Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-10

as II iulls due, and also to pay and dis.
charge the principal of such debt within
twenty years from the contracting there.
OF.
This provision of the Constitution
is 10y this act ignored, no provision
having been made for the final pay
ment OF either principal or interest OF
the debt which it is proposed to create
Section i, article s, Of the Constitu.
ton provides:
" No moneys shall he paid out of the
treasury OF this State or any OF the
funds under its management except in
pursuance of an appropriation by law ;
nor unless such payment be made with
in two years from the first of May next
after the passage OF such appropriation
act"
Referring to this provision OF the
Constitution it may he held that the
law does not contemplate-and | pre-
sumo this TO be the fact-,he payment
out of the treasury OF any of the funds
under its control of any moneys what
ever, since no moneys have ever come
into or, it would seem, are likely to
| come into the fund under its manage
ment.
1t may also be held, in view of the
foregoing, that the time limit set does
no: in this instance apply. suggest,
however, that the proposed law is for
reasons given dangerous one.
As further showing the bad charac-
ter OF the proposed statute ! desire to
call attention to section Ii of the law
OF 1893 which in substance provides
that the proposed capitol shall be COM
pleied by January, 1899. 1t being al
ways understood that the law does not
attempt to compel impossibilities. it
might be held that the Legislature be-
ing informed regarding this provision
OF law unqnestionably intended the
act to apply to the future. / respect
fully submit, in view of these things,
that the proposed law is not only bad
in character but dangerous to the pub
lie veal.
AT any time during the last ten
years the people Of Olympia, who are
chiefly interested in the passage of
this bill, could have settled the capitol
question aud secured the erection of a
State capitol by submitting PROPOSE
ton which would not call for more
than quarter of a million dollars to
finally complete and finish. This sum
Is amply sufficient for all necessary
State needs. Against such PROPOSE
tion no opposition in any quarter
would have been encountered. The
constant attemp', however, has been
to involve the State in an ex-
penditure of millions, including inter
est payments. Against this scheme,
in view of the constant and heavy
drafts mad. upon our taxpayers, l am
convinced the Legislature should stand
like o rock OF defense. In this con-
nection, too, it may be said that any
appropriation made for building
upon the very large and purposcly ex-
travagant foundation already con-
struc,ed would undoubtedly lead by
successive appropriations of future
Legislatures to the final construction
of the originally planned, very expen-
sive and unnecessarily extravagant
building, to which probably nine.
tenths OF the rate-payers of this State
are opposed.
Viewing this matter in the light Of
a just public policy, l feel it sacred
duty which l owe my constituents
throughout this State, noiwithstand-
ing the storm of local obloquy and
abuse to resolutely and unqualiiiedly
oppose it in a constitutional manner.
1t is sure to lead, if made law, even
tually and finally, when the inevitable
payment Of immense sumo OF interest
are taken into the account, to not less
than two millions of dollars, or double
the original undertaking. There is in
this no question OF sympathy or senti-
ment or politics. 1t Is plain matter
of business. The bill is vetoed.
The vote sustaining the veto stood
% too.