Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-05-30
The Taxpayers League.

zen who /, taxpayer. 1t Is called
10 effect an organization which may
act with other similar aids through
out the State, To- stop the leaks where
10y the public money may not be vast
I'd at the spigot faster than it can be
poured in at the top Of the bar'l.
The proposed action is not an ex-
pertinent, so far as ascertaining facts
and applying remedies, are concerned.
Already Spokane, city and county, has
affected saving through the bare in
Thence OF public opinion, aroused b.
uncarthing the most outrageous frauds
that had been foistcd on the taxpayer,
in the name Of law. The Secretary OF
the Icag", acting under instructions
OF the executive committee, has taken
- cases at random, brought in the
year 1900 and 1901, which belong to
every class and may be taken as a fair
indication OF litigation. OF the whole
number, seven were dismissed before
being submitted to jury; in six
judgment was had for plaintiff Tin two
the verdict being for SD; in one case
the verdict for plaintiff was set aside
by the court; in ten cases the verdict
was for defendant, and in one case the
verdict for defense was set aside. The
entire amount sued for was $337,479,
and The entire amount recovered was
Tl,2O7, or less than third of one
per cent, one three. hundredths Of the
amount sued for; that to try these
Cases took S4l days, at an expense to
the county for jury fees, mileage and
board, of over $3.50, 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 recover it.
To ascertain cost Of the jury system
under the present law, the committee
made a careful computation from the
court records and found that for the
year 1901, in the civil department of
the Superior Court OF Spokane county,
the cost was $2l, 112.77, and that there
were 1877 jury days, which would make
its cost $lO7.17 per diem. This, Of
course includes jurors not actively en-.
gagged in the trial of cases, but whose
per diem of So goes on just the same.
The court expenses, and the expen-
sive jury system is by no means all
the Tax League seeks to reduce and
amend, but it is the leading and most
fragrant outrage. At the preliminary
meeting, in this city, one of the County
Commissioners-Mr. Byrne-told OF
several instances of looting the treas
ury by suits instituted in malice-one
OF these was a dispute over a COW,
valued at less than $50, which con-
tention involved q cost.bill of oyer
$500 which the people had to pay.
1t seems that under such circum.
stances, mere knowledge of palpable
frauds would lead to an immediate and
imperative demand for reform. But
the people are patient and long-suffer-
ing, and close their eyes to painful
truths, surmised to exist, as the cas-
lest way to get rid of them. When,
however, the tax lien is foreclosed, and
property cannot be sold for enough
to pay it, the whole truth becomes ap.
parent and repinings are of no avail.
The Spokane committee have rec.
commended action for the League, and
the full report will be submitted to
the meeting Saturday for adoption, or
acceptance with such notifications as
may seem necessary, or for subetitut.
ing some other plan that may seem
more feasible. What is wanted, how
ever, 10 immediate, determined and
harmonious action and cooperation
with kindred organizations throughout
the State. Economy in Public Ex-
penditures" is the watchword we would
inject into all party platforms. Soon
as it is demonstrated that this is the
will of the people, the ofiice.seekers
will doff their hats whenever Reform
is mentioned, and it is to line up such
aspirants, mainly for the Legislature,
that the movement should receive i'm
mediate and earnest attention.
THE Martinique horror has not failed
to secure the attention of that class OF
preachers which is always looking for a
Judgment" But does it not jar the
theory of the providential punishment
of the wicked of st Pierre to note the
fact that the sole survivor is murderer
whose very dungeon saved him from the