The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-03
LAUGHTON'S DEFENSE
He Says Railroads Should Have
Their Say.
THE CIGARETTE BILL PASSED.
One Legislators Wanted Provisions Made
for Children WHO have 20 smoke
work OF the Tive Houses

the Portland 0regonsaa against charges OF
uniai-ness and determination IN making
the appointment Of senate committees. that
appeared In the PosT-IxrELLTeESCER of last
Tuesday The following very extrs0rdi-
nary explanation is made concerning the
corporation COMMITTEES: The committee
on corpor rations is the bone OF contention.
LaugAton says this committee gave him
more trouble than all others combined.
he wanted 70 give all corporations repre-
sentati0n on 1t. believing il wonld be better
10 do that than TO put the Committee in
control OF men who are not inclined to
foster railroads" Here is an absolute
confession. ingeniousiy made. of every
thing with which Laughton Is charged.
Not word OF comment is necessary.
The youth of Washington Is sure to be
saved from the insidious inroads of the
loathsome cigarette, il laws can do IL, and
II the action OF the House today IL crite-
rion for the Senate. Shinn's cigarette bin
passed the lower house with the age OF
prohibition raised from 18 70 Is, and an
amendment attaching 8 penalty, not only
10 one who gives or harters cigarettes. but
70 youths who buy them. The matter
came up this morning at II 30. when the
House. after hnmdrum session, had gone
through the order Of business. The House
then went into committee OF the whole to
consider the report OF the committee that
offered the substitute 10 the original bill.
The committee fell into q complication
over the precedence of two bills. and did
not settle it by noon, so the committee
arose and adjourned. This afternoon the
AZ
or two short speeches the substitute was
voted down and the original bill with its
amendments was passed. Its text is as
follows:
Be Il enacted by the legislature Of the state OF
Washington:
SEcrIox L That IL shall De unlawful for any
person or persons to sell. give, barter or IN any
manner dispose OF any tobacco, cigars or cigar
cites 20 spy person under the age Of Is years.
Sec Any person or persons who shall
violate the provisions OF section ! Df this set
shall be deemed guilty of Q risdeueanor. and
shall upon conviction thereof be. for the first
oeense. Ansd in any sum not less than ten dol
lars nor me than fifty dollars. and for each
suhses neut offense shalt be fined IN any sum
of not less than ten dollars nor more than FIFTY
dollars or be imprisoned r. the eounty Jail for
term OF not exceeding thirty days, OF be both
hnsd and imprisoned at the discretion OF the
eouFk
see s. Auy person under the age Of rs years
who shall represent 60 any person dealing in 10
bAcco, cigars or cigarettes. that he Is over the
So Of - years, and BY means OF such representa-
fion pr0cnre from said dealer In tobseco cigars
aud cigarettes shall Be deemed guilty of mis-
demeanfr. and npon conviction thereof shah
he husd la any sum not exceeding s2s OF be inn
pftsoned IN the county jail not sxceeding thirty
days.
During the progress Of the vote. Eddy IN
explaining his vote. objected ssrenuously
10 passage Of the bill, assigning several rea-
sons, among which were existence OF a
similar law upon the statute book, and
that the bill as proposed would not be car
sied into effect. because il made il no ones
business TO look after its enforcement.
Geogehgan and Clark protested against the
bill on much the same grounds. During
the debate Minis OF Chehalis, wanted q
rather remarkable exception made to the
operation Of the law. Ne declared that
smoking. with many ehildren. was mat
ter Of necessity. and that they should be
allowed 20 indulge in the habit upon proper
physicians certificate. Minis theory of
hercdity was received with derision by the
members.
Eddy's clsim that there were two cigar
ette laws upon the statute books was cor
rect The legislature OF 1883 passed an act,
approved Noyen Der 70, 1885, entitled, IAN
acs TO prohihit the sale of toy pistols. fire.
arms and tobacco 10 children under i6years
Of age The violation OF the law is made
a misdemtanor. This law has been q dead
letter since It's passage.
from the Spokane delegation comes the
hrst proposition for q railroad commission.
Clark presented bill to-day that takes 1d-
vantage OF clause in the constitution, sec
tion IS OF the article on corporations other
than municipal. that allows the creation of
q transportation and railroad commission.
The constitutional convention debated long
and seriously over the question Of railroad
commits ion and the proposition 10 make
It's creation mandatory was narrowly de-
feated. Delegates KinneaE and Turner were
determined that the railroads OF Washing.
ton should be regulated by constitutional
commission and they urged their views
against long odds with a determination
and pertinacity that nearly overcome the
opposition. but though the proposition was
renewed many times and their efforts we're
continued several days. the majority could
not be overcome and kinnear and Turner.
with their followers. had 70 be content
with the clause providing for maximum
ate laws and leaving the railroad comRsis-
sion optional with the legislature. So here
Is the first Of the several bills that are SURE
to be presented on this subject. and the
same fight that vas fought in the conyen-
ton viii BE renewed in the legislature.
The House, which Is made Up very largely
Of farmers. Is likely 70 pass some bill
for q commission, but the senate may
view the matter in altogether different
light
ClaTk's bin provides at great length the
duties and preseribes the powers Of the
commissioner. It's terms IN brief are:
The commissioners Eunber shree. % be aS-
pointed By ne gcFsxnor. vita the consert Of TIE
senate. az this sessssa as the lekislAsure. The
terms e oscs are swe yesrs. heginEinE January
/. 1ssa- The soEerrox i empowered - al all
s&asnslex befween sessions 81 fAe iegssiasaEe-
TIE slsrk u - - enposntsd by the cornis-
sso1er. Al persozx IN TIE employ q. oE ACID
fnE any nfxrsAl relation any railroad earpssssr
t&oa eF management. or swEtnx sfocks hunas %
ctAsF securities IA any rszlFosd coTparstson
G. who sre in snr s4naes eoa1ecsea wasa
TIE erS=zssor sf azy FRilraA4 wtxhta thfs Es&Ee
are disqualified from kaStisE thae aeaae 81 com-
massseHeF. The hkaa also prgFsdss sxasnss Any
ennEgxsiozsx e. clerk rendering pressxs&oaal a
service fcr any rxisrpaA. 6 Fecstssag aaJ pEzs-
eEa. e0znztsx4on % rxwkrd-
AR swa og tke ea1mlxSsu1xrs esn - c1usss-
Knse Qnoxuz and nse<ksgs mas - bed - znJ
ume ox pace wfsAtn sAs stats upoa cal ct any
razber TIE eaAxa - - hare Fewess 50 tsf ~
: Necessary Sex TIE S@gkexn4ne< 81 iss aakses. 20
examERe sne aoakn. aeeoanss na1 psrkrs nf ans
rAzasnsa earpcFasicns cy<ssstzs wstAin sSe siase.