Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-01-15

anu also 10 purchase small piece OF
property at the west OF the states
holdings and running to the high
water line. This is small in area and
of little real value to its present
owners. By its purchase the state
would then have ownership of all tho
hillside property to high water line
surrounding the capitol site, and then
no matter to what degree the states
needs may grow it will never be nec-
essary to purchase more ground for
capitol building purposes.
! ION account of the unfinished con-
dition Of the Temple of Justice and
the inability Of the capitol commits
sion to float bonds and secure funds
for it's completion, and for the pur-
pose of protecting that part Of the
building now constructed and in use
it has been necessary to award a con-
tract for a permanent roof. The cost
is being paid from the Temple of JUS
tice maintenance fund. Had this
action not been taken it is probable
that very soon great damage would
have resulted to the plastering and
interior of the building.
Hope, for Building Plan.
Much time has been spent by the
capitol commission in an endeavor to
figure out some method whereby the
bonds authorized might be sold. Up
to the present time the problem has
not been solved. Some months ago
the attorney general was requested to
investigate the question and has
given much thought to the matter. /
would suggest that the committee ap-
pointed to consider the question OF
capitol buildings and grounds confer
with the attorney general and pos
sibly some plan may be devised from
which results can be obtained. I do
not feel that the general fund of the
state ought to be drawn upon for
this purpose and in this view the
commission unanimously concura
The capitol lands, without doubt, win
eventually bring sufficient funds to
pay for the construction Of all build
ings necessary and to repay advances
made from the general fund. I feel
that from moneys derived from the
lands, in addition to meeting the COST
OF buildings and grounds, a perma-
nent fund can be established, the i'm
terest from which will be sufficient to
maintain the buildings and grounds.
and thus the taxpayers be relieved
from the necessity Of raising the
maintenance cost by general taxation.
This condition, of course. cannot be
brought about until all, or practically
all, Of the state capitol lands have
been sold.
II would respectfully recommend
that an appropriation be made to pay
all interest charges Of warrants now
outstanding against the capitol build
ing fund and on which interest has
been guaranteed by the state, and
also to cover the interest on warrants
issued during the present biennium
for the purchase of lands for capitol
SITE"
The significant feature Of the gov
ernor's message was that 1t sounded .
superlative note of warning at the in
creased cost Of government. In re-
cent years, he declared, such increase
had been alarming. The state. coun-
ties, municipalities. and in fact almost
every taxing district had, year by
year, added to the amount called for
from taxpayers until the time had
now arrived when further increase
could not but result in placing upon
such taxpayers a burden far beyond
their ability to pay.
ITO meet the demands" continued
the governor, property valuations
have in many instances been fixed far
above the revenue-producing point q
the property and taxing officers HAYS
been compelled to levy taxes 70 ~
fullest limit allowed by lhN. GSes
this has not resulted II producing
sufficient revenue. The records show
that bonds have been issued for
county, municipal, school and other
purposes amounting to over $780,
100000, the interest charge on which
is not less than $5.000.000 per
annum.
IA plan of retrenchment must be
decided upon, as already interest
charges are SO large that the likeli-
hood of ability to pay off the bonds
when they become due is remote"
SAYS "STAY AT HOME"
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