, 1889-08-15
ON TIDE LANDS.
Arguments For and Against Giving
Them to the Stnte.

Them to the state.
The president called Eldredge TO the
chair.
Tho article on harbors, etc, was
taken up.
Durie offered an additional section as
tollows Section 4, the state shall vest
the control of said area for general po.
lice purposes and for the building and
maintaining OF wharves, docks and other
structures, or the leasing of the right to
build and maintain such structures
and the municipal corporations fronting
thereon, subject to such general laws as
the Legislature may provide.
Durie said this question was not fairly
met and discussed yesterday, but was
too much mixed UP with matters which
ought only to have been considered in
tho connection with the state lands re-
port. He held II to be both justice aud
statesmanship TO vest the control of
water frontages In the municipalities
bordering thereon, and argued at some
length in support of that idea and of
local self government in its fullest ex-
tent and OF encouragement to commerce
and to the cities that engage in 1t.
Browne thought these questions we re
not much involved in this present dis
cussion, and That certainly the conven-
ton would not adopt that amendment
The future state will own these water
frontages, and the question is: Shall
this reserved strip for wharvcs, docks,
etc, be Kept over and leased Tor the ben.
eht OF the whole state, or be given to
these cities for their own Individual
benefit so that they can charge toll and
tribute on every pound of grain or coal
or merchandise that comes from every
other portion of the statc2 If the gen
tlenan pushing this amendment would
lole the matter To point of making II
a contest between the state and the
cities, he would abide the result.
Moore asked unpnimous consent to
introduce tho following resolution
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
convention that the members of il who
have possession of or claim whatever on
any oi the lands of the state or territory
OF Washington, shall, in
fAInNEss AND JUSTICE
to the interests of the people disclose
their interest to the convention and re-
tram from voting on allquCStions affect
ing such property, directly or indirectly.
lie hoped that no voice would be
raised in objection to this.
Cosgrove objected, and thought it was
foolishness and perfectly fat.
Moore moved suspension of the
rules so that the resolution could be
considered, whercupon Cosgrove with
drew his objection after an exchange of
parliamentary COurtesieS with Moore.
Sullivan of Tacoma thought this reso-
luton implied that some of the mem.
bers We're, or might be, dishonorable.
and he was not inclined to favor the
idea.
Moore said it was perfectly well-knowu
that there were members of this Conyen.
tion, who were voting and debating
right along, in favor of themselves and
against the interests of the state. He had
before him list of the members of the
city council of one of these cities and rs
per cent of them-siX out of oigh ht-wcre
personally interested in the decision of
this tide land question, and he did not
believe in putting these lands wholly
into the hands of such council
Gritiitts moved to amend by adding the
words, "1o include both personal in.
tcrest and interest as stock holders.n
Accepted by Moore
Cosgrove said that If II should happen
that. more than half of these delegates
were so interested, it would block the
convention, and deduced from that the
argument that no one members motives
should be impeached.
Moore and Cosgrove exchanged "civili.
ties again, until the gavel knocked
thcm both cut, and then there was a
discussion as 10 how long and how often
delegate could speak.
Browne hoped this resolution would
not be pressed at this moment, but that
the convention would keep its eye di.
rectly upon the point now before It, that
is, whether this water frontage land
should remain in the state or not.
Power objected to this resolution.
Dunbar thought the resolution wrong,
impracticablc or unwise. Delegates
were sent here by their constituents.
who had many various interests, and
these interests were entitled to be repre-.
sented.
The chair ruled further debate out of
order until the convention had decided
whether to take up the resolution.
Griffitts moved to suspend the rules
and take up the resolution. Lost.
Griffitts and Sullivan Of Tacoma ar.
gued US To the status of the members on
the subject of speeches, but nothing
came of it at this moment
Turner had joined in the report of the
committee vesting the control of these
had been amended otherwise, he thought
this section of Duries was unwise. lie
CONQUERED WITH BROWNE
in all that he had said
Moore did not see how the gentleman
could come here and ask the conven-
tion TO put a provision like this into the
What chance had the
public against city council
composed. either of three-quarters
or entirely of these tide
jumpers--of these people whose whole
Intent is to lay their hands on these tide
lands when they get them In such shape
that they can do it2 If we are 10 be 80
as TO give way to them In
this convention, let us first conclude
what other business there Is before us
and then in
SHAME AND sorrow,
80 home TO the constituents whom we