Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-02-06
Biennial Sessions.

it's the pay Of members Of the Legislative
Assembly to sixty days. Still more fortunate
would it be for the people of the Territory
.and of she whole country if the per diem Of
our Legislators was confined to thirty day SEES.
sions, and biennial at that We believe that
very large majority of the citizens of the
Territory would be glad to have the biennial
system established, the pay of the members
increased, and all proper Legislative expenses
promptly paid. What has the late Legisla-
ture done for the good of the people of the
Territory? This is question which will be
inquired into by the people and answered at
the ballot-box-each member being response
Lle to his own constituents. The old demo-
cratic maxim, "the world is governed too
much,' is applicable to this Territory, for we
are governed much too much. Look at the
published laws Of the session Of 1SG2-63-a
very few general laws, the major part of which
are Of doubtful utility. and some one hundred
and fifty private acts, many of them divorce
bills but much the larger portion of them en-
c'usirc moncpolies for roads. bridges, trails,
frrrys, etc. The whole Democratic strength
Of the House and Council inaugurated per-
feet system of log-rolling for private interests
against the general welfare What became
Of the old Democratic cry of "Down with ex-
elusive privileges and odious monopolies,"
which we have heard for nearly half-centu-
ryl Verify we are governed too much
Has the late Legislature improved upon
the former in this respectl One bad thing
they have no dom- hey have ignored divor-
ces. For this negative virtue we applaud
them, for what they hare done WE condemn
them. The previous session they checkercd
the whole land with their exclusive grants,
now they have become amphibious. they have
taken to the wat r, and almost every stream
-many of which are navigable-in and near
the Sound country, is covered with log.driving
aud boom charters. Every one Of these ex-
elusive grants giving the grantees an ndvnn-
tage equal to almost an entire monopoly Of all
the timber on the river shores, FIR almost a
MoUsand miles in crfent !-thus forcing every
citizen of the country, il he choseso 6 buck"
against wealthy incorporators, TO incur an i'm
mcnsc expense to contest the legality Of these
grants before the Supreme Court IF the Uni
ted States. These grants called "los-driv-
ing are in reality log-ro'ling grants. Nearly
every one of them owes its existence to this
system of tactics. The two GENITAL forces of
legislation this winter have been the sustcnta-
ton Of pscudo.Democracy and the removal Of
the Capital hence much legislation that was
orse than useless, and tho failure Of some
that was necessary and just: for instance,
the failure to grant the elective franchise TO
the officers and soldiers Of the Washington
Territory volunteers, who were voters in the
Territory before they went into the service.
Why did not this bill passl Simply because
the copper. Democracy could not trust our pat
riotic citizen soldiers They We're fearful
they might vote as did tho soldiers Of Ohio,
Iowa, Wisconsin md Missouri, nincty-two per
cent. cftAem .t0r tie Unio~ and against Ode
mocyacy." That is the true reason and the
only one. Again, why was the bill defeated
lcvying tax for the construction of road
across the mountains Ivy the Snoqualmie Pass,
so necessary to the prosperity Of the Territory,
and especially to that of the Sound region 7
Can the member of the House from King
county answer2
We think the rccen. Legislature did many
acts they ought not to have done. and left
undone many things they should have done,
and as body they are xn~rn. AS legisla-
tors. we hope "neer to look OH their like
again." That they passed some COOL acts we
will not deny, but that they have passed BY
more than they have passed, we believe.
On the whole, judging by their acts, the late
Legislature was no improvement on some for
mer sessions, and II possible they have retro
graded. 10 lessen the evil, therefore, We
suggest prompt and better pay and thirty-day.
biennial sessions. ....
~ The Seattle Gazette Of Tuesday last is
unusually erich, rare and racy." The Leg
islaturr, and "PUD," as our contemporary in
sists on calling the Territorial Secretary, re-
ceive q mercilcss castigation. Friend Wat
sons "style," in the number before US. ism"re
expressive than elegant. Pitch in. Ollapod
~ The S. +. Bulletin says it has informa-
ton that thu new iron ship Waterec. Of ten
guns, has been ordered to the Pacific coast,
aud TINT Soma others of tina same class will