, 1863-01-03
Editorial Correspondence
OLYMPIA. Dec. 18th. |

1t gives me pleasure to communicate the
fact that both branches of the Legislative
Assembly have finally got into working or
der. The Council completed its organiza-
ton on Monday last by compromising upon
other candidates to fill the positions of Ser
geant at Arms and DoOrkeeper, the other
offices having been filled on the previous
Saturday. 1t is worthy of mention that
over two hundred ballots we're had for Ser
geant at Arms, the Council standing four
against four; and although Mr. Moore was
present on Monday, he very properly re-
Trained from casting his vote for either of
the candidates, thinking that inasmuch as
they had got themselves into the dilemma,
it was best to let them get out of it. He
did, however, propose third man, thus f.
nally ending the strife. The standing COM
mitees have been announced in the Coun-
Gil, and l am told they ale satisfactory to
all its members, save one the defeated
candidate for the Presidency, who, by the
by, is said to be one of the Sound candi-
dates for Congress- He took umbrage be-
cause President Simms did not see fit to
give him the Craftsmanship of the most re-
sponsible committee in the Council = the
Judiciary-and won't serve on any of the
committees. If reports as to the style of
his maneuvering legislation are true, i'm
agine neither the Conncil nor the people
will lose anything by his staying off from
all the committees.
In the House several bills are in course
of passage. Several memorials have passed,
among which are the following: Memoir
al relative to fortifying the mouth of the Co
lumbia river; relative to treaty and extern
sion of surveys in Spokane county; relative
to establishing tri-weekly mail service in
coaches, from Dalles to Walla Walla; with
Others of similar nature. On Wednesday
aresolution to go into joint convention with
the Council for the election of Printer was
introduced into the House, and pending
motion to suspend the rules and read sec
ond time, the House adjourned Yesterday
it was taken up, and amended By fixing to-
morrow for the election, and passed. 1t is
not known whether the Council will agree
to it, and 1 shall not be surprised if they
give the House an oppor rtuni.y to concur by
designating another day for this business.
to appoint Mr.. Geo. H. Barnes public Prin-
ter, knowing, of course, that it would go
into the hands of the Standard. In max
ing this appointment, the Governor has as
sumed a power which does not belong to
him-a power which is neither sanctioned
by the organic act of the Territory, by the
laws of the same, nor by precedent. On the
contrary, there is law in the statutes,
which has never been disproved by Con-
gress, authorizing the Legislature to elect
Printer annually. If any one outside of
the Legislature, holds this prerogative, it is
the Secretary, and not the Governor, as a
reference to the provisions of the organic
act plainly shows. 1t is true they are each
made disbursing officers of the government,
but there is plain distinction between
them, as to what moneys and for what OBJ
jects they shall disburse. No one disputes
the right of the Secretary, in case the Leg
Iature fails to elect, to make a contract with
whoever he may see fit, to have the print
ing done, but the Governor is nowhere au-
thorized to have anything to do with it. In
the House on Wednesday, the Governors
/ \; essage was read by the Clerk, and five
thousand copies ordered printed, copy of
which is herewith inclosed.
Resolutions were introduced yesterday
relative to the death of Gen Stevens, and
unanimously passed. l send you a copy OF
the resolutions, also the remarks of Hon
j. NJ. Bagley, of Claim, on the occasion
Mr. Garfelde was invited within the bar,
and spoke to the resolution with much feel
ing and effect.
A memorial has passed the Council pray
ing for the establishment of line of mail
service from Salt Lake to Walla Walla via
B oise and Powder River. 1t will without
doubt pass the House A eeneral incorpo-
ration act, similar to the one passed by the
last Legislative Assembly of Oregon, has
been introduced into the Council, and will
probably pass that body Such an act as
this, at so early period in our history,
needs to be very carefully framed and guar
ded, lest it work injustice upon portions of
the Territory.
In the Council to-day, the question of the
adoption of the Resolutions relative to Gen.
Stevens being before that body, Hon. o. B.
McFadden delivered an eloquent and i'm
pressive eulogy to the memory of the brave
soldier and true patriot. N.
MILITARY BALL.-We acknowledge the
compliment of an invitation to be present
at the Military Ball at Fort Walla Walla
on New Years evening. We learn from
those who participated in the festivities of
the occasion that it was one of most pleas
ant re- unions of the season, and that the
old time reputation of the Post for render