The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1908-04-25

ing the subject which should be noted by those
who think the pale face has been deprived of all
rights.
Under the constitution and laws of the state of
Washington all male persons of the age of 81 years
or over, who citizens of the United States, and
have lived in the state one year. in the county 80
days. and in the city, town, ward or precinct 80
days Immediately preceding an election, and
who are able to read and speak the English Ian
guage are entitled to vote at all elections
Section six of the act of congress of February 9,
1887, declares every person born within the terri
torial limits of the United States, to whom alot-
ments shall have been made under the provisions
of that act under any law or treaty. are citizens
of the United States, and entitled to all of the
rights, privileges and mmunities of such citizens
It has been held by the courts of other states that
Indians who come within the terms of section six
of the act quoted, are entitled to vote where the
suffrage is given to all citizens.
Therefore, under the provisions of the constitu-
tion and laws of the state of Washington, Indians
born within the territorial limits Of the United
States, who have received their allotments, are
titled to vote providing they have lived in the
state, county precinct the requisite time, unless
there is something in the state constitution laws
of the state which deprives them of the right to
and laws of the state of Washington that Indians
not taxed shall never be allowed the elective fran
chise. This seems to be in conflict with the 18th
amendment, while the state may have the right
to limit the suffrage to persons who pay taxes, it
can not take away from certain race, who are citi
zens Of the United States, their right to vote be-
cause they do not pay taxes unless it included all
non-taxpayers. The state can no more say that
Indians, who do not pay taxes can not vote than
it could say that negros who do not pay taxes
could not vote.
Indians in this state who have been born within
the territorial limits of the United States, and
have received allotments of land from the United
States government are entitled to vote at all eec
tions in the state of Washington provided they
read and speak the English language, and have
lived in the state, county precinct, within which
they seek to vote, the requisite time.
S~S
Rumors of graft at the state capitol at Olympia
have grown to such proportions of vociferosity
that the superior judge of Thurston county has de-
cded now is the proper time to call grand jury to
investigate. A dispatch says:
Judge Linn of the Thurston county superior
court, has called grand jury to convene May 18
to inquire into charges of blackma and mscella-
neous other affairs in which the names of county
and state officers have been prominently mentioned
One of the chief charges to be investigated is that
against ]. T. Thackery for attempting to extort
money from the Olympia Light & Water Company
for political favors Other charges against state
officers may be taken up"
There are other things, too, transpiring over
there that indicate that things are not going ex-
actly in the way the people think they should, and
grand jury might do something to throw some
light on the dark object in the woodpile at the
state capitol. One of the noticeable things is the
failure for the past few months, of the state audi
tor to publish statement of the condition of his
Office. If the tax paying voter will keep his optic
rivted on the seat of government over on the west
side of the hills he WILL from time to time, notice
some queer antics being cut by some Of the state
| officials who are out for more honors.
S~S
The Stevens county democrats, at their conven-
tion last week. seem to have put their spikes in the
proper place when they nailed the following plank
| into their platform:
1--WE favor the enactment of revenue law
which will guarantee to the people an equal and
uniform assessment of all property within this
state: we furthermore declare in favor of statute
which will impose upon the state its duty to share
equally with the county the expense of assess
ment and collection of revenue in proportion to the
benefits accruing to each"
This paragraph in the platform would not ord-
narily mean much to the reader who hurres
through the report of the resolutions committee
but careful analysis of the declaration dscoses
a new idea in both county and state politics that
is worth considering.
| Under the present SYSTEM the county bears all
of the expense of assessment and collection OF all
taxes which includes the cost of gathering stats-