The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-19

Johnston, o. Spokane. silver Republican,
Kincaid, of Pierce, Silver Republican
koehler OF Aberdeen. Democrai
'Iandstrona. OF Spokane, PopuiisI.
Aathlot, OF Wa!Ia WallA, Silver Repoo-
Hcan
Nentzer. OF Pierce, Silver Republican,
Merrldeia Of King. Democrat.
Phelps OF Steverls Popsilis;
Stafford. ot kttt!,as. Pop1Iis--
Warner, OF Sno ao.nish. Dem ocrat.
Williams. Of King. Silver Republican
WITT, Of Lincoln. Populisi
Those who "cOdgeG' were Rooeris OF
Spokane and Ross Of Pierce Counties.
The single tax amendment prevailed THIS
time by vote or T. yeas 10 - nays. AaS
Republicans all opposing
Thus seventeen fusion house members
O: the last legislature openly opposed sim
gle tax or conviction
The bill. was reported back to the senate
with the s.ngie-tax amendment, providing
the $40 exemption on improvements on
land. and that body refused 10 concur.
Conference committees were appointed.
and the senate receded from Its position
and the single tax exemption was allowed
10 remain In the bill. The only fuslonss
IN the senate voting against the single tax
clause we.s: Houghtcn OF Spokane and
McReavy OF Mason.
Measure Carried by stealth.
The day following the success OF the
effort 10 have the single lax Improvements
or land amendment adopted IN the house,
Mr. Way offered a constitutional amend
ment. 1t was a sugar-coated amendment,
served IN a way calculated 20 deceive. The
amendment was the one that is now be
No nv
the people this fall, and is as follows:
Resolved, further. That it shall be OPP
tiona, with each municipal corporation in
the state TO Tx and determine by the ma
iority vote Of the qualified electors vot-
ing thereon. the class or classes Of prop
erty upon which taxes for municipal pur-
poses shall be levied, which tax shall be
uniform as to persons and class"
Mr.. Way and his stealthy workers ex-
planned that this was intended merely 10
allow the exemption from taxation OF fac
tories In cities, which were needed to
build up the industries OF the country. and
which exemption might be allowed only
while the industries were being firmly es-
tablished. Both houses swallowed the
sngle-tax pill without recognizing it's i'm
portance 10 the single tax cause
y
amendment back in eight days. with the
recommendation that 1t pass. There was
no opposition shown
1t II Now n Question of Single Tax.
About seven months ago had a person
nj talk with Representative Way The ac-
ton Of the supreme court Ia declaring as
unconstitutional the exemption clauses on
personal property and improvements upon
lands was being discussed. when MIR. Way
said. In substance:
''I'hs whole purpose in increasing the tax
exemptions was 10 have the courts pass
upon the coDstiiut!onaiHy OF the question
! had been advised that II the matter ever
went Into the courts 1t would be declared
unconstitutional Now we Che single
taxersl are in excellent shape. The people
viii not rest satisfied until they have an
exemption, and /; Will be necessary for
them 70 vote on ! constitutional amend
ment TO secure It. Whenever that amend
rnent - adopted by the people. then we
can enact and enforce single tax laws"
II AIR. Ways constitutional amendment.
now before ths people. is adopted Il wall
allow All II the tax 10 be taken from land
Improvements and placed upon the land it.
self. That Is the tue situation I: Is
proper to face the crisis understand!ngiy.
J. HOWARD WATSON.