, 1889-07-18

OLYMPIA, July II 1889.
! The convention is gradually sys:ema
tiz,ng its work, 50 that it can bette
/ transact the business that it has in hand
One canuot help remarking the lack o
a well defined place for the conductin,
Of the business OF tho convention. N
one seems TO have thought Of presenting
any means for the proper organization
of the body. The convention elected of
ficers without q formal resolution rs t,
the number or the names OF the same
This want OF well settled policy Is, auC
will continue to rctard the progress 0
the convention. The convention putt
me in mind of a man in dark celia
hunting after, lie does not know what
The convention may succeed IN evolv
ing a constitution out OF this chaos, bu
the character Of the same, L would no
care to be the judge of. A majority ct
the members are men OF small calibrt
and as fit to frame q constitution for the
great state of Washington as a lot o.
crows.
The antagonists of woman's suffrage
are now beginning to train their guns
upon the convention and fired their frs
shot to-day A Temonstrarce agains
woman's suffrage was introduced to-day
by Delegate Henry, of ThuIston couuty
l am informed that this is but the begin
ming of the remonstrances.
A petition was presented asking the
convention to consider an article govern,
ing the traffic OF liquor. With this pe.i
ton was also an affidavit stating that a
petition signed by 81, 900 persons resi-
dents of Washington and which 1t was
intended should be presented to the con
yentiop, had been destroyed in the Seat,
tie fire. Members CT the Prohibitions
party are continually arriving and will
soon begin to work upon the members,
but in this as upon the woman's suffrage
questions, their efforts will be of no avail
The committee upon elections aud
the question of wumau's suffrage have
decided 10 appoint an evening for the
purpose of hearing arguments upon that
subject. One of the committe remarked
to your correspondent, that that was all
the good 1t would do them.
One of the most important committees
is that of appointment and representa-
ton" To this committee is assigned
the duty of determining the number of
persons that shall constitute the Iegisla-
tive assembly of Washington. There is a
diversity of opinion as to what should
be the number, but nearly all are in fa-
Vor OF giving a representative to each
county. The apportionment committee
in favor of seventy members for
the hous0 and thirty-fiye for the Senate.
This report lead TO Z heated debate
Henry, OF Thurston, opposed the making
OF constitution by "piece-meal." He
said let the committee report an article
for the constitution and not eucumbe-
the time of the convention by sugges-
tions. The committee further suggested
that the house should have never less
than sixy-four nor moro than one hun
dred members and that the senate shall
consist of half the members mentioned.
Turner, of Spokane, favored making the
senate to be composed Of not less than
thirty-three and not more than fifty mem-
bers; the house to consist of not less than
one hundred nor more than one hundred
and fifty. Nearly every member of the
convention had a number 10 suggest.
The committee of the whole rose without
determining the matter.
Many important propositions were
presented, among them one for the ap-
pointing of land commissioner and rail-
road commission TheEe are meas
nrCs that deserve the undivided attep-
ton of the convention. The proposition
for railroad commissioners also empow.
ers the legislature to regulate the rate OF
mileage which railroads shall charge to
passengers. This should commend it
self to all well-thihking people. No
doubt the mileage charged in Washing
ton is exhorbitaDt. For example: The
distance from Olympia to Tenino is fif
teen miles and the railroad has the an,
dscity to charge $1-nearly seven cents
a mile.
The land commissioners are to be
three in number; the railroad the same.
For their services the latter will receive
salary OF 81, 800 The following are
the more prominent propositions pre-
sented to the convention: The Iegisla,
ture shall have tho power to enact me.
chanics' lein law and also law to pro
tect persons employed in mines and fac,
tories; no money shall be paid from the
state treasurer for the benefit of any sec
tartan institution; land commissioners
for each county; the state to have the
right OF eminent domain over all tide
lands.
The question OF permitting counties to
bond their credit for railroad improve
ments. will lead to fervid discussion
when it comes up before the convention
Delegats Jones and WilIison are opposed
to jeopardizing the credit of the coun.
ties, by allowing them to give bonds te
railroads or other corporations. With
delegate Weir have not bad any con.
versation upon this matter. Walla Wal
la county will have strong lobby here
in favor OF counties bonding themselves
for railroad improvements.
OLYMPIA. July II, 80.
Many are considering the date al
which the convention will conclude its
labors. Some are of the opinion that ai
the present rate OF broceediH0 IL will he