Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-10-14
Injustice in the Concrete.

penutUl upon pilc duptlltI iOI tucli
mutual well being. That which
helps an individual member of the
aggregation benefits the entire COM
muniiy. Man. in civilized society,
cannot live to himself alone. He
finds there is no better way of pro-
mo.iug his own comfort and happi-
ness than by assisting others to be-
come better men and women. The
Philosopher. viewing the ancient
rains Of Palmyra observed: Alas {!
how great was this glory that has
been eclipsed! There remains only
a vain and empty remembrance. |
will cherish in remembrance the love
of man, and build my own happiness
on the promotion of his.
If these statements be true, their
converse must also be correct. An
injury or an injustice to the most
humble individual in the community,
should be the concern of all OF the
members. a community often does
greater injustice to poor man by
interfering with his individual and
property rights. than similar act
might do to a more fortunate neigh
Dor in the possession of this worlds
goods, as the latter would be in
better position to defend and protect
his rights than the former. In the
same proportion that an individual
suffers injustice though he may be
poor and humble the whole commun-
ity in which he lives, is injured. No
city need expect or ought to prosper
by doing injustice to its inhabitants.
Applying these general propositions
to our local situation, what do we
find 1t is said, on good authority,
that assessments for local improve
ments will aggregate four hundred
thousand dollars on Olympia prop
erty when all the projects now under
way shall have been completed.
Granting that Olympia has popula-
ton of ten thousand people, this
means forty dollars for each man,
woman and child within her bound
aries, regarding alone the cost of To-
cal improvements. 1t is fair to as
sumo one-fourth or one hundred
thousand dollars will liquidated by
cash payments in hand. that the bal
ance OF three hundred thousand dol
lars will be represented by improve
ment bonds drawing eight per cent.
interest, held principally by non
resident parties, which will prove, in
addition to other municipal and
county Indebtedness, to be quite a
drain upon our city's resources.
Many men and women will save and
economic, be stingy with others and
with themselves. to meet these first
liens against their homes and prop
erty. Nearly all the money paid out
in this behalf will leave the city and
county, and local business men will
understand where the cash has gone
when their trade is dull. The assess
ment and tax liens being so high, the
real estate market will be dull and
sales will be slow. In the mean time
the owners will either have to pay
the taxes and assessments on their
property or let Shylocks take it; as
it is SO nominated in the bond. Then
again, US observed by Mr.. hoffman.
when we shall get over our present
financial furry, Olympia's period of
depression may continue by reason
of her present Indebtedness. The
law gives too great powers to munic-
ipal bodies to impose hardships upon
their citizens; curtailment in this d.
rection is sorely needed. Any one
reading the different laws on local
improvements. might we'll conclude
lefty officials, have been made the
agents of greedy contractors, who
desire to pump the property owners
dry. 1t is time Olympia should
come to halt in this respect. take
Ian inventory of her assets and liabil-
Titles, and choose officials who will
conserve the best interests of our
citizens who have come here to live
and not to be feeced and grated.
True we must have public improve
ments. Those which were made in
our downtown districts subserved a
good purpose though rather high
priced. The property was income
producing and could stand the bur-
dens. Besides, the owners of this
class of property are in a better con-
ditiOn to meet assessment demands
than that of the laboring men and
small home-owners whose welfare is
OF great Importance in all communi.
ties; on their prosperity that of the
merchant largely depends. If they
send their money away to liquidate
such assessments. it does not circu-
late in the community where made,
and constitutes a serious menace to
local prosperity of which Olympia
cannot have too much.
REST Ms.-Now that tie Thurs.
!. ton County Woman's Educational
Club has taken up the proposition to
provide o rest room in Olympia for
women, it might be good compan-