The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-14

Gentismen OF the Senate and Mouse Of
Representatives: You are assembled 70
exercise The highest privilege known 70
% govern your fellow men. Upon your
action may depend the lives and welfare
ot your friends and nsighbors; The pros.
persty and Advancement OF cur cherished
COMMONWEALTH. and the worth OK your
future. Remembering the maxim. whose
truth las been approved by the expert
srned which il least governed" you viii,
] an assured. approach the execution OK
your delicate duties with caution and pru-
oence. 70 The end that AL good citizens
may approve your course.
IN a free country" said that noble
spirit, George William Curtis. who de-
voted long and lovely life to enc Of the
best OF popular reforms. that OF the civil
service. an election 10 intended 10 be.
and or right should be. the choice Of dif-
fering policies OF administration By the
party does not imply that partisan feel
fngs. party spirit, should enter into gov
eminent, least OF all III our Federal re-
public, where It's perniciousness has been
most felt, for even at the Outset Of our
nation that wise man whose name our
state commentaries, said of party spirit,
1T exists under different shapes in all
governments, more or less stiaed. con-
srolled or rspressed: but in those OF popu-
Tar form Ii is seen In it's greatest rank
ness, and is truly their worst enemy.
Fortunately Tor our national welfare
the political forces at work have, as 4
rule, been so evenly balanced that the re-
suitant, especially IN legislation, has been
TO urge US upward and onward in mate
rial and social progress between closely
converging lines, no matter what party
has been IN power. The evils or party
spirit have been most viciously exercised
il states where the balance OF power be-
tween parties has been least evenly di-
vided- Indeed, IL may be said that Ii is
an axiom of practical politics that large
legislative majorities are most difficult to
harmonize for a wise common purpose.
You, gentlemen, more truly than has
been wonted in our legislative assem-
blies. represent all the people or the state
IN their political convictions Every
shade OF opinion known to our politics Is,
i believe, represented among you This,
In my judgment, is as Il should be: for.
TO be frank with you. l for one do not be-
lieve that political representation should
be all one sided, though. as q good Re-
publican. I should be pleased 70 see few
comfort In the belief that a good sound
whipping In sometimes as sanitary for
party as FOR strong and headstrong boy.
American people. I do not believe that
any triumph OF principles with which I
DO not agree Will work any lasting injury;
for IL right they should triumph, and il
wrong the people have speedy remedy
and win not fall TO apply It.
Gentlemen of the legislature. win not
dwell at length upon the general policy
legislation. To do 80 at this time is the
special prerogative of the governor-elect,
whose success as an administrator
his recommendations: but I would be re-
creant TO my constitutional duty and 10
my own convictions did I not ask your
state a. have seen them In the past four
years, and as feel them now.
Tendency Toward Excessive Appro-
priatfons.
Thu Of la ia al .,,rA trN
as IL always is by combination OF local
interests and confidence In state credit
are nearly always lavish. so much so that
l have vetoed over a quarter OF million
dollars appropriated This lavishness OF
appropriations had as its excuse the over
confidence of the legislators in the re-
men so enthusiastic over It's future as
nearly all were by reason Of ''boom
times" i venture 10 repe1t my former
suggestion that the present legislature
should closely scrutinize all appropria ton
acts and defend the taxpayers from
repetition of such folly" Under existing
laws 1t is Impossible for the governor 20
In his Judgment might be reduced because
OF the custom OF making appropriations
In lump SUM. For instance, there was
appropriated by the last Legislators:
For maintenance Western Wash
ington hospital for the insane. :. $3.50, 600
For maintenance Eastern Wash
ington hospital for the insane.... 100 600
For maintenance state penitentiary $4,000
For maintenance state university. 5000
$4,000
Here are four items Of appropriation ag-
gregating nearly half a million dollars
without detail. II such items were de-
tailed. doubtless the governor could End
several items which might be omitted
without seriously GRIPPING the objects of
this. Early in the session a law should
be passed requiring each appropriation
item 10 be detailed. The legislation I
have recommended has been adopted in
that the states money is not allowed 10
remain idle. Under the present system
this Is unavoidable: A simple remedy. as
| have before advised. Is TO pass an act
turning the idle money from all save the
bond and interest fund into the general
fund for the redemption of warrants in
rotation.
state Debt.
From a careful examination ~ the stat.
auditors records you will see that the fn-
crease OF the state debt. II taxes had been
paid. under the present administration
from January II. 1888. to November ! 1ees
has been S34.74S87. The debt OF the ststa
when this administration began vas
Sl,14 V@2s On November l. 1896. II was
es delinquent and unpaid amounted 70
100000; and on November J. 1886. me IN
paid taxes due the state amounted 70
SS65 $3.50.
Under this administration S2s1 opo dae-,-
encies left over by the last adm nfstrafio,
have been pas1 and nearly sls0005 in in
terest on obligations then Incurred a To-
tai OF 100000 Under this adrniniztrs ION
there are no deficiencies. tha last terIsia
ture. on my Fecgnmen6sfEo ton havine-
passed a law rendering them isapoxxihla
You Will see that Il IS absolutely tr1.Sera-
tive that the laws for the c0lIecsien a.
taxes should De Tigidiy enforced. no mat
ter upon what basis of expense vcu MAJ
put tEe state government II Is NV onIn
ION that large amount In Interest might
De saved 20 the state BY pursuing the rsoi
icy adopted by several OF our coursi@s
irrespective 81 their politics. Ia fuDAinE-
the debt BY issuing long term low inter-
est bonds AT present our annual inter-
est account on oar outstanding warrants
az Der cent Per RaDunl - apDroxfrrs.s-
~ sls9.Na Fund this DEBT which viii ra-
CURE q constitutional amendment and
teen INSIST upon Keeping the state upon
casa basis, and you viii lave esgv bur
ceSis f9r me taxpayers, and the asSlrarca
or prosperous and weii-re-uiated sfste
Forest Preservation.
A measure Nhsca seems TO me in,nara.
lively needed Is tas creation by law 81 Al
adequate fcreSt prese-Va ton rarrcl F-r
the prevention of forest frSs tie rrassr-
walton Of chr forests. and TIE p5lrllshry-an
Now that the Federal land grant ia r-ss-
ucally completed. its preservation IL ire
next need IN legislation. The desfrTlrtfsT1
% valuable property annually b. fir@ rgsus
ep into hundreds Of thousands OF dollars:
% say rotnlng % tire destruction ~
foods. 80 largely caused b. aenfiss sss- ~
forests. WIKI the abolition OF the sac
iszG commission, as az present coasti-
tufeds recommended both By the beard of
state land commissioners and the commits
s.oasE o. public iaGes. II which recon
mer6aror I concur. X might be well "a
create = new land and forest rsarrr~,fSxtn--