Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-08-14

lawful money III WnlcN tney are TO b
paid, and we denounce the present an
preceding administrations for surren
dering this option to the holders o
government obligation securities.
Seventh-We demand a graduated
income tax, to the end that aggre
gated wealth shall bear its just pro
portion OF taxation, and we regard the
recent decision of the Supreme Court
relative to the income tax as a misu
depreciation OF the constitution and
an invasion of the righttul powe.s c.
Congress over the courts.
We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of the saw
ings of the people, and to facilitate ex-
change.
TRANSPORTATION.
First-For transportation for means
OF exchange, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the
interest of the people on a non-parti-
san basis, to the end that all may be
accorded the same treatment in trans
portation, and that the tyranny and
present political power now exercised
by the great railroad corporations,
which result in the impairment, if not
the destruction, of the political rights
and personal liberties OF the citizens
may be destroyed. Such ownership is
to be accomplished gradually, in a
manner consistent with sound public
policy.
Second-The interest of the United
States in the public highways built
with public moneys and the proceeds
OF extensive land grants to the Pacific
railroads should never have been alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded
and protected for the general welfare,
as provided by the laws organizing
such railroads. The foreclosure of ex-
listing liens of these roads, should
there be default in payment thereof
by the debtor companies, and at the
foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
ernment shall purchase the same if it
becomes necessary to protect its in
terests, or if they can be purchased at
. reasonable price, the government
shall operate said railroads as public
highways for the benefit of the whole
people, and not in the interest OF the
few, under suitable provisions for
protection of life and property, giving
TO all the transportation interests
equal privileges and equal rates for
fares and freights.
Third-We denounce the present
infamous schemes for refunding these
debts, and demand that the laws now
applicable thereto be executed and ad-
ministered according to their true in
tent and spirit.
Fourth - The telegraph, like the
postoffice system, being a necessity
for the transmission of news, should
he owned and operated by the govern
ment in the interest of the people.
LANDS.
First-True policy demands that
national and State legislation shall be
such as will ultimately enable every
prudent and industrious citizen to Sc
cure home, and therefore, the land
should not be monopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now
held by railways and other corpora
tions in excess of their actual needs
should by lawful means be reclaimed
by the government and held for actual
settlers only, and private land
monopoly, as we'll as allen ownership,
should be prohibited.
Second-We condemn the frauds by
which the land grants to the Pacific
railway companies have, through the
of the interior department,
robbed multitudes OF bona fide settlers
of their homes and miners of their
and we demand legislation by
Congress which will enforce the e1emp-
ton of mineral land from such grants
after as we'll as before patenting.
Third-We demand that bona fide
settlers on all public lands be granted
free homes, as provided in the national
homesteads law, and that no excep.
ton be made in the case of Indian
reservations opened for settlement,
and that all the lands not now
patented come under this demand.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
We favor a system of direct legisla-
tion through the initiative and refer
endum, under proper constitutional
safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of
President, Vice President and United
States Senators by a direct vote of the
people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic
people of Cuba our deepest sympathy
in their struggle for political freedom
and independence, and we believe the
time has come when the United States,
the great republic of the world, should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right
ought to be, free and independent
state.
Third-We favor home rule in the
Territories and the District OF Column
bia, and the early admission OF the
Territories as States.
Fourth-All public salaries should