McGraw to Olympia: Cut Spending, Fix the Courts
With Washington $1.5 million in debt and revenues falling, the governor calls for retrenchment and warns that court costs shut the poor out of justice.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Gov. McGraw's biennial message to the legislature is considered a strong and timely document by all parties. He strongly recommends retrenchment and economy in all state departments and appropriations. He shows that the indebtedness of the state is now over a million and a half dollars, and the revenues greatly reduced on account of the hard times. Altogether it is a timely message, and one that the lawmakers would do well to heed.
The message of Gov. McGraw to the legislature was read before that body in joint session last Monday. The document is of unusual length and covers a great many pertinent subjects. His suggestions are wise and timely, and if acted upon by our lawmakers by proper and judicious legislation, great benefits will result to the people of the state. In his message the governor stands for retrenchment and reform in all branches of state and municipal government, dwelling forcibly upon the needs of radical amendments to laws regulating court procedure in civil and criminal actions. The ends of justice, he declares, too often miscarry on account of cumbersome statutes and ill-applied practice, making the cost of litigation so great that the poor are virtually barred from seeking relief through the courts. The governor also suggests sensible reforms in our revenue laws, advocates biennial assessments of property, the lopping off of many state expenditures, the abolition of superfluous funds and the turning of such idle moneys into the general fund for the redemption of current warrants, a stringent banking law, revision of our road law, reduction of transportation rates and fares, and many other pertinent suggestions which every one will approve to the letter who may read this document.
“The ends of justice, he declares, too often miscarry on account of cumbersome statutes and ill applied practice, making the cost of litigation so great that the poor are virtually barred from seeking relief through the courts.”
McGraw's 1895 message could be delivered in Olympia today with only the dollar figures updated: debt, falling revenue, court costs that shut out poor litigants, and calls to cut 'superfluous funds.' Washington still argues over tax structures and whether the justice system is affordable for ordinary people.
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