Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-04-04

of the bill. I am not particular, 80
far as I am concerned, whether it be
recommitted or be passed now.
MIR. BUTLER, (of Massachusetts,. l
reserve the right to make point of
order on the bill.
Mr.. RANDALL. AS the gentleman re-
porting the bill is not unwilling, then I
suggest that the bill be allowed to go
to the Committee of the Whole, and be
printed. Thus we shall all have an
opportunity to examine it.
MIR. HosKINs. Let me first state the
provisions of the bill; and objections
may he raised afterward.
The bill provides that the county of
Thurston, in the territory of Washing
ton, may issue the bonds of that county
in the sum of 5000, 900 for the purpose
of aiding in the construction of a rail-
road from Olympia, the capital of the
Territory, to Tenino, point on the
Northern Pacific Railroad. 1t provides
that the county commissioners may
enter into n contract with any individ-
ual, firm, or corporation to build this
road; but before the contract is to be
concluded the terms of the contract are
to be submitted to the legal voters of
tho country at a general election called
for that purpose.
Mr.. SpEER, (of Pennsylvania. How
many persons are there in the county?
MIR. MCFADpEN. From forty five
hundred to five thousand
Mr.. HosKlNs. If two-thirds of the
votes ut that general election shall be
cast in favor OF making the contract for
this purpose-those two-thirds being
equal to majority of all the votes cast
at the last election for delegate in Con-
gress-then the county commissioners
are authorized to perfect the contract.
This is also guarded; SO in no event
can bonds be issued against this county
to exceed per cent. of the taxable
property of the county; neither can
they issue bonds in excess of 5000 600;
and they cannot issue a single bond un-
til it shall have first been approved
by two-thilds of all of the votes cast
at n general election held for that pur-
dose. Therefore, l conceive, Mr.. Speak
er, it would be impossible to guard the
bill more strongly, thoroughly and spe-
ciically than this bill is guarded in order
to protect the rights of the citizens in
this county of Thurston.
Mr.. KAssoN, (of Iowa). l should like
to ask the gentleman from New York if
this bill is proposed to Congress by vir-
ture of Il retition OF the citizens of that
county?
Mr.. HosKISs. Mr.. Speaker, I hold
in my land a memorial from the citizens
of the county OF Thurston, stating that
this question has been once submitted
to them, and Il majority of all the citi-
zens in. the county of Thurston has
voted in favor of this proposition before
coming to Congress asking for this leg
islation. 1t has been submitted also to
the territorial Legislature of Washing
ton Territory and has passed that ter
ritorial Legislature. 1t has been APP
proved by the people and by the terri
torial Legislature; and the memorial
stating these facts and asking this leg
islation, l hold in my hand.
Mr.. KAssoN. 1 should like to ask
the gentlemen from New York this fur
ther question: Would this be deemed
invalid as an act of the territorial Leg
islature without the sanction of Con-
grcss? wish to know that fact, be-
cause do not remember of bill like
this ever having passed Congress before,
relating to particular county. I may
be mistaken; but do not remember
before of any similar case of legislation
SO peculiarly local.
Mr.. HosK1Ns. In answer to the GEN.
tleman from Iowa, have only to say
that l am informed by the Delegate
from Washington Territory this whole
question has been canvassed in that
Territory thoroughly as to whether th Q
territorial Legislature has power to
grant the relief requested, and it has
been determined by judicial authority
they have not the power in the terrific
rial Legislature, under the organic act,
to pass this legislation. Therefore they
come to Congress to get it legalized, in
order that their bonds may be put upon
the market and the road constructed.
MIR. KAssoN. thank the gentleman
for that information, and will say one
thing more. I would rather change
the organic law of the Territory in that
respect, leaving the responsibility with
the people, through their immediate
representatives,, than to pass special
ct for the first time within my knowl-
in which Congress deals with the local
affairs of county.
! Allow me t0add a single word fur
ther. In my own State our counties
have had most bitter experience with
this kind of legislation. They have,
by virtue of just such legislation as this,
almost bankrupted themselves, bring
ing discredit on the State and indebt-
edness to the people. Hence, as far as
we are from that Territory, repeat, I
would much rather change the organic
law, if this thing must be done, leaving
the responsibility with the people there,
than to do it by an act of Con gress.