Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-10-11

The LEGISLATURE.

US HlCStIlN StsSibIl x. l.It A~NtA .Ai'iN
was begun under the most favorable
auspices. Al tic members were pres
ent, and participated III the or2aniza-
ton, circumstance which. we be-
lieve, has never occurred before III the
history of our Territorial legislation.
This enabled permanent organization
to be effected al once, an important con-
sideration in view of tie fact that the
sessions are now held b;ennially and
limited to two-thirds the length of time
formerly allowed for annual sessions.
The organization was effected prompt
ly and quietly. without any apparent
feeling of bitterness or disappointment
at the result. The candidates were
selected from different and widely sep
arated partitions of the Territory. The
Speaker, the Chief Clerk of the House
and the Messenger of the Council were
taken from Walla Walla county; the
President, the Assistant Clerk, the Ser
geant-at-Arms, the Chaplain and the
Waterman, of the Council, and the
Enrolling Clerks of both branches, from
Thurston; the Assistant Clerk of the
House from Island, the Sergeant-at
Arms from Cowlitz; the Doorkeerers
from Jefferson and Clalam; the Chief
Clerk of the Council, the Messenger and
the Waterman of the House, from King;
one Engrossing Clerk from Clarke and
one from Pierce, and the Chaplain of
the House from jefferson. Probably a
fairer division of the " loaves and
fishes" could not have been made, I'M
der the circumstances, OF one that would
give better general satisfaction. 1t will
be observed that several of the most i'm
portant positions are held by Liberal
Republicans, an example of political
fairness exceedingly rare in these times
OF selishness and corruption. The Sc
lection of women to fill several clerical
offices is another measure which meets
with our cordial approval.
The Assembly has already Sc tiled
down to hard work. Realizing that
they must make the best use of the lin
tied time at their command, a number
of bills have already been introduced
and assigned to the appropriate COM
mittees, and several afternoon sessions
have been held to expedite business.
The question as to who has the right
to appoint the Public Printer, comes up
in a new shape before the present Leg
islature. and joint committee have the
subject under consideration. The Sec
rotary claims the authority to appoint,
upon instructions from the Treasury
Department, and he has sent in the
names of Messrs. Bagley & Harmed as
the contractors. He likewise announces
that the amount appropriated for print
ing is limited to four thousand dollars,
about one-half the usual amount, and
that any excess must be paid by the
Territory. The Assembly very proper
~ believe that if they provide the means
to pay for the music they have right
to select the fiddler, and this will prob
ably be the determination of the COM
mittee. 1t is time to put a stop to the
precedent set by Republican Secreta-
1ies, under which they make practical
printers pay tribute to them. Rich de-
velopments are promised, should the
matter come up in the shape of con-
fict of authority. The new game of
Addition, Division and Silence" is
unsafe when attempted by inexpert OPP
orators.
Such particulars as are of public in
terest, in each day'sproceedings, are Civ
en- in another department of our paper.
We intend that our reports, though
necessarily brief, shall contain refer
ence to every important measures that
comes before our Solons for consider
alton.
IBE COLUMBIA SALMON CATcH.-The
catch OF salmon for the season of 1878.
on the Columbia, was, 100, 900 cases.
Each case weighed As pounds, in one
and two pound cans. Besides this
amount, there were 4 500 barrels of salt
salmon. This is certainly a good show
ing for this important branch of indus
try.