The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1927-02-17
"CROOKS" OR "BOUGHT" HAS SAME
MEANING TO SPOKANE SENATOR

one-half the territory of the state. I'm
der the real property tax, we got about
one-third of the highway money, but
under the gasoline tax, we get only
about 20 per cent.
Ii seems most unfair to me that,
with half the territory, we should have
to build all our roads with one-ffth of
the money. Besides. Seattle is be-
ginning to feel the policy unwise, as
tourists from the East have been go
ing south from Spokane and into Port
land by the Columbia River Highway,
instead of coming across our state.
thought the time had come when we
could ask and probably get more than
our one-fifth under the present plan.
and also get a cross-the-state paved
road, but when we called caucus OF
all members from eastern Washington
we found jealousy and could not get
together OF course, the action of the
Senate in passing the bill last Mon
day, which would take the appoint
ment of the state engineer from the
governor, antagonized his friends and
added to the mistrust between various
members.
There Is also a proposition to build
paved loop across the state, or rath-
er across by way of Ellensburg and
Wenatchee to Spokane and back by
way of Yakima, issuing bonds to pay
for 1t. Also an extra cent gasoline
tax for a cross-the-state road is talked
of. And. of course, Seattle, seeing the
ten millions coming i'm each year for
roads, feels that the state should help
build bridge across Lake Union, the
Stoneway Bridge, because il is on the
line of a state highway running
through their city. The state has made
IL general rule to require cities to
build the connections running with
in their limits. Thus we in Spokane
built our Monroe Street and Division
Street bridges, though they too could
be called a part of the state highway
system. The governor presented
plan for spending the road funds, the
Senate does not want to adopt it, the
House seems to prefer it. And there
we are at present.
We also had an open hearing on
the Tacoma power bill. Both Tacoma
and Seattle have municipal electric
power plants, which pay no part of the
state taxes, and want authority to sell
outside their limits, which would re-
quire a new law. The mayor of Ia
coma told us that he intended to call
us crooks, but had changed his mind,
but IL we did not pass the bill, he
would know we had been bought off
which didn't sound very different to
my ears.
Every session sees several bills, all
designed to create big projects by cit
les, port districts, etc, which would
pay no tax to the state. 1t seems to
me that a city may run a street car
system IL 1t chooses, and not pay any
taxes for the upkeep of the city, but
that we as state senator's, who find
the demands for state activities ever
increasing, should see to it that per-
mission be given only on condition
that they do contribute their proper
share to the state. This has not been
done, so these power plants have mil
lions invested and are not paying any
thing to the state The proposed pow.
er bill says they will pay per cent on
their gross on business outside the
city, unless with another city. The
people voted down a similar PROPOSE.
tion two years ago and that provided
that thew should nav Der cent on