The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-10

1T DOES MEAN SINGLE TAX.
A sDectous Argument for the Pro-
poaed Amendment.

=.
To the Editor: Your Fear OF Single
Tax editorial in ms mornings Issue 81
the P0st-tHts!iigsnVer constitutes a aIreet
r;l4sstat erSc.5t Of facts and L. in me ex.
trsFne his. eadiEg. BY i the people are told
that the adoption OF the pending aEnersci-
U@ni t. section ,. Article VII OF in. state
constitution. means the adoption @. the
single tax THiS state cacnt would indeed
oe very WeiCCtne 20 single takers were i.
true. out the fact Ia the proposed amend
insnt does not contemplate the initiation
Of any Particular leg, Station, but simply
s4Ve' the people the genera right 20 raise
revenue IN whatever manner. within una
constitution. they may see tit.
IL can hardly b bic that you are
ignorant OF ihe real provisions OF this pro-
posed amendment, as the editorial III ques-
Ion would Imply. but IL is charitable 10 be-
ilsFs tnat you are, and that your paper
would not hesitate TO right itself when the
truth OF the matter Is pointed cut Section
:, ArcticIe VII. of ti1e state constitution
provides. besides the exemption clause hat
tHs legislature snail provide uy Law a uni
form ana equal rate OF assessment and tax
ING 10 It's value in money, and shall pre-
scribe such regulations by general Law as
shai! secure d just valuation Tor taxation
OF HI property, 80 that eYe.-y persons AMI
corporation snal! pay a tax in proportion
10 his. Sler or its property. provided that
deduction OF debts from credits may he
authorized and he pend ng amendment
provides. further. that it shall be optional
Win each municipal corporation in the
state 10 TX AMI determine by ma ior!ty
vote Of the qualified electors voting mere
on the class or Glasses II property upon
which taxes for municipal purposes shah
he levied. which TAX snail be uniform as
10 persons and class.
Now. in all candor and fairness is there
anything in this amendment providing for
the abolition OF all taxes upon industry and
improvements and placing the same on
and values and franchises One single
ttXtf The intent is pain. and incapable
OF miTinteTpfetation. The Amendment
speaks for Itself. and instead OF favor.ng
'hc single tax. double TAX or any other
particular lax, il says that the people of
municipalities may raise the revenue for
necessary municipal purposes in whatever
uniform manner they may see fit. In 9TH
er words IT is local option In the matter
OF taxation. involving tie same prime pe
as the local option the people now enjoy
r tatiEe 20 Sa.NoIiS. the question OF bond
Cd Indebtedness etc on What just grounds
VIII any man deny this natural TightF
So far Is the amendment from being a
single tax measure" that under its OPP
eraIlon the majority OF the people Of j
d.sIr.ct could vote down any proposal
having in Il the least suspicion OF tiuge
Or single taxLsIn. and. on he contrary
raise revenue exclusively from chimney
tops. watch charms or the sweat on the
broH Of the iabQring man! Therefore. TO
oppose the amendment Is 10 take the I'M
American. unrepublican. undemocratie
stand thai the people are not 10 ae trusted
with the making OF their own laws ana
cQ0S ard should ne suppressed. For an
opponent Of the single tax 10 urge defeat
or TIE measure Is 10 assume the hypo- he
S. that the ma J0ritY Of the voters favor
the adoption of that system ana there
fore the ma jor.ty must be throttled and
fcftercd ny constitutional provisions. The
utter futilify ~ such a course should be
apparent 10 all.
The pend ny amendment Is strictly non-
partisan measure. Helue intended far the
good az al tbs people. and having had
f.. 80
teal parties and factions IN tAe STATE. no
srCre CTr,ilt VIII be given to one party
than 10 ano,her for the benefits arising
from It's adoption. unless me false move
Of 4 few n1uea:iai Republican poiitl-
clans inc.te a considerable opposition IN
their parry 20 Il. ana thus give partisan
complexion 10 the matter.
That Il - rot a partisan measure l. pro
ven hy the fnct that ReVlhlicans ana tu-
ou.s's alike supported i IN the last eg-s-
! ltiure. ana only tnTe~ Republicans aud
four fussoDiss.s voted aEaius, - adoption
The brief story OF the Introduction ard
passage of the 'neaStrr submitting De
atreudmen; - sho people is as follows
THE amendment Wa introduced Ia the
lower hous.- az ne 'eg stature February 10
fs97. ana was referred 80 Fae cornnli'. es On
revenue and tANaf on. composed ~ R.Puc-
r3n~ Democrats. Paoui Sos ana silver Re-
suhicans The committee au3nivo3s'v
t"romme D2g3 ia passage on February y.
ana Il SAta.A up on second reading ON TIE
! es:A. White oo second r.adl'e -" rulrs
/ IS ,r" suspended ami T. was ptscc4 en- iuet
paes1ce The Only members e tac no.tse
Rso registered thc.r votes sEa'c@- 81 w-re
/ 9 : 8aF.oW Efr4 .f". .;t i|rr -.'' ~
"a. Theron afford Enr.s5ist. q i<'-ttt-ts.
au! G.0rte \ fto3E2-v Fona'3sf cf KING
Tht r.lt wss s,-n' So -'4. senate 0~ March
N3ls read tho t-tst asa second ito--~ ana
referred - - oAf'ntf t-' 60 r'H$'''3ft 2
and constitutional revision 1f-.@ commit
! lro Ike that r the Aouse was coo9oes' j
) rf repre- ssstist.tt af 81" rhe pr .ttsa' r'e~
/ msn.~ and every aFnet- figns1 = report