The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-25

arseHsetzsas wzkca coas1 - vefurTsray
<~-ats4s ~ ths cozzEv co-n-zssssrle-s-
wife sse-s are soze frteresslrg features
asout The ease. Ibis = The pertinent Ssslzr-
Ths szr-e-re coz-- hez5 that the tax7syrrs
wevs right ara IN. ccunty conzzsssscz-
81. wrsr~. L pointed out thst Z saF
cseer corxr-ae-1on we're placed upon tas
tars. re creditors Ear 81 excess q sas
,srsst eeuH -. thsEr ciasrns into fsstg-
rss1ss All f.zwe the county commissioners
risA q side range fer extravazzace- Tia
csu-t maze clear d-zs4ncs.cr between
5assxments arising oct Of crsy authorized
public d.ses voted ucoz 81 The peo2le. ar1
Judgments obtained s9on general aceouni
fnerrrea without vote.
Tners = a statutory provision Thsch pe--
n1sts Judgements against the county 70 BE
paid ~ : tax levied ard collected as In
the case c< other county charges. but the
court holds ina. this does not authorize
the levy OF tax tn excess OF the rats
limited By tbs constitution. BIZ. the tnds-
rnsu1s must BE paid out Of 10 amount
realized By the isry for ordinary county
purposes.
The general conclusions Of the court
should commend themselves 20 az inter
ested In securing fun appreciation OF the
purposes Of the makers u the constitution.
The Wyoming court says II Is convinced
that any different construction would BE
destructive Of the plain import and object
z--~ So
rscst reckless and frnproyiient admins
t-ztioa OK pebiic affairs. Notwitnstaid-
ing that the burdens OF taxation are now
conceived TO De oppressive. temperate Ian
euaxs would utterly fail 90 depict the
condition which might result II such q
iatitudA were permitted 20 county COM
uasssioners The hsrdships which may ac-
company any attempt 20 eonfins county
Indebtedness and taxation within consti-
tafional boundaries cannot approach. in
which might follow II the wise purpose
Of the basic Law should be defeated
II woaid be almost impossible for q
legislative body 70 put into language any
restriction upon the limit of Indebtedness
Il the courts should adopt the policy of
excepting from It's operation all forms
OF indebtedness which were not explicitly
named. We know by experience how en-
barrasslng some of such provisions have
become In the management Of municipal
affairs. but that Is only a temporary In
convenience. II Is scarcely controvertible
that the limit placed by the Western states
upon expenditure Is ample for all ordinary
purposes. The people can, II necessary.
vote for a. increase In their own liabil-
tiles. but the interpoEtion for such action
rot only affords a check upon councils
which might be tempted TO the expsadi-
tsre Of money. but upon the people them
selves. inasmuch a. II oompels them to
take tine TO consider what they are about
TO do.
X Is not always wfIifuI extravagaace on
the part Of councils or commissioners
which leads them into expenditure beyond
the municipal revenue: far less frequently
Is It due to dishonesty. It is usually the
result Of importantly on the part Of tax
payers themselves. who insist upon their
exceptional claims for consideration in the
matter OF improvements, and TO good
natured compliance on the part OF elective
officials.