Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-03-14


the general fund was $450,555.24. Since
that time the revenues have not been
sufficient to take care of the disburse-
mems and at the close of business
March 18th. which was yesterday, the
oyerdraft amounted to $79S,S32.75. This
presents to the legislature a condition
that II appears 10 me, is of vital i'm
Dortance 10 every taxpayer and prop
crty owner in the state of Washington
and you as the representatives of the
people of the state must face this con-
dition, meet it fairly, and decide be-
tween this day and next Thursday
night whether or not you intend to go
before the people with record of not
only having expended all funds that
can possibly be available under eX-
sting laws, but be under the grave ne
cessity of still further increasing the
tax levy on an already overburdened
people.
Following along this same line
further desire to call your attention to
the changes in leyies that are proposed
in road matters. The bill l am here
with returning with my veto provides
for an additional levy of one mill
amounting to approximately $1,000
10000 during the year 1914. The levy
proposed by the legislature, bill COW
ering which has already passed the
house, provides for an additional levy
for the permanent highway fund of
one and one-half mills or approximate
! ly S1,500,O00.00 per annum. In the
two road levies this would amount to
an increase for these two funds of ap-
proximately $2.500,000.00 in the year
| 1914 over and above levieS now exist
ing. 1t is we'll to call your attention to
the fact that bill has passed the legis-
lature providing for an additional one
quarter mill levy for the years 1914
and 1915 to raise $500,000.00 to cover
the states proportion of the cost of
the construction of bridge across the
| Columbia river at Vancouver. This
adds another $250,O00.00 per annum to
| the general taxes for the years 1914
and 1915. In making these figures
have not added the bonds provided for
to pay the states proportion of the con-
struction of bridge across the Pend
Creille river at Newport nor the bonds
to pay for the states proportion of the
cost of a bridge between Charleston,
| Washington and Lewiston, Idaho, those
two items aggregating 100000. By
checking over these figures you will
see that it will be necessary to raise
by direct taxation, in addition to the
amount raised under present levies,
an amount in excess of $4.000,000.00
per annum or total of over $S,000,-
10000 for a biennial period for road
purposes.
Il am of the opinion that the
! people of the state of Washington
are not in condition financially to
stand this enormous increase of
taxes at this time. 1t is well to
| say that we live in progressive
state. There is not one of us
| that does not desire to see the
| state Of Washington advance, but
| in this connection / desire 10 call
| your attention to the fact that the
strongest handicap that the state
of Washington has in the matter
| of development Is the excessive
| burden of taxation under which
| we are labOring at the present
time. If this condition exists un-
der the present rate of taxation
think of the still further handicap
it will be to the proper growth and
| development of the state should
| we more than double the present
rate Of state taxation.
I'm this connection also cannot re.
frain from calling your attention to
the fact that large majority of the
members of your honorable body were
elected on pledges of economy. AS is
shown by the figures l have quoted,
this legislature has already provided
for the appropriation of more money
than any other legislature in the his
tory of the state of Washington. If
any considerable number of the bills
carrying appropriations yet to be act
ed upon by your honorable body, are
passed, twill probably be many years
before another legislature will equal
this one in that respect.
| I'm the parliamentary struggles that
naturally take place In body of this
kind and the personal feelings of in
dividual members that are developed
during the session there is a great
danger that the interests of the citi-
zens of the state will be overlooked and
1t seems to me that with such tremen-
dous appropriations for the coming BIZ
ennium facing us we should all pause
and consider the situation most earn
estly.
while my own best judgment leads
me to the conclusion that levy of one
mill for the state highway fund is suf-
ficient | stated publicly few days ago
| that I would be willing to sign bill
providing levy of one and one-fourth
mills for one year and one mill there
after. l hoped by this suggestion to
induce the members of the legislature
to act together in the interests of the
whole state rather than of the partic-
ular communities.
"The state of Washington proudly
boasts of larger number of small
home owners than any state in the
Union in proportion to its population
Is 1t not we'll to remember that in q
great many instances these homes have
been purchased by the toilers of the
state by paying small amount down,
the balance being paid by them in
monthly installments? During the
past three or four years conditions
have been such that it has been q
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