Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-09-01


think it not improbable that enough
money to pay all the expenses OF the
state government could be raised from
property which now pays no taxes at
all if we were not restricted by the
present constitution. think that un-
der a proper system no local taxes
need be laid on any property for any
but local purposes. We now impose
IS per cent of our taxes of all kinds
on real estate That is wrong. Any
system is wrong which operates to
mt so large a part of the burden of
taxation on the small homeowner. Any
system is wrong under which laborer
or small farmer may actually con-
tribute as much toward the expenses
of government as his neighbor whose
income is 20 times as great, but whose
wealth is in property of another kind.
The raising of revenues is function
of government and the methods should
be left largely to the legislature.
These are some of my reasons as a
business man for Directing to the sys-
tenn of conducting public affairs in
this state. Others have to do with
the legislature, which is so composed
and whose functions are such that
real leadership, except such as may
grow out of local interests and is
usually opposed to the interests OF
the whole people, is seldom develop
ed but l think that if the executive
branch were made responsible and
given increased authority the legis-
lature. even though I see no good rea-
son why it should consist OF two
houses, would be restored to its true
functions. I want a system of state
and county government in Washington
in which the public servants may find
room accordig to their strength to 90
the peoples work. l want system
in which public officers will have ev-
ery incentive to save the public funds
and want it to replace one in which
none can do his best work, and in
which the principal interest OF most
is to get as much for some local
interest as rival statesmen can get.
want public officials to have chance
TO do their duty, and I want them TO
he held accountable if they don't DO
it.
The only serious objection l have
ever heard anybody make to con-
stitutional convention is that the peo-
pie can't be trusted to undertake the
revision of their constitution because
thew are too radical. That sort OF
talk is foolish. AS Bryce said ~
wears ago, Americans are the most
conservative nation Of progressive peo-
ple in the world. Our people IN
Washington are not radical. Every
freak" law on our statute books was
nut there by the legislature, and not
by the people. Besides that, 1t must
he borne in mind that all power rests
ultimately with the people, and in the
long run they will have their way, no
matter what their self-constituted
guardians may think or say.
For my own part, recognize the diff
fculties in the way Of securing efficient
government in this state through new
constitution. The task will not be
easy. There are too many complacent
gentlemen in the way-honest as the
rest of us, no doubt, but satisfied with
things as they are Of which they are
part. Whatever is done in the way OF
reform will have to be done in spite
of all such gentlemen and in spite of
those who are tenlperamently against
trusting the people with important pub
lid business. l don't know whether we
can get anywhere, but am in favor
of trying. -'~''''''- -