, 1864-01-02
Olympia Correspondence.
OLYMPIA, Dec


X EDS. STATESMAN You are aware ere
this, that the House is organized. The
principal hobby thus far has been the print
ing question. Some two or three months
since Secretary Evans removed Mr.. Barnes,
the proprietor of DIR. Henry's organ, the
Standard, and substituted 7. f. McElroy
in his stead as Territorial Printer Dr.
Henry protested and threatened to have Ev-
ans official head stricken off unless he would
annul his contract with McElroy and rein
state Barnes. Evans, though in general,
very vascilating, was firm in his determine
ton to do no such thing, and decided to re-
fer the matter to the Legislature, in hopes
that they being intensely Union, would re-
pudiate the action of Evans at the request of
Henry. His Excellency, Gov. McGill was
selected to put through resolution censur-
ing Mr.. Evans for usurpation of Power
His action in the matter was, however, anti
cipated, and the subject brought to focus
by member on the Democratic side intro
ducing the following resolution:
ResolUed, That the Clerk be instructed to
deliver to T. F. McElroy, Territorial Print
er, copies of the Journal of this House from
day to day. This brought "little Nc" to
his feet and in eloquent terms he entered
his protest against the usurpation of the
powers of the people by the civil officers of
the Government. Secretary Evans having
acted in the matter, under the instruction Of
Secretary Chase, he took occasion to admin
lister a rebuke to that distinguished gentle
man for his oficious intermeddling with the
dearest rights of the "Umerican people. y
We on the Democratic side of the House
enjoyed the joke hugely, but his Republican
friends couldn't see the point, and after
short reply from one of the members from
Walla Wala, the vote was taken, with the
following result: For the Resolution, II;
against it, TO- So the Resolution passed.
The Journals have since been delivered to
McElrOy. AS there was one member alb
sent when the vote was taken on the above
Resolution Henry's friends claimed that the
question was not yet settled In order to
have it settled Mr.. Dugan next day intro
duced the following Resolution
Resolved, That the action Of Secretary
Evans in the appointment of T. f. McElroy
Printer be, and the same is hereby af-
hrmed, ana Tue Clerk is luSLIucOcu W uSllNol
to the said McElroy all public printing,
which the House has, or may hereafter order
The vote on the passage of this resolu-
ton was more emphatic than upon the
former-14 ayes to s noes. So that ques-
ton, so far as the Legislature is concerned,
may be said to be definitely settled. The
House has done nothing else since but
meet and adjourn-the Council not having
yet organized in consequence Of the non ar
rival of the new member from the counties
of King and Kitsap, each party claiming
that if he were here he would vote with
them, and neither knowing how he would
vote. On temporary organization Judge
McFadden took the Chair, and there being
a quorum present they undertook to elect
President, but it was found that out of five
there was four prominent candidates, each
having but one vote except Colonel Shaw,
who had two votes Three being necessary
to choice, and none of them having popu-
larity enough to secure the requisite num-
Der the Council adjourned and have not
since been able to get quorum present.
The weather here is rainy and disagree
able will write you again as soon as the
Council organizes. d.