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

a-.cs-r. ar4 -ra8e free from fear % FORE
cIcsa~e aa1 sale for debt When once tais
has been arrives - the cause % human
liberty VII save taker distinct and PCS
Frsva forward STEP Whenever our people
have been szTie.ezsiy ess1eare3 oy Esr1-
zhtp ard prfvatio7 70 - ready so- 3 really
radical measure Of reform. they VIII 81
constitutional amendments take that
49, 49, r-1se Irffsoensabie Sep which
ehar finally secure 20 al mans natural
and Go5-gsven rlzat 10 sufficient Ssortsori
OF the sarsh'S surface for s@t-sur7e-T-
When this first ard Fundamental r.gnt
Of mar has baen secured he VIII se free.
ard - never VII Re free cnfiI this nss
bear xzinad whether usn are yet ready
for freedom 90 not know.
Public Education.
ssssr STATE constitution provides. at is
the paramount duty OF he state 20 MAKE
ample provssloa for the education Of al
Children resting within is borders. With
ont distinction or preference or account CT
racs. color. caste or sex. The legislature
Shali provide Cor 8 general and uniform
system OF nunic scaocss- From this X
Is evident that state TAX fer The support
% schools for the benefit % al children
IN the SAFE alike becomes a necessity.
The provision IL mandatory upon the Isg-
islature. Unless a state tax IS levied how
can there De a general and uniform sys-
ten of public schools Ter the equal osns-
fst Of sfl7 Two years ago me legislature.
BY ar Amendment 20 the laws. known al
the tine as The BaTe-ootei School Boy
Law established system % state taxa
ton for the equal oenent Of all her chill
srer By means OF this, taxes not 20 ex-
cee6 four mills on the dollar are levied as
other state taxes are levied, and collected
a. other state taxes are collected, sufIi-
Client 10 produce a sum equal 20 s. annual
w for each child or school age. This -
simply q state tax for the support OF
schools Tho larger cities and Weather
communities have opposed the law. and II
Is said VIII make efforts TO repeal 1t. IL Is
claimed that not enough is raised By tns
Law 20 support TIE SCHOOLS. and. GeC o-leSS.
this IS true But ne law does not prevent
courties or school districts from raising
mere AS ar first introduced. the bin I'ro-
v=ded for the raising 5y taxation or d sum
equal 20 SO for each child OF school age.
and II taxes were all collected this would
AFFORD a sufficient sum for the support OF
common schools. II, IN addition 10 this,
state taxes were levied as IN Pennsyl-
vania. our schools might be entirely sup
ported by taxation Of property which now
largely escapes. Complaint has been made
that N some OF the counties certain small
districts are unfairly treated. An amend
superintendent BY the county super.Rtend-
emit OF each. county would very likely rem
sdy this defect.
state Board Of Higher Education.
In pursuance Of an intention 70 abolish
certain boards of control, and in this way
to unity ard systematic the work OF our
higher Institutions Of learning. il has been
proposed that the state university. the ag-
ricuitural college and the three normal
schools be placed under the control OF one
central board instead of a separate hoard
for each institution The secretary or the
state board OF education might serve as
member or this board and perform the du-
Mes OF travelling auditor, keeping the CEN
tral board fully informed regarding the
condition and standing Of each institution.
II IS believed that an arrangement or this
kind might be made which would save
money 10 the state and secure greater
efficiency. The Incoming state superin-
tendent OF Instruction has taken some
steps toward formulating plan OF action
In this line. 70 whom further inquiry Ilay
be directed.
Free Text Books.
As matter OF principle. the state should
supply 10 each scholar in the common
schools text books as freely as Il row pro-
vides school houses and school furniture.
At present me state has a contract with
a private corporation, which has secured
the privilege Of furnishing school books
at a high cost 10 the people OF the state:
BY clause In the contract IL IS provided
that whenever the state shall engage in
the manufacturer OF BOOKS, the contract Is
70 become imperative. i am or the cpn-
ion that the state can, al comparatively
small outlay. establish an experimental
plant and manufacture for her citizens
good school books At from % 20 50 l-3 per
cent. Of the present cost. hFst-cl3ss
printing press and b.ndery cen De oought
and sci up for about $500. Eleetrotype
plates OF a standard series o. books. with
privilege to print from them, can. IL Is
thought, De obtained Tor re!asoassoie
the Walla Walla pententiary. Only two
expert workmen need by employed.
pressman and a bookbinder. and even
their services might soon be dispensed
with. Under instruction from these ex-
perts the inmates OF the prison, VINO.
am tod, spend much idle time, VIII soon
be able 70 make all the books needed for
all the children OF the state. Tie books
thus manufactured might be sold at cost
10 the different counties or school dis
tricts or supplied free, as may De provided
by statute. In a very short time in this
way under the supervision OF one iran as
superintendent the state might be re-
leased from an arbitrary tax. amounting
In the aggregate to very large sum, and
also make criminals instrumental in ele-
waiting and educating the youth or the
state Thus light might be brought out OF
darkness and good out OF evil
Coercion of the Voter.
II need not be said that purity OF the
ballot box IS one Of the essential requi-
sites tn any scheme OF free government.
Free men must have free votes. and IL
votes are not beyond the control OF selfish
outside influences. the voter becomes IN
time only machine for recording the
edlcts OF a power greater than that OF his
own VIII. Under these circumstances free
dom is = sham and self-governulent an
idle word. II is earnestly recommended
that a statute be prepared and passed
which will prevent fhe growing evil OF CO.
ercion and intimidation OF the voter.
Free Passes.
Section 90 Of article II. OF the state ccn-
stitutien stipulates that "Tt shall not be
lawful for any person holding public Of
fee In this state 10 accept or use A pass,
or 20 purchase tFausporta ton from any
railroad. or other corporal ton. other than
as the same may be purchased bv the gsf-
eral public and the legislature shall pass
laws 10 enforce this PROVISION" SEXTON
% OF article XII. OF he constitution also
provides a fellows: ne railroad or 9th
er transportation company shall grant
free passes or sell tickets or pas at a
discount other than as sold TO the prbltc
generally. 20 any member of the iesisla-
ture, or to any person holding any public
office in this state. The legislature shall
pass laws 10 carry this provision into
effect"
The legislature has never passed the nee
essary laws 10 enforce the provf sions CT
ths constitution. and hence they have