The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-24
OFFICES
SEATTLE, SATURDAY. SEPT. -.



The Republican party has placed IT.
self upon record as opposing the aGeS-
ton Of the constitutional amendment
proposed BY the tate fusion legislature
relative TO taxation. The state conven-
ton at Tacoma adopted she following
plank III the platform THERE enanel-
afed:
~we are In favor 81 the eqaai taxation
Of all classes ~ property upoa tEe bass
Of value, and @e therefore oppass tae
Amendment to the constitution proposed b$
the late fusion legislature upan fsse sub
sec; OF taxation"
The amendment proposed Is the in
eertion OF a paragraph In section Q.
paragraph Ii az follows; provided
further. that IL shall be- optional with
each municipal corporation in The state
20 fix and determine by majority vote
Of the qualified electors voting thereon
the class or classes If property upon
which taxes for municipal purposes
shall be levied. which tax shalt be uni
FORM as 10 persons and class The
author Of this proposed amendment IL
T.. W. Way, al enthusiastic advocate
Of the single tax theory. a member of
the lower house a. che last session OF the
!agisia.ure. ard probable candidate on the
9opuiist ticket for state senator from
the Twenty-fifth dislrict-the First and
Second wards of this city. The pro-
posed amendment IL the opening wedge
Of single tax legislation for which Mr..
Way has worked early and late. The
single tax plank in the fusion state plat
form was placed there by Way as the
price Of his vote for Democratic SUI
preme judge on the fusion ticket The
design of the amendment about to be
submitted 10 the voters is 10 fasten the
single tax system upon the cities and
tawns Of the state. II has been spe-
ciousiy argued by those single tax ad-
designs from the public. that the object
sought to be obtained is the right TO
exempt from taxation manufacturing
and other industries seeking a location.
Such exemption, they say. could be-
given as IA bonus and would aid i'm at
tracing new industries. This argu~
men, sounds well, but the parentage of
the bill renders IL vslueless TO any one
acquainted with thu facts
The sole object Of the amendment IL.
as above stated. 10 make IL the opening
wedge for general single tax icgisla-
ton II Is idle Ia dismiss the matter Ey
saying IL snust ~ submitted Tn the vot-
ers before IL can he pat in farce The
majority Of voters ~ cities aye not land
owners. or taxpayers la any appreci-
able extent. aud as the amendment pro-
v,dcs that lit shall I've optional with
each municipal corporation in me state
70 fix and determine by majority vote
of uuaitsed electors waiting thcreon.,
che darger IS apparent. If the opening
wedge IS once driven home by the aaop-
ton % the proposed an nGfueut. the
way will he made comparatively easy
for the foistiug Of thls NEST obnoxious
ropuIist principle unon oar city.
The Republican party is. ard always
has heen, and has So declared Itself ia
favor Of the equal taxation Of AL prop
erty upon the basis ~ value. II Il there
fore unalterahiy opposed t. tha singh,
tax heresy which proposes n place the
burden of taxation on . single class If
property.
The Democratic party WIS pledged to
the support of the single tax ny its lead
ers at EiIeusburg who participated tn
and aided 10 bring about a conhtion
with the Populixts. hut we io not be-
lieye the rank and file oE tha: paFi$ an
be driven 10 vote for so perntcious a
measure at the hehest 81 such leaders
Let the voters bear this p-oToS j
amendment In mind ana vote il down az
the polls.