The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1914-06-01
FARMERS UNION WILL OPPOSE
INITIATIVE MEASURES.
Continued on page r.

CONTINUED on page lL')
sufficient guards and stockades to in
sure the welfare and security of the
convicts and the inhabitants OF the
neighborhood, it is grave question
if the roads could not be built better
and cheaper by paid labor. Ihls
measure leaves the location and con-
struction of all state roads In the
hands of the state highway board, the
members of which are appointed by
the governor, and the people who pay
the taxes used in such road con-
struction have nothing to say where
or how it shall be built. But the
most serious objection, on the part OF
this section of the state, is the fact
that it takes all the convicts from the
jute mill in the penitentiary and
leaves idle an investment OF more
than $500, 600 state money, while the
farmers are given over to the tender
mercies of the grain bag trust.
Unjust Tax Item
Initiative Measure No. IL places a
tax upon the fishing and oyster IN
dustries of the state. Fishing is one
of the great natural industries OF the
state, having invested more tnan SlO, :
600, 900 in the industry and support
ing more than %. 900 of our people.
This property pays the regular state
tax in common with all the state and
in addition the fisherymen and can
nerymen pay the state special
license for the privilege OF fishing
and canning. According to the re-
port of the state fish commissioner,
the receipts derived by the state
from the salmon fisheries for the year
ending March 31st, 1914, totaled S94,
533. rs and during the same period,
the state expended the sum OF S|o,-
4O6. 38 in the operation OF the hatch-
cries and fisheries bureau, SO that the
state is actually gamer by the sum OF
SIG, lat. 80 during the past year from
the salmon fisheries under the present
law. The proposed initiative meas
ure would put an additional tax on
every fish caught, ranging as high as
20 cents per fish for some varieties.
AS no claim is made to regulate
the fishing industry under the police
powers of the state. the only purpose
for the enactment of this measure
would be the raising of revenue. The
price of fish cannot be fixed by this
state and the passage OF this measure
will mean that our fishermen cannot
compete with those of Alaska. British
Columbia and Oregon in the matter
of prices while under the handicap OF
the Washington state tax, conse-
uuently the fishery business Will be
lost to the state and the fisherman
will sacrifice whatever of his location
and outfit that cannot be moved to
other states.
The power to tax is the power to
DESTROY. and the taxing of natural
industry for revenue is new princl-
ple in this state, If not in the United
States. which, if adopted, will apply
eouallv as disastrouSly to busbel OF
wheat or box Of apples, as to hsh.
Not Recommended
Initiative No. II vests in the Public
Service Commission the powers and
duties of the Tax Commission, which
this measure abolishes. The duties
of the Tax Commission are important
and require ability for their proper
discharge, and to add these duties TO
the already overworked Public Ser
vice Commission, whose duties are
in no way related to those of the Tax
Commission, would result in the
present duties of the Tax Commission
being delegated to mere clerks in the
Office of the Public Service Commits
sion. Your committee cannot recon-
mend this change. There is also
grave doubts as to whether this meas
ure is constitutional or not, on ac-
count of containing two subjects.