The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-10-19
vate use has been held unconstitu-

yate use has been held unconstitu-
tional
At an epoch in our national and state
life when the uppermost sentiment IN
public thought is "A square deal TO
all" there is an attempt being mado
to amend the constitution so that IL
will be a legal act to make class dis
elimination in taxation, and under the
pleas of public usage" and eminent
domain take possession of private
property for private use.
First, consider the proposed amend
ment relative to taxation. The consu-
ment says: Takes shall be uniform
rate of assessment and taxation on all
property in the state, according to its
value in money" ETC., must be pro-
vided by law. The proposed amend
ment says: "TEaxes shall be uniform
upon the same class Of subjects" 1t is
evident that the interests pushing this
amendment want something different
from the equal and uniform rate of
assessment and taxation on all prop
erty'" which the constitution provides
for. They are asking that taxes shall
be uniform on the same class OF
property, but are, not satisfied with
uniformity on all kinds of property.
This points surely and certainly to
class legislation and no legislation in
that direction has ever been other than
q crime. The railroads would be one
class, all the various public service
corporations would each constitute
class Timber lands, farm lands, tide
lands manufacturing plants, all varie-
ties of merchandise and the many
varied interests would each have it's
class 1t may be satisfactory to
John Jones, the farmer, to- know that
his tax is uniformly like other farm
ers in his class, but how would he feel
when he ascertained that his farm
was assessed at 60 per cent of its valu-
alton and that railways and manu-
featuring plants were paying tax on
rs per cent of actual valuation.
1t sounds fair enough to say taxes
shall be uniform on the same "class"
OF subjects, but it sounds fairer to
say that "a uniform and equal rate of
assessment and taxation on all prop
erty in the state" shall be provided
for by law and that is what the con-
stitution guarantees to every citizen
and to every class and the individual
or corporation, or Glass;" who is not
satisfied with this guarantee has an
AXE to grind"
The other proposed amendment, rel
ative to the exercise of eminent do
main, extends to individuals, firms,
copartnerships, associations and cor
poratiOns the right of eminent do
main" under the following conditions:
Private. property may be taken under
such terms, conditions and limitations
as shall be prescribed by the legis-
lature for drains, fumes, and bitches,
for agricultural, domestic and SAM
tary purposes; and for the rights of
way for the removal of timber or tim
Der products, and the appropriation
and use of property for such purposes
are hereby declared to be public usage,
even though such appropriation and
use may immune to the special benefit
of some private individual, firm, cor
pOratiOn or association"
Taking away rrivate property for
private use as is contemplated in this
amendment, is a dangerous right to
recognize in the constitution In fact
both of the proposed amendments are
altogether out of tune with the times