Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-24
NEFEaJ1SE LEGISLATION
Congress Attempts 20 Correct the
Risnders Of Cur legislature
Correspondence Oregonian.

Correspondence Oregonian.
WAssISoTos. April IA bill OF very
great Importance In the people Of Wash
inRton Territory has been formulated
ey the Committee on Territories. Ii, is
to validate and cure defects in certain
acts OF the Legislative Assembly OF
Washington Territory" Last January
Mr. Brents introduced "A bill. upon which
the committee predicate their q tIon.
Tor the same purpose, the particular
laws which he desired TO make valid be
ing an act 70 cure defects a1d supply
omissions In the Code the act "au-
thorizing the County Commissioners OF
ClaFke county to borrow money to build
n court house and jail" and tue act to
borrow money to pay the outstanding
Indebtedness of School District No. 6,
III sad county, Incurred III building
school house. The committee, however,
report different and more comprehen-
sive measure. 1t provides that the fol-
lowing shall bs vaildated: An act to
correct errors and supply defects in the
Code OF Washington; amending Chapter
l33 of the Code. relative to tho con-
strnc.ion and mAIntenauce of dlkes and
dltches; to proLIbit the sa!s Of toy DIS
tolls, firearms and tobacco to children
under the age of 10 years; defining the
duties OF prosecuting attorneys and fix
ing their compensate u; to supply de-
hciencies IN the appropriation Tor the
hospital for the insane for the fiscal
years 1852 and 1883; to provide for hold
ing A term Of the District Court At Port
lo.hsend: to incorporate the city of
Whatcom; 10 enable the COMMISSIONER
oi Yakima county to build certain
bridges; to legailze certain ordinances
ana proceedings of the city of 5 attic
III condemnng strip of land for
pubiic street; to provide for the pay
tneht OF bills for printing blank com
missions for general officers, etc: to
establish the county seat of Garfield
county At Pomeroy. the acts are to be
Of November y, 1888
nat the words subdivision twelve
OF tie inserted III the act of the Legis-
lative Assembly entitled 'an act to
amend Section 3i7 of the Code of Wash
inpton. approved November q. 1888,
imine dlately after The word that where
1t hrst occurs III said act, and immedi-
ately before the word section therein,
and that construction and effect be Civ
en- To said act as though 1t contained
said ~ords.'
say:
lhroagh some Inadvertence, or cier-
lcal omission, several of the acts passed
at the last < 's-lon of the Legislative As
semb!y OF Washington Territory are So
dtiec I've AS 10 raise questions of their
validity, and IN one Instance a very diff
ferent effect Is gwen from what was evl-
iently Intended. la some Cases the |
Governor approval antedates the pas
sage of the act, while In others 1t is en-
iirely Omitted. HI Governor states |
Ihat the acts We're actually approved |
and signed by him on November 2S,
1855, and We're intended to have been |
10 dated. Your committee are satisfied |
hat such Is the fact but. III any event,
he defect should be cured.
In the act to correct errors and sup
ply defects Ill the code the courts have |
isld that several d ffrrent subjects have
)een embraced. This being III contra
Iention of the Territorial organic act,
'enders the whole act void. 1t contains
'ome very necessary and important leg
sls ton, and n thing viclo0s or lmprOp-
n. This purely technical inhibition,
although 1t may subserve u salutary
purpose In some Cases. should not. tuere-
"r" sc thiak. be suffered to operate III
lis instance"
In tie Act TO establish the county seat
II Garfield. the enactlng ianse WIS un
omitted from the engross-
ii co Y. BY oversight it WIS s'gned
mi nnrroved without detection of the
} iSta. r The act is much needed, aud
ii giG e made valid.
BY the like accidental omission of
htet words from Il act to amend Sec
ION 81. # the code, nearly the whole
aw Il sXcmptIons was. contrary to the
utt utun aid understanding of the
Legislature and the Governor. rs We
ire ful.v assured. entirely swept away.
10 allow II 10 stand would cause much
I'ieation and produce great hardships.
OtLer ut fective acts have been called
- our attention. but after examination
!! cir vHudatlon Is considered lneXpe-
] eat
Ice e@riy passage Of the acc ompany-
ng substitute Is of pressing Importance,
ard Your committee so recommend.