Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-07-03
THE CURSE OF INDEBTEDNESS
Should Not Be Entered Into Lightly Nor En-
tailed Upon Others.

Snouio MOI DC Chtereo INTO LiShtly NOR en-.
tailed Upon Others.
The trouble with great many
municipalities in the State of Wash
ington, Olympia included, is that they
have recklessly incurred Indebtedness
in more prosperous times, to a large
amount. The most of such indebted
ness is evidenced by outstanding long
time, Understanding bonds, held in
the main by non-residents, thus con-
tinuously pumping dry" the re-
sources OF our cities and towns. The
money paid into their treasures for
the benefit OF such holders, goes out
OF the State, when it might otherwise
subserve better purpose by remain
ing and circulating among our eople,
say nothing about the embarrassments
of taxpayers in raising the wherewith
to meet those obligations, and the de-
probation of values within the cor.
porate limits. Our revolutionary faith
ers fought against the mother country
for the principle of taxation and repre-
sentation among the colonies. Great
Britain maintained that it was for the
interest of her subjects that such taxes
were sought to be levied that it was a
policy necessary to an early and sub.
stantial development, but the heroes
OF that time would not have it that
way, and fought their masters TO fin
ish. Have their descendants followed
in their footsteps by voting and i'm.
posing obligations upon unborn gener-
atoms, who had no voice in the mat
ter and were not consulted?
1t you say the money realized was
expended in making public improve
ments by which future generations
were to be benefited, and therefore let
them bear portion of the burden Incl
dent thereto. the fallscy is very appar.
ent. Those bonds are first mortgages,
or liens, on all the taxable property in
the city, town, or district, in which
they may have been voted. Now will
it be argued that 1 have q moral right
to mortgage my neighbours property
without his consent, simply because l
may think, or assert, that he shall be
benefited in the matter of some public
improvement, that he does not want?
If this premise is sophistical, how
much greater is the injustice in plac.
ing liens upon my neighbours helpless
childrens' holdings for something in
which they had no part and has fallen
into disuse or decay long before they
appeared on the scene of action. 1t
occasionally happens that improve
ments must be made and that mu.
inequalities are compelled to use their
credit to get them. Let it be short as
possible in the shape of warrants, or
paper, that may be called in at any
time. If q district needs a school
house. has not the funds with which
to construct one Of brick or stone,
build frame one till such time that
the money may be forthcoming, which |
may be used to get something better.
If the county needs q bridge, it is bet
ter to build q wooden one for temper.
airy purposes, than to vote bonds for
one OF more expensive material.
Olympia furnishes a good object
lesson -" Chickens are coming to
roost." If her citizens had pursued |
more conservative policy since
Washington became State, she
would not be where she is to.dsy-not
dependent on the wages of woman's
shame and the fruits of mans Grim.
inaliry for revenue to meet her ordi.
nary running expenses. II is no
argument to assert that other places
do likewise, any more than to contend
that if they had smallpox in their
borders, that we must also have it.
The Capital City of great State
should set an example to other mu.
inequalities in the matter of economic
government. morality and good social
order. BYRON MILLETT.