, 1869-11-20

OLYMPIA, November I, 1859

VI " Aaob AStsStl Abeao VI AAeSASS"
has transpired. I have already sta,
ted that the two Houses had taken
recess, and that most Of the mem
berS were away. Yesterdays boat
brought back the greater portion of
the wandering Solons, and to.mOr>
row it is expected that there will be
. quorum of both Houses, and if SO
business will be resumed.
CONDITION OF LEGISLATION.
II cannot with truthfulness be said
that this is an Industrious Legislar
ture. Two>thirds of the time allowed
by law has already expired, and as
far as 1 can learn little or nothing |
has been done. In the matter of
tho "Code" no progress whatever
has been made, and from present ap>
pearauces the whole'thing will have
TO 60 over to- stanother session. The'
bills thus far introduced have no spe.
cial interest for the readers of the
STATESMAN, if 1 except that by
Judge Mix, fixing the compensation
of Prosecuting Attorneys. This bill
fixes the salary of the Prosecuting
Attorney at eight hundred dollars
per annum, payable quarterly, sand
allows in addition the following fees:
In all prosecutions where the punish
ment is death or Imprisonment for life,
fifty dollars, when the person is con-
Victed; when acquitted thirty dollars.
au all criminal prosecutions where the
punishment is Imprisonment in the PEN
itentiary for any time less than life,
when the prisoner is convicted, forty
dollars; and when acquitted twenty dol.
lars. In all other prosecutions in the
district court when the prisoner is con-
victed tweuty-four dollars, and when
acquitted fifteen dollars. For prosecu>
ting all forfeited recognzances, debts,
and forfeitures, and upon all fines accru.
ing to the Territory or any county there
in, upon the amount recovered twenty
per csntum on all sums under one huns
dred dollars, and ten per centum on all
sums over one hundred dollars. For
each days attendance upon the district
court the sum of five dollars, to be ap,
portioned among the several counties
comprising the district according to the
number of grand jurors they are enti>
tied to, In all divorce cases when the
defendant is not resisting, twenty-five
dollars, to be paid by the plaintiff be-
fore the hearing of the case. In all
criminal cases before any justice of the
peace, when his attendance shall be res
quifed by said justice, the prosecuting
attorney shall be allowed fifteen dollars.
This bill, if allowed to become
law, would add from three to five
thousand dollars yearly to the ex-
peuses of Walla Walla county, every
dollar of which would come out of
the hard earnings of taxpayers, and
In return for which the county would
enjoy no benefit whatever. 1t holds
out inducements to the prosecuting
attorney to get up all sorts of prose-
cutions, and whether convictions fol-
low or not, the officer is secured his
pay from the county treasury. l
have always endeavOred to cultivate
kindly feelings toward Judge Mix ;
but after this demonstration, l am
forced to concede that be is scarcely
the man to legislate for the people,
At time when tax payers are groan
ing under burdens such as never be,
fore were imposed upon any people.
/ cannot conceive Of pretext thai
will Justify the introduction of 9
bill, the main provisions of which
have given above. Economy should
be the watchword of every man il
public position, and those who seel
to increase the public burdens ar,
quite sure to enjoy but brief leas'
of public life. 1t is scarcely nee
.essary to add that in the Council
the writer will exert all his abilit,
to defeat the bill, and in the Hous
l will have the warm cooperation
of MeSsrs. Page aud O'Bryant, bot
of whom are resOlutely opposed
sWindling legislation.
ROAD BILLS.
/ find that the usual number {
bills have been introduced apprC
priating money from the TerritoriI
Treasury, toward building road
This year King county modest
asks $1,000; Pierce county 5000
other counties all the way fror
$4,000 down to $500, the who
footing up in the neighborhoOd {
$4,000. Think of this tax>pay
ers of Walla Wslla county, $50, 90
in a single year toward buildin
roads, not one foot of which you al
interested in, but for which you al
to be taxed 10 the tune of $1,000
TO make up your proportion.
want to see the man from Wal
Walla county who votes for a sing
one of these bills After doing s
it will be well for him to give tt