Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-04-04
agashingtuu Standard
OLYMPIA. WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING. APRIL |, 1902.
The Spokane Taxpayers League.

little over year ago has made such a
good beginning in institutlng success
inl measures OF reform that they feel
encouraged to make renewed effort,
and to extend the movement through
out the Safe, by showing that more
money is being used than is absolutely
necessary for the maintenance OF good
government.
The first retrenchment, their inves-
tigation has taught should be made,
Is IN court expenses. They declare
that lone OF the most crying evils is
the cost OF running our courts.
Jurymen receive in this State 50 per
day. while in California and Oregon
they get but ~, and in many States
only Tl.5O. Suit can be instituted by
anybody having grievance-imagi-
nary or otherwise-where he can get
an attorney to take his case, which is
not difficult task, when by paying a
small fee to the clerk OF the court,
Judges, Sheriffs, Juries, and the whole
machinery of tho judicial eystem is
set in motion, and the people have to
pay all the bills for keeping it NOV
ing without the slightest knowledge
or premonition as to what the gr.sl
will he. If, as in California and many
other States, the litigants had to put
up the pay for jurors each day, by the
party demanding jury trial, many
cases would not be commenced and, il
they were, would be tried in much les.
time.
The Leagues committee reports
that the amount sued for, in 25 cases,
which are taken as fairly representa-.
tive of average litigation, was $377,-
479, and the entire amount recovered
was $l,207, or less than one.third oil
one per cent-one three.hundredth OF
the amount sued for; that to try these
cases consumed 81. days, at an ex.
pense OF jury fees. mileage and board,
OF over $8,45O, or seven times the
amount recovered. In other words,
for every dollar which the plaintiff
succeeded in recovering, it cost the
county on an average seven dollars in
jury fees alone to enable him to re-
cover it.
1t is not probable that any county
has escaped just such exorbitant costs,
which are tolerated simply because
public attention has not been called
to them and the people are in blissful
ignorance Of the fact they are being
legally. if not judicially, bled. The pres.
ent is splendid opportunity for Sc
curing united action to lop off such
unnecessary and exorbitant expenses.
If there is any one thing which deters
investment by people looking for re.
sources to develop, it is the high ratio
OF taxation that has prevailed all over
tho State, since the boom OF 1901,
when expenditures we're deliberately
advanced to correspond with the gold.
en- harvest which had come appar.
emily to stay and enrich all. 1t was
difficult to readjust the high-pressurc
ideas and methods to the former con.
sentative and economic system OF cut.
ting costs to q reasonable and possible
income. If we want people who are
more than willing to join with US in
building up the country and develop.
ing it capabilities and resources, we
must remove from their vision the
wrecks that strew the shores of Time
labeled in far more impressive charac.
tiers than written language, Found
cred by overload of Taxation" Many
an intended investor has been deferred
from purchase of property that exact
ly suited his purpose. offered him fol
an exceedingly favorable sum, when
: upon examination of the records, he
has found the taxes had been unpayed
for possibly five or ten years, aggre'
eating a sum that far exceeded rea'
sonablc value OF the property should q
free transfer be made by its nominal
owner.
The Secretary of the Spokane
League has sent US a copy Of the con
stitution and bylaws adopted by the
organization, which differs only from
the usual form OF such aids to united
effort in statement of objects and pro-
viding for an executive committee and
subcommittee to manage its details
The object is declared to be the main
tenance and enforcement of existing
laws, the suggestion and demand fol-
the adoption OF new laws and amend
ment to existing laws, as experienced
may demonstrate, for the more eco
nomical administration of the law
Besides protection of the rights o
taxpayers, the League promises t.
sustain and support all public officer
in the honorable and economic ad
ministration OF the trust reposed il
them.
The movement would doubtless b.
greatly encouraged and strengthened
by local organization in each count,
of the State. It is q necessity for de
vclopment OF the trade current settiu,
in towards the State; it can be mad
an issue in the coming political canva
which neither party could afford L
ignore and with lawmakers elected OF
o firmly constructed economic plat
form it seems that incentive, mean
and method, are all plainly outlines
for q successful result.