Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-01-15

long to stand. Supported by this,
reform can 90 ON. Deserted 10y il, il
will withcr and die. Whatever is hv
you proposed and here enacted, that is
Supported hy this general average
Judgment OF society, i, called for and
will / 'durc. Whatever is not thus
supported i, uncallcd for and will not
he endured. Let us not deceive our
selves. the limit is set beyond which
we cannot safely go. If Il reform or II
measure is not thus supported by II
nearly unanimous opinion, or at least
by Il very large majority, its time has
not come and must be deferred until
by agitation and education that an
anlmlty OF thought is produced which
Will then be able to carry it success
fully forward 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
out>trlpped public opinion, going be
yund the ground considered safe by
the general average judgment of the
society specially concerned. Advanc
ing but II step beyond this, confidence
is lost, fear is engcndercd, and retreat
in rulnous disorder is the inevitable
result.
In this State most successful
political revolution has just been
Let not the zealot vainly
that because of this revolu-
ton authority has been given for the
enactment into law of all approved by
him. This is only the thought of the
enthusiast and the dreamer. 1t is
true that the trumpet has sounded an
advance, but that advance must be one
which all are able to make; for all are
i'll the movement. The
advance must not be greater than that
by that public opinion which
comes from the general average judg-
ment of all the people of Washington.
We so beyond this ut the risk of losing
all the advantages gained; of losing
the confidence of those who, while
with us in this fight, only half ap-
proved the plans of those among us
most advanced, and the moral GER
tainty of arousiug fear in the minds
Of the timid and fainthcartcd in our
ranks. Better thousand times to
stop short OF an exercise of our whole
power than to exceed it by so much as
The fractional part of Il grain.
THE REVENUE LAWS.
Taxation has ever been an essential,
vet annoying, feature of government.
In Il measure, the collection of revenues
involves an exercise of force repugnant
to the independent spirit of American
character But the people recognize
md 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 intirm, for
the improvement of the public high
ways, for the protection of health and
the preservation of social order, and
for the proper regulation and control
u corporate bodies whose avarice leads
them to disregard the interests of the
individual and the State. Unequal
taxation, however, is II source of
turmoil, no matter how wise
ly or fairly such taxes may be ex-
pended. The revenue laws now in the
statutes are grossly unequal in their
operation. They throw the burden of
almost entirely upon
holders of moderate means,
while wealthy corporations escape with
nominal contributions to the public
treasury. The laxity of the revenue
aw i'll other respects offers premium
Tor the non-payment of taxes by per-
sons and institutions who profit more
largely by specializing on the mis-
fortunes of others, in these times of
than they would gain by
settlement. The treasurer's books in
the larger counties show that as rule
the taxes which remain unpaid are
lue 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 remitting them.
How to remedy these abuses is
question of serious concern to all and
should receive your most thoughtful
Some of the older States
in the Union have preserved the in
equalities of the revenue system here
In the effort to devise a
method more equitable to all alike,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New
York, have recognized the principle
that corporations enjoy particular ad-
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
stock, limited partnerships,
foreign insurance companies, incomes,
inheritances and liquor
licenses. In his report for the fiscal year
ending November 30, 1894, the Auditor
Of Pennsylvania gives this summary of
The States receipts:
|. State lands sold .... .... IS 2105 90
;. Tax on corporation stock and
limited partnerships .. -..- 635 5,62s 80
J. Tax on gross receipts of cOrpor-
ations and notaries public .. Isl, ,30S Gl
|. Tax on bank stock and exami-
nation of banks .............- 535li2 %
J. Tax on net earnings on income
of banks NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 7s.0s6 43
!. Foreign insurance companies. i9j T5S 80
!. Tax on gross premiums ........ 55Sl5 Sc
!. Tax on municipal and corpora
ton loans ............... -. 1881 ,55l 66
}. Tax on personal property -. 2,3s6 $50 ~
10. Tax on wills, etc .....-.....-... l625iS -
II. Tax on collateral inheritance. S6gl7S VI
r. Tax on licenses such as mer-
camille, liquor. etc. 1896, 1877 &c
And other incomes variously dis
trlbuted all aggregating ..... $12 ,S73.1S6 81
New York, by recent enactment, has
made it possible to defray its enormous
expenses without resorting to direct
taxation, except for small portion of
It's revenues. AS first step, New
York enacted a revenue law modelled
lfter that of Pennsylvania. The two
litler in detail but are alike in princi-
pie. New Jersey has modified form
If the same system. Illinois and Ohio
ire fast approaching it.
In view of the examples set by these
older and more experienced States, the
of Washington could
not be accused of rash or preludicial