Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-02-28

their life endeavOr is to make such a
proceeding as easy and profitable as
possible. Anything which reduces
the surplus that may be made availa.
bic to pay fat salaries, they resist with
might and main as an assault upon
inherent personal rights and privi-
leges. They cannot see why the sal.
aries of the privileged few should be
ranked with the wages of the plebian
throng, and subjected to the rise and
fall in value which attends such vulgar
products as wheat and corn, or hogs
and potatoes. They cannot under
stand that there may be limit as to
the productive ability of the goose
which has laid golden eggs so regu-
larly and so long, and have formed an
abiding belief that to cut the docile
fowl open would reveal a veritable
mine of the standard metal of requi-
site fineness. To their credit, let it be
said, the majority of the county off,
Gals did not take any part in the de-
bate-they were too wary for that {;
hut they did constitute moral sup
port to the Scobeys and the Cavan-
aughs, the Wilkins Micawbers of the
party, who are waiting-O so patiently
for something to "turn up"
Finally Reese Brewer, a Republican
who is not SO purblind rs to be obliv-
ious OF the fact that his party is re-
sponsible for the extravagant form of
State and local government that is
driving the letters into the flesh, arose
and In lew plain, cOmmon-sense SEN
fences told the tax-eaters to call a
halt-it had been decreed that so far
they might go and no farther. This
WAS meeting of those who paid the
costs OF government, not those who
absorbed them. Office-holders should
realize the inability OF the people to
pay old-time salaries and costs. A
lew years ago his farm was 30 produce
tive that he paid for help from 81 TO
W per day; now he could find men
glad to work for so cents day, and he
could not employ them. Mr.. Brewers
remarks were greeted with earnest ap-
plause, and the vote On the report be-
ing taken by sections, it was adopted.
Then came up for consideration the
additional recommendation of the
minority OF the committee. They
were as follows:
That the number of members of the
| State Legislature be reduced to the
minimum prescribed by the Constitution
OF the State, and that the expenses of no
Legislature shall exceed in the aggregate
SIC, 900 and that we fully believe this
can be done by looping off useless and
unnecessary expenses and particularly
by reducing the number of unnecessary
| and supernumerary clerks and attaches
and we further believe large saving
can be made in the printing of the SEES
| sion laws OF each session in paper, space
and unnecessary emergency clauses.
We further recommend that the office
of Lieutenant Governor be abolished
and that the Office of State Land Com.
missioner and State Auditor be consoli.
| dated.
We further recommend that Superior
Court districts and Superior Court Judges
be reduced to the number originally
| specified in the State Constitution.
We further recommend that the as
sessment OF real property be only made
once in every five years.
We further recommend and insist that
that each and every candidate for the
| Observation-Disclosures for the Senate OF
the House-be required to subscribe in
| writing to the reforms mbodied in this
report and therein set forth and recon
mended; as in the failure of him or
them so doing, that we will deem him
or them unworthy of our suffrages and
he or they shall not receive them.
Brother Scobey jumped upon this
report with both feet, and iron-clad
heels at that. Any proposition to re-
duce the number of members, or pay,
or emoluments, or privileges and per
quisltes of the Legislature, could not
be tolerated for an instant; nor could
the prodigal number and liberal per.
quisites Of the State offices be reduced
without personal Inconvenience and
suffering to party favorites who are
waiting their turn to step into fat and
juicy positions.
Brother Scobey did not dwell upon
this view of the subject, however; but
filed the pettifogger's usual plea of OBJ
lection immaterial and irrelevant;
that the meeting was called to con.
sider county finances and not State
matters. Notwithstanding it was
plain at glance that as long as
Ihurston county is bled to pay
heavy proportion of legislative ex-
penses and the salaries of State Off
GERS, the report was exceedingly ger.
name to the subject of the call and
objects of the meeting, there were
enough of the office-holders present
actual and prospective-to defeat the
report, by adoption OF motion to lay
on the table. 1t expresses, however,
the sentiment of the taxpayers, and
Will be leading issue at the ballot
oox on one day of each 100 on which
The voter and the office-holder, the
tax eater and the taxpayer, the tax
payer and the tax.ower, are all on
common plane of equality.
Alter adopting motion thanking
the committee for its able reports and
continuing its authority to give life to
Its recommendation the meeting adj
Journed.