Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-11-02

classes OF property upon which, taxes
for municipal purposes shall be levied
which tax shall be uniform as to per-
son and Glass;
It appears very plain to the writer
hereof, shat If the proposed amend-
ment is adopted, that in many COM
munities in the state there would be
created a strong desire on the part Of
many voters to shift the burden of
taxation from their own shoulders
and place it upon the shoulders Of
their neighbors. For example in the
town of Ritzvllle, the non property
holders, and the small property hold
ers being majority OF the qualified
voters in the municipality, could, by
their votes place the whole burden OF
local taxation upon the bank stock
and general merchandise. In the
county the farmers being in majority
could vote all the county taxes on to
the same class of persons and proper
ty. In the school districts the farmers
being in the majority, could saddle
the whole expense of maintaining the
schools upon the stockmen, while in
counties like Spokane, King and
Pierce, where the voters in the citi:s
outnumber the voters in the rural
districts, the voters in the cities could
by adopting the ideas OF the single
takers, exempt from taxation all per-
sonal property and improvements on
lands. and saddle the whole burden OF
county taxation upon the land owners
OF the county. Such are few of the
possibilities and probabilities, that
are very likely to result from the
adoption of the proposed amendment.
Voters, look into this amendment,
study it for yourselves,a nd try to dis
Germ what the natural result of its
huOptlOil WOulu NC.
The constitution, as it stands, is
about Us near perfect upon the subject
Of taxation, as it is possible, under
present conditions to make it. IL
lays the burden of taxation upon all
the property in the state; exempting
only public property, and property OF
quasipublic character, 50 Tint
man that has no property, pays no
taxes, a man that has but little prop
erty, pays but little taxes, viii
man that has much property, has to
pay much taxes. We are all protected
by the law, in the enjoyment of our
property, and it is but right that each
man should, for that protection, pay
according to that which he hath; and
he is not called upon to pay for more.
That is just, equal and uniform, and
ought to be left as it is.
As to "Citizen's" plea that the peo-
pie should rule, it is meaningless as
applied here, for the reason that state
constitutions are adopted for the ex-
press purpose, among others of re-.
straii.ing majorities, within certain
limits, in the exercise of their powers
over minorities; and the proposed
amendment but tends to remove one
of those limits, so that majorities in
municipalities may impose. the bur-
den of taxation for local purposes
upon minorities. The proposition is
full of iniquity. Voters, vote it down.
As to the method of voting, find
that the law authorizing the submis-
sion of this proposed amendment pro-
vides as follows:
cat said election each elector shall
vote for or against said amendment
by crossing out part OF the ballot in
such manner that the remaining part
shall express his vote on the question
submitted"
That seems to be plain enough to
suit any man; but for some unac-
counted for reason, the secretary Of
state has undertaken to supercede the
law with his advice as follows: "To
the voters-instead OF crossing out
any part of the ballot, you are hereby.
advised to place an X after the ques-
ton, For the amendment, etc.,
Against the amendment ETC., as the
case may be, so as 10 express more
clearly your affirmative or negative
vote" &.
The law having specified the man
ner OF voting, it is doubtful to me il
ballots marked as the secretary ad-
vises will be legal votes; however that
may be, it will be safe to follow the
law by crossing out that part of the
ballot that does not express your in
tentions.
1t is also we'll to bear in mind that