Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-12-13
UNEASY LIES THE HEAD.
The Figure-head Of the State in
Trouble.-The Legislature Conrem-
plates Abolishing the Office Of
Lieutenant Governor.

| tlOn abolish the Offlce OF Lieutenant
Governor, Auditor and Commissioner
of Lands
This little clause on the end of
section in the new constitution is Civ
ing Lieutenant Governor Laughton
and his friends considerable ureasiness
about this time. There is well-de-
fined movement under way, originating
In the Senate, to abolish the Office of
Lieutenant Governor. The matter has
not yet taken such shape where public
ity is desired, and the movers in the
scheme have been keeping it as dark
as possible until they get ready to
spring the matter.
The fact is, the nomination of
Laughton, at Walla Walla, caused con-
siderable dissatisfaction in certain
quarters, which openly manifested
itself during the campaign He was
considered to be the weak spot on the
ticket. The Old-timers were especially
antagonistic to this stranger, whose
antecedents were hardly known, and
whose principal qualifications seemed
to be that he was first-class fiddler.
The objection to him was, however,
modified and restricted by the neces-
sity OF the adoption OF the constitu-
ton and Republican unity and sue
cess. The strength of the party had
not been thoroughly tried in the
drawing of party lines and the cry went
out to stand by the party regardless of
Objectionable material on the ticket.
1t is claimed, however, that in any
other event, at any other time, the
present Lieutenant Governor would
have been numerically knifed-and
most probably defeated.
THE MOVEMENT GAINING STRENGTH.
Since the organization of the State
and the meeting of the Legislature
tins antagonism toward the Lieutenant
Governor has rather augmented than
decreased. His taking of the oath of
office and the assumption of the presi-
dency OF the Senate during the chaotic
period when President Harrison was
having certain formalities complied
with, was extremely displeasing to
quite number of Senators, and
started anew the post-election feeling.
About this time scheme was set
on foot to deprive him of the power of
appointing the Senate committees. 1T
was held by some that the Senate had
power to appoint its own committees
and the feeling was that it was not
proper to put this important task into
the hands OF an entire stranger, who
was likely to use it to further designs
and schemes not desired by the Sem
ate. The matter of dispossessing him
OF this power was broadly and openly
discussed, and good majority in the
Senate had actually been secured to
accomplish this purpose; but peace
and harmony raised her hands again
the senatorial fight interfered with
and nothing was done, but the leaven
still remained.
| THERE WERE NONE THAT RUSHED.
Then came the appointment of the
senate committees, and it was the
queerest performance ever heard of in
legislative assemblies. Ordinarily the
ambitious and designing Solons make
grand rush on the presiding officer,
for Craftsmanship of committees or
places on committees, to whom bills
would be referred in which they were
interested. The scramble for these
positions is generally the liveliest Dor
ton OF all legislative assemblies. But
behold spectaclel Four-fifths of the
Senators held aloof, made no request,
urged no claim and asked for no posi-.
ton IN regard to the make up of these
committees. The Lieutenant Cover
nor, instead of being deluged with az
plications and driven frantic by pres
sure for position, had actually to 90
around and interview members as to
their desires and wishes in this direc-
ton, and even then got poor satisfac-
ton. Hampered by this lack of con-
1dence, he went on and made up the
committees as best he could.
Laughton saw that he was being
looked upon askance. and had made
up his mind to give the people the
benefit and avoid all personal consid-
erations. The only point he evidently
had in mind, besides putting whom he
considered the best men at the head
OF the best committees, was to preserve
an equilibrium between the corporate
and anticorpOrate influences in the
Legislature, and he gave the former a
little the best of it because he belived
that at this period of the States his
tory, capital and corporations should
receive reasonable protection--and be-
sides the make up of the House re-
qulred check in the Senate against
rabid and ill-timed legislation. Al
glance at the committees will sub
stantiate the facts above stated and
bear out the assertion that the per-
sonnel of the committees is as fair as
could be expected under the circunl-
stances.
THE COMMITTEES WERE NOT sATIsFAc-
TORY.
The committees were not entirely
satisfactory by any means. The SEN
ators who had held aloof and did not
make demands, were nevertheless de-
Sirous of being placed on important
committees, and were of course dis. at
isfied at not being recognized. They
are giving impetus to the movement to
abolish the office of Lieutenant Cover
nor.
Until within a day or two the anti
Laughton movement has been con-
fined exclusively to the Senate, but a
few rather captious rulings against
House bills with imperfect histories
have arouse the ire and condemnation
OF the wordy body down stairs, and
there are numerous accessions to the
movement from that body. Laughton
saw the error of his rulings and
promptly apologized, but the seed had
been planted.
WHAT is THE USE FOR THE OFFICE.
The question is now being put on
impersonal grounds. Laughton's enc
mics ask, What is the use of
Lieutenant Governor anyhow? 1t is
a needless and unnecessary expense
to the State. Let us abolish the Of
tice." They cite the fact that the
Lieutenant Governor is allowed a pri-
vate secretary and a messenger, and
the annual expense amounts to some
thing over $1,000, which they say is
money thrown away.
There is some difference of opin-
! ion as to how the abolition of