The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1908-06-27

Saturday, June u, 1908
bat the threatening condition that confronts them.
Otherwise they will lose.
The common people have it in their hands to sue
ceed in the movement for good government. If the
direct primary law would maintain its supremacy,
every voter must go to the polls and exercise his
rights of franchise with a free hand.
An interesting political contest has just been
waged in Oregon, in which the people plainly in
dicated their preference for Governor Chamberlain
for United States senator. They exercised the
privilege accorded them under the direct primary
law, and it is expected the coming legislature, al
though reported overwhelmingly republican, will
carry out the wishes of the people, notwithstanding
that Governor Chamberlain is democrat. This is
the direct primary law-the people, and not the
BOSSES say whom they want to represent them in
the senate and the state legislature if it values it's
political prestige, confirms the peoples choice In
this way the people are privileged to retire to pri-
vate life those men high up in Office who do not
take care of their interests properly satisfacto
rily. 1t is a case where the people rule, and not
the bosses and in that the direct primary is most
excellent institution.
Dissatisfaction is yearly expressed at the in
crease of taxes in this state. Some people have
good reason for being dissatisfied for by their votes
they have tried to effect change in the state gov
ernment. The majority of people in this state are
evidently satisfied with the yearly increase in taxes,
due to the methods of the republican state govern
ment, and should not complain when their duly
elected officials deplete the treasury for political
purposes, thus causing further increase the next
year.
The total state and county tax this year is 296.
The following table will show why the 1907 taxes
are higher than the year before Figures are in Mills
1906 1907
State general fund ....................... 185 $40
State school 1926 3.11
oIaOe military .................... .lO III
State public highway ..................... rs 81
Total state tax mills .................. SAG 693
The state general fund has thus been nearly
doubled. Who gets the money? And the public
highway fund has been increased. But when does
Stevens ny get that state road?
The county current expense fund has been in
creased two mills to provide payment for the new
county JAIL but the Indebtedness fund has been de-
creased. Road and bridge fund remains the same,
but the INDECENT soldier fund is not levied this year.
Stevens county is being run on business basis,
but there many who do not realize that the tax
payer today is paying for things which should have
been paid for years ago. For many years this
county did not have sufficient tax levy to keep up
with expenses and as consequence the current
expense fund is sadly behind A gain is now being
made on it, and the commissioners are considering
the advisability of issuing bonds to secure money
at a lower rate of interest.
President Samuel Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor has issued an appeal to the 4, ,OOO
600 organized workingmen of the country to use
their influence to prevent the reelection of 'Uncle
Joe" Gurney Cannon to congress. This is mean
trick upon the part of President Gompers. He is
laying the blame Of the big appropriations and the
non-action upon the laws demanded by labor unions
upon Speaker Cannon instead of the republican
party Speaker Cannon merely carried out the
wishes of the republican majority in the house and
is really no more responsible than any other repub-
ican.
The public press gives prominence to the welcome
news that an agreement has been entered into by
Great Britain and the United States whereby the
reduced postage rate of two cents an ounce for
letters will become operative beginning October l,
1903. This reform coming one year after the re-
duction in the postal union scale of October l. 1907
indicates that the tendency to lower world postage
charges has gathered momentum that no doubt
will force further reductions within comparatively
short time. This will be accomplished in all like
hood by the restricted agreements that two countries
may ratify for mutual advantage under the per-
mission of the postal union The pact that has been
sealed is one of the most important steps of pro-
gresson in postal history. The thoughtful mind
will grasp the immeasurable benefit to humanity by
this reduction. A restraint to fullest phiatelic