The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-24
WORK SCARCE BEGUN
The Legislature Just Settling
Down to Business.
REVISION or THE ROAD LAW,
An Act 10 save ChIIaren From tha VIE
Cigarette Speculation - 70 Senate
Committees.

oLYaPrA, Nov. NoY. 23--Four ganaes Of
whist. two Of checkers. one Of chess and
one Of solitaire, are running in full hast at
press headquarters tonight. and quiet but
very entertaining game of draw, with
5-esnt limit, is going on IN corner OF the
room in which are assembled . very large
part OF the members who remained IN
Olympia during the Sunday recess. Others
are scattered about the headquarters. writ
ing. reading and discussing the future lcgis-
lation with an earnestness and sagacify
that noae but great statesmen can assume.
These quarters. thoughtfully provided by
the people OF Olympia. and fitted up with
appliances for amusement and recreation,
are thronged nightly, having become the
recognized rendezvous Of all idle members.
and here win be decided many measures OF
legislation closely affecting the future OF
the state of Washington.
The House alone was in session today,
the Senate having yesterday adjourned
until Monday. The session lasted from 10
til Il "a and not much of Importance was
done.
An EQUITABLE, UNIFoRa ROAD TAX
Bush introduced q engthv bill, amend
ing the road law. Although il is not Gus
tomary 10 read bills in full the first time.
the House had little else to do. and il was
agreed that for the present the clerk read
all measures section by section, and there
is where the House made big mistake.
Bush little bill covered thfrty-ive very
lengthy and very uninteresting sections.
and when the clerk had been reading at a
rapid rate for about fifteen minutes the
members got tired and he was stopped. and
the measure properly referred. Tie bill
is the old road law, with one very import
ant change 1t is proposed that the pre-
sent awkward and unsatisfactory method
OF allowing ell residents of road districts
outside Of incorporated towns 20 werk out
their tax at the rate Of 81 per day shall be
abolished, and the annual tax shall be 81
for each male voter. The supervisor OF the
district Is then empowered 20 let cash con-
tracts, and the working OF all roads is sub
ject TO approval of the county commits
sionors. This proposition places the inn
provement os roads upon more simple
and business-like basis, aud It Is likely 70
receive the approval of the Legislature.
TO srTFLE THE LoATHsoAK CIGARETTE.
Shinn of King starts IN to reform the
hollow checked and weak-eyed youth of
heir reach the insiduous cigarette and all
orms OF tobacco poison. By the pro-
lisions OF his biIl 1t Is proposed to make il
misdeameanor to sell cigarettes, cigars
ind tobacco TO youth under the age OF rs.
Fhis Is kind Of prohibition that has been
Iiopted in one or two other states and
aany cities, and it is said 10 work more
atisfactorily than laws prohibiting the sale
! Il liquor.
Piekrell introduced q bin validating
fieial acts Of territorial notaries public
nd providing for their appointment under
Sc state.
WAS FOX FULL AS eoosK?
J The waywardness of MF. Fox, the enroll
< clerk, was mentioned in.the House this
prning by an inquiry as to whether or
| 4 all the clerks had reported to the chief
rk 81 .. Tn., as required. He was the
ly one reported absent. and runlor
5 again circulated that Fox was full as
I soose.o His absence was excused, how
: sr, by the chief clerk, who said he did
think the enrolling clerk fully under-
, nod the rule
GUEssEs As TO SENATE COMM TTEEs.
| resident Laughton Is in Tacoma. He
Understood 20 have made out his list OF
amittees. There are thirty eight COM
Itees, and therefore every member win
untitled TO receive chairmanship, with
ee to spare. 1t is probable that Long
be chairman of ways and means and
kweather of revenue and taxation. VIII
! is booked for the tide lands, and
eer Houghton or Kinnear for the Judi
cy. II it is decided 10 put q Spokane
ator on the former. il is probable Kin
n will be assigned to the committee on
csorations.
WORK WILL BEGIN IN EABEEsr.
ne plans of the legislature have not We.
sciently matured 70 outline any proba.
hoarse of action or method OF work.
Igrest hesitancy attending the equip
M os the state. the election OF United
SIS senator's and the as yet incomplete
: onization Of the Senate, have surrounded
tAody with an uncertainty that has de-
Id work already much too long. Thus
faily eighteen bills altogether have been
| Induced, bat none are Of such a nature
80 arouse great public interest. Next
". when the Senate il finally organized.
~ will hepsft in aarg,e3t