The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-25
TAXATION AND Equal RIGHTS.
Seattle. June e. 1897,

Seattle, June e. 1897.
To the Editor: In connection with the
meeting OF the Popuists at the Armory
last week. called for the purpose OF deI
nouneing the judges OF the supreme court
of the state for their decision declaring
the exemption law recently enacted to be
unconstitutional. / desire TO call atten-
ton to some phases of this act that have
not been discussed so far as / am aware.
in any of the newspapers of the state.
This exemption act divides the COM
munity into two classes of property own
ers. those who pay taxes on property.
and those who do not. or who were to
be exempt. 1t has been enormously sup
posed that each of these classes gets the
benefit OF the exemption, bat the fact is
that under this Populistic act any and all
exemption is denied 10 the class that pays
taxes, while the other class gets the BEN
eft alone. 1t is equality in name only,
but not in reality. To illustrate: Let
class A consist of those citizens owning
personal property TO an amount over SEQ,
in class Il those owning such property TO
an amount equal 10 or less than $500 1t
is plain that Il pays no taxes and that
all taxes must be levied on property of
A. Just here the Populist win claim that
A is exempt 10 the same extent as B. and
is only taxed on his amount OF property
in excess of $500; and he should be ST.
fenced Out he will not be) with tlc reply
that the rate OF assessment is increased by
SO much as will exonerate from all tax
alton. so that IL is a matter of indifference
TO A whether his exemption is counted or
not. since he has to pay all the tax for
himself and for b also
We have. then. one class which is ex-
empt and another which is not, the latter
bearing the entire burden of all state
county and city taxation. as well as the
burden of any public debt; and the former
getting the fun benefit of law. protection
to property and social privileges with no
cost whatever. The same illustration ap-
plies whether the property be personal or
improvements on real estate.
The title OF this act should not be an
act to exempt certain real and personal
property from taxation. but AN act TO
create two classes of people IN the state
OF Washington. one of which shall bear all
the burdens Of taxation for the other class
the latter of which shall be exempt with
the understanding that the latter class
shall not be disfranchised, but shall have
the right by their votes To make the taxes
as heavy as possible; for the further pur-
pose of building up = political party and
getting offices and administering on ths
business assets Of the taxpaying class"
This is q Popullstic scheme, hut such
schemes Will not be tolerated by any free
people. The people Will repudate any at
tempted tyranny of this kind. Unequal
taxation is unjust taxation. Our Revo-
lutionary ancestors resisted this kind Of
oppression unto blood, and every true
American would do the same again IL
need be, but the need viii never arise az
we VIII settle the matter at the polls. The
Declaration OF Independence enunciated
once for all the principles of freedom and
equal rights under the Lax for every
man, rich and poor; and upon this prin-
ciple our government was established
and IL must be the letter aud spirit OF
every law in every state of our land
The principle of Just aud equal taxa
ton Is also formulated in every state
constitution and also in the constitution
OF the United States. and Il Is Idle To
talk about changing state constitutions
in this particular as IS proposed By the
harangues and vaporings OF the Popu-
lists. our state and national constitu-
tooS we're intended by the fathers Of
our government 10 be protection ard n
safeguard against all such tyrannies as
a mushroom political party. led ~ Office
seeking demaSog1es, would be inclined
20 force upon the community or country.
Now. coming down 20 she article OF the
constitution OF tire state of Washington
which forbids the passage Of such an act
2
declared Invalid by the supreme court.
II does not require a lawyer 10 Interpret
IT. Section ? article reads as follows:
The legislature shall provide by law
q uniform and equal rate Of assessment
and taxation an al property IN the state.
according 10 its full value IN money: ard
saau prescribe such regulations ~ gen
eTal law as shall secure the Just vaIua-
tion for taxation OF all property. SO that
NY
taxes In proportion Ia the valuation OF
his. htr or its property
'ProS lded That deduction cs debts
from credits may be authorized
Provided further, That the property
% tina United States and - me state
counties. school districts and other Enu-
n}c}pal corporations ard such other urop-
erty as TIC legislature b. seneral law
provides shall be exempt from taxation =,
TIE letter as we'll as the spirit II tha
constitution is a bar TO any class or goa-
r.2I 3e ziSiatjou IN the matter 81 TAXATION.
and justice ard equality must re Oh
served. But che 81 the speakers a. tbe
Armor-y, " no assumes that re - = LAWYER
declares that the exemption acf il con
saI&ufsouai because fhe words -.st,eh
ether property tn the last prosfS, ap-
piles 10 just such a case as that before rs
u tAss exemption act The answer 70
taat 80 that II such be she case tser va
aroX3So uU}lGes the aCt. ard this article
o. tse constitution Is utterly contradict
cry I}gl such IS uog tie case. as the ~o.h-
er property referred to- must ~ sxe.rsns-
ed by general laws. as is required nv mis-
aast proF4sa- and cannot La exempted t,v
class ar sfeNial jeEfgta zion 50 that - shau
sEect enc class q people aS aga4ns, an
either, h8t rather that & shall epe~s.e IN
oa particular Kinds Of property - SIS 20
a4Uct al classes ailSs. Under fF.sx g~c-
VIC. the legislature could NOT ex@rzavt ffst
50 naseh property. reai or personal. Or fssst
30 many sheep. or 81 many cattle. or GER
t@2a 1ssr ussc1urss ln King county Or
even az me manufactures % King esspr-
~. OK pianos q q certain value, but ia