, 1883-11-24
SAWED OFF.
The Division Bill Passes the Legis-
lature.

In spite of all opposition Spokane
county is divided at last. The largest
hunk, stretching out to the west, has
been split Off and will henceforth be
known as Lincoln county. The divi-
ding line is the Colvillc meridian.
The council accepted the change made
in the original bill by the House, and
as changed it became law. Accord
ing to this the county seat Of Lincoln
county is located temporarily at Dav-
enport, the final location to be decided
by vote at the next general election.
So at last, after one of the most Wig
orOus struggles ever known before II
legislative body in this Territory,
that change desired by the people of
the eastern part Of the county has
been secured. Cheney was opposed
TO division, and strained every effort
to thwart the movement. Cheney
people do not stop at any half way
point when they are interested in
accomplishing II certain object. For
tenacity, enterprise and stick-tC-it-
iveness we give our neighbors credit
for being at the top Of the heap; and
their pertinucity has carried them
through in every case but the present
one. Even in this they did not give
uR.-lhSile ghost of a show re-
maine1. Delegates from Cheney
were at Olympia fighting the meas
ure when presented originally to the
Council. That body passed the bill on
a close vote. Cheneyites were not dis
couraged. They worked upon the
House, hoping to bury the bill there,
and were ably hacked by Stitzel, who
took up the fight with a good deal of
vim but with very poor discretion.
The bill was amended and passed the
House, yet the opposition was by no
means daunted. \ still larger dele
cation Of cOunty-scaters flockcd to
the Territorial capital. .-AcOrreSpOnd-
ent Of the Walla Walla Union speak
of the passage of the bill by vote of
eight to three, says: "The Council
concurrCd in the House amendments
to the bill creating the county of
Lincoln out Of the western portion
Of Spokane county, and settled the
question. a big lobby came down
from Cheney TO prevent the Council
from concurriug, hoping thus to kick
up row between the two houses re-
sulting in the final defeat of division.
But, COuncilmcn who had voted
against the bill as it originally passed
the Council, declared that they had
been bothered during the first half Of
the session with the matter, and had
nodesire to be buttonholeda and talked
to about it during the rest Of the ses-
sion, and 50 voted with the original
advocates Of the measure to concur
in the amendments made by the
House" Now, the last appeal is to
work upon the Governor and try to
induce him not to sign the document.
II is hardly possible that he will re-
fuse 10 endorse the hill, and it l.
pretty safe To claim that the victory
has been won. Naturally the citizens
Of this place feel Cllted over the re-
suit. They desired the division, and
have carried their point. Several
times IN gtOTmpF wears SDOkunp Falls
has fgilcd in gaining certain ends it
was Working for, but defeat never
demoflized the people. They ac-
knOwlpdgcd the failures with as good
lgrlcc as could he assumed, vet at the
klme time never gave up, hut at every
new struggle, in which their inter
CsLS were at stake, came To the sur
face looking fresh and confident. But
not alone ON personal grounds do we
feel satisfied with the action Of the
Legislature. A division of Spokane
county, rs il originally existed, was
impcrativcly necessary. It. was only
forcstllling the action Of the next
Legislature, fastening that that was
bound To take place sooner or Inter.
And It Is much better that division
should take place now, for with the
reduction Of territory many interior
improvements Can he made that could
never he hoped for while the county
WIS too large to work over. We
believe the change is for the better,
and that even those opposed to it
now will soon look at it in the same
light.