The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-11-20
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 1877.
THE TERRITORIAL CONVICT
LAW.

Law
Among tho laws enacted by the late
Legislature vas one giving William
BilIines who is now the Sheriff Of
Thufston county. . contract for the next
six years for feeding. clothing and
guarding all the Territorial couvicts
now confined in the county jails Of the
several counties Of this Territory, 10
constellation Of which be 70 to re-
ceivc seventy cents per day and the Ia
Dor of such convicts. In his biennial
message to the Legislature. the Cover
nor recommended the confinement Of ell
the Territorial convicts in the Federal
penitentisry on McNiel's Island. That
portion Of the message being referred
TO the Council Committee on Public
Grounds and Buildings. the Chairman
Of thst Committee reported back I'd
verss1y to the Governors suggestion.
adding that the present arrangements
we're amply good enough for the mum.
Der Of oonvicts now undergoing impris-
onmsut h the county jails Of the seve.
rel counties.
The bill passed the House -anything
could psss it. In fact it was not un-
common to transmit bills 10 the Coun-
Gil with messages, that had never
passed ct Ill; 20 the passage Of this bill
was no wonder. And when the bill
casne up into the Council. the President
Immediately left the Chair and became
the champion Of the measure. L. v.
Wyako6. Sheriff of King county.
went up TO try and make . similsr
arrangement for leasing the convict
labor but did not stay till the bill
reached the Council. He left his cass
in the hands Of those who have no
cause, however. to be ashamed of their
record in the premises.
After the bill had been read . second
tims, 1r Hanfosd moved to amend it,
first ssctiea BY striking ont oil that por-
tion authorizing the Governor to con-
tract with Billings Cor seventy cents
per diem for each prisoner; and insert
ing in lien thereof . provision that the
Governor b authorizcd to advertise for
proponla This wss voted down by q
vote of 8 to 4. and then came a recess
for supper. Afterwards Ferguson
moved 70 amend the bill by striking
out tho name Of Billings and inserting
that Of L. v. Wyckoff; also striking out
ssventy csnts and inserting sixty-6ve.
In this - In tho 5ormer case. the omni-
potent I've voted down the contums.
cious four and the bill passed with the
name Of Billings - contractor and SOW
enty cents per diem Is his price for
keeping the prisoners. The Eve who
voted for this bill were Messrs. Hatha.
way. Hoover, Reed, Of Thurston. Reed,
Of Pacific. and Stewart; the four Who
voted Against It. were Mcsars. FerRu-
son. Haniord, Kuhn aud Ping. BY tho
tine this bill has been in force year.
tho people will begin to think that
minorities ere sometimes respectable.
Inths Enoqualmis Wagon Read lottery
Casa The Chisf Justice held that any
act nonfsrring special privilege was
contrary to the Organic Act Of the Ter
ritory, and was therefore null and void.
II thst b Law, We have no idss that
this Act : worth the paper an which
it Il written.
Should test case uadsr the Billings
bill b brought before him, he cannot
stnltiiy hinsslf by reversiag HE ovn
opinion in the lottery cassa The al.
lingo bill eonsses special privilagrs I'D
cuts % competition for The Ssediae end
clothing Of Territorial prisoasss ed.
under the previous rulings Il The Court
10 q dead letter. II wyckdR give up
> siagls Territorial convioe q the d.
mand Of 1r. Rilliaes. b. ~ les ssose
than ~ have prsviously olvsn han
credit Ct. Keep tho o6sodms Asrs
end let them repair orr roads aad
seeeels a.d h the mean tins. Il Hi
llags uaats b ~ The sGsssglh - ~
little bill. II hin try Il on.
SAVANNAH BIouau i aow legally .
navtgAbls stream. Tibhslt's hill - H.
0lasss 4. having passsd aad rscsivsd The
Govsgnot's siesaears. pAstiss obstsnat-
isg The ans vill take soeip aanord.
iasly. Ne wess sligAkly nf1iaSsrns1
sA0~.n Aa~ 4 49, - ~Rl