The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-01-21

cludes practically all the people. This
Is public opinion, the ruling power in
modern life, against which nothing can
continue long to stand. Supported by
this, reform can go on. Deserted by
1T, 1t will wither and die. Whatever is
by you proposed and here enacted,
that is supported by this general aver
age Judgment of society, is called for
and will endure. Whatever is not
thus supported is uncalled for and will
not endure. Let us not deceive our
selves-the limit is set beyond which
we cannot safely go. If a reform or
measure is not thus supported by an
early unanimous opinion, or at least by
very large majority, its time has not
come, and must be deferred until by
agitation and education that unanimity
of thought is produced which will then
be able to carry it successfully for
ward. Revolutions have always had
more to fear from reaction than from
any and all things else. And this
comes from the fact that adventurous
spirits have in their zeal outstripped
public opinion, going beyond the
ground considered safe by the general
average Judgment of the society spe-
cially concerned. Advancing but a
step beyond this, confidence is lost,
fear is engendered and retreat in ruin
GUS disorder is the inevitable result.
THE REVENUE LAWS.
Taxation has ever been an essential,
yet annoying, feature Of government.
In measure, the collection of reve-
nues involves an exercise of force re-
pugnant to the independent spirit of
American character. But the people
quickly recognize and appreciate the
benefits accruing from a cautious and
just expenditure Of those revenues-an
expenditure for the education of our
youth, for the care of the orphan and
the infrm, for the improvement of the
public highways, for the protection of
health and the preservation of social
order, and for the proper regulation
and control of corporate bodies whose
avarices leads them to disregard the
interests of the individual and the
state. Unequal taxation, however, is
a source of constant turmoil, no mat
ter how wisely or fairly such taxes
may be expended. The revenue laws
now in the statutes are grossly unequal
in the operation. They throw the bur-
den of government almost entirely
upon property-holders Of moderate
means, while wealthy corporations es-
cape with nominal contributions to the
public treasury. The laxity Of the rev.
enue laws in other respects offers pre-
MUM for the nonpayment Of taxes by
persons and institutions who profit
more largely by specializing on the
misfortunes Of others, in these times
of depression, than they would gain by
books in the larger counties show that,
as rule, the taxes which remain un-
paid are due from corporations and
men of wealth, who are able to pay.
Many of these delinquents are fighting
the law in the courts, and others seek
to evade penalty and interest through
a special law renting them.
How to prevent these abuses is a
question of serious concern to all, and
should receive your most thoughtful
attention. Some of the older states
in the Union have perceived the inc
qualities of the revenue system here
employed. In the effort to devise a
method more equitable to all alike,
Pennsylvania, New York and New
Jersey have recognized the principle
that corporations enjoy particular adj
vantages granted by the state, and in
Justice should make suitable return.
Pennsylvania has advanced SO far in
this line that about two-thirds of its
annual revenue is raised by taxes on
corporation stock, limited partnerships,
foreign insurance companies, incomes,
collateral, iheritances and liquor IL
censes.
New York, by recent enactment has
made it possible to defray its enormous
expenses without resorting to direct
taxation, except for small portion OF
its revenues. AS first step, New
York enacted revenue law modelled
after that Of Pennsylvania. The two
differ in detail, but are alike in prin-
ciple. New Jersey has a modified
form of the same system. Illinois and
Ohio are fast approaching it.
In view of the examples set by those
older and more experienced states, the
commonwealth of Washington could
not be accused of rash or prejudicial
action by setting out to abandon the
pernicious scheme of taxation that
casts the heaviest burdens upon those
least able to bear it. It is not class
legislation to require remuneration
for special privilege. The pepole OF
Washington are progressive and lib.
eral. They realize that capital and
labor must cooperate in the develop
ment Of our latent resources. But they
object, as true Americans ought, tc
any system, whether of money or taxa.
ton, which gives all the fruit to CAPT:
tai and leaves labor empty handed
Fair and just laws never repelled hon.
est investment; but if they did, it were
better, infinitely better, that the pOpu.
lation of this state remain half mil.
lion free, self-governing, self-respect-
ing Americans forever, than to bring
8. 600, 900 immigrants among us only
to place them under perpetual bondage
to foreign money -loaners by yielding
concessions which would drain the
state of its natural wealth 20 swell the
Golfers of the excessively rich and con
denim the wealth-prodncers to q life o.
penury and want.
Learnestly recommend that the pol
lev of our revenue laws be changed t.
correspond to the lines laid down II
those old and most successfully man