, No."
The object OF this amendment is to
avoid the sacrifice of the grant of lands
from the United States to the State OF
Washington for the purposes hereinafter
set out, and to enable the Legislature to
provide for the erection of the institu.
tions for which the grant was made.
l: is not contemplated by the amend
ment to create any debt that the people
will ever be called upon to pay, as the
proceeds Of the sale of these lands at a
conservative estimate will much more
than repay any Indebtedness that might
be incurred Hereunder. The present
bonded Indebtedness of the State is but
three hundred thousand dollars, bearing
interest at the rate of three and one
half per cent, and these bonds were sold
at premium of one eighth of one per
cent.
The erection of such public buildings
as the State requires is matter of time,
and were the next Legislature to author
lze the work, a long period of years
would be required for its completion.
The State is now paying rental OF
$1,000 per year for inadequate quarters
for its officers, and without sufficient
hall for legislative purposes.
The following certificate from the
State Commissioner of Public Lands
gives the amount of lands already So.
lected 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 a
saving TO the State:
STATE OF wAsHISGTON,
OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER or PUBLIC Ian Ds.
Hon. Allen Weir, Secretary Of State.
"pEAK SIR: Iu reply to your request for in
certificate W hch embraces information desired
by you:
"STATE OF WASHINGTON, S.
~ hereby certify that 49,. 900 acres have been
granted by sections IL and IL of the enabling act
fol the construction of public buildings at the
Ia al atd
been selected by the State Land Commission.
and valued at 81 ,257 $4,000. as reported by the
several agents who have been appointed by the
39y, Session Laws Of 1891.
That 100 OOO acres have been granted by sec
tion Il OF the enabling act for the establishment
and maintenance M OF scientific school of said
amount 80 ,6lS.32 acres have been selected BY the
State Land Commission, valued at x343 gl9 20 az
reported by said agents.
That 100000 acres have been granted by sec
tion IL OF the enabling act for state, charitable
educational, penal and reformstory institutions
or said amount Sl,5S7 SO acres have been selected
by the State Land Commission, valued at S76y,-
$500, as reported by said agents
THAT 10000 acres have been granted by sec.
tlon 10 OF the enabling act for the use and sup
port OF agricultural colleges. OF said amount
5',3s95O acres have been selected by the State
Land Commission. valued at $5o5 $500, as re-
ported by said agents.
Witness my hand this 18th day of October,
lsS2. (Signed) w. T. FORREsT,
Commissioner of Public Lands.
Without the adoption of this or Il sim
liar amendment the Legislature will be
powerless to provide for the erection of
the various public buildings and insti-
tutions contemplated by the enabling
act, except by the imposition OF direct
tax upon the people (there being no con-
stitutional limit on the taxing power of
the Legislature for State purposes),
which would be onerous and oppressive,
or a sale of these lands at a sacrifice.
A Pertinent Question.
walla walla Statesman.
Will the Union.JOurndi inform a
very anxious lot OF taxpayers if Attor-
ney General Jones, Allen Weir and
others who are State officials and are
going around making speeches, wheth-
er they continue to draw their salaries
while thus engsgedr
Go to L. s. Horizons for stoves and