The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-03
NO LIMIT AN ERROR.
The Legislature Has No Incen-
tive to Hard Work.
BUT THE PAST WEEK WAS BUSY



OLYMPIA. Feb. lit was indeed unfor-
tunase that no limit is placed by the con-
stisut.on upon the duration of the nrst
session of the legislature With no man
daiory provision that certain work shall
De done in . certain time, almost three
months have been consumed without >
amount to be done, and with the day OF
adjournment apparently but little nearer.
Of course, as has often been stated, much
has been done in COMMITTEES, where many
measures are either quickly disposed Of or
never see the light OF day. New bills, too.
have been framed in committee, and no
doubt when they come up in either house
they viii be acted upon much more expe-
ditiously than ii they had been proposed
by member and referred. to be torn to
pieces by . critical committee. thus in
many instances leaving necessary measures
to be built again. But the actual showing
is not creditable. II the date of adjourn
ment had been fixed at March I, il is safe
70 say that both houses would by this
time be holding sessions morning. after
noon and night. and would be accomplish
ing twice as much. Time for committee
meetings would be found between and
during sessions.
One trouble with this legislature 10 that
II Is too much Republican--that Is, il is too
one-sided. The minority is not even re-
spectacle in numbers, and only mediocre
In ability. and the consequence is that it is
not able TO hold the majority TO q proper
sense OF its responsibility TO the people a.
large. A partisan contest has not occurred
on the floor OF either house. The inclina-
tion is to let matters drift. The members
are unaccustomed to conflicts of disturb
ing nature, and their energies have become
dormant An alert opposition. ready
alwaysto take advantage Of q blunder, would
create friction and furnish an ever present
motive for promptness and care in the dis
patch OF business, and OF vigilance against
vicious legislation that might be foisted
upon the legislature by the majority. II
the Democrats have been given an oppor-
tunity TO make political capital, they have
signally failed to take advantage of it.
There have been one or two puny attempts.
but they were ANONYMOUSLY unsuccessful
The fact is that the Democrats are disor-
ganized, owing, probably. to the erratic
conduct Of Judson, of Pierce, whose proud
est boast is that he trains with no one. !"
Democrat or Republican, and that he will
support no measure unless he believes 1t to
be entirely square. Judson cannot be DIS
ciplined by his party. and he viii remain .
tree lance to the end of the session.
The personnel OF the members could
hardly be improved. They are really an
intelligent, representative body of men,
working for the best good OF the stats. It
Is doubtful il any legislature ever assem-
bied on the Pacific coast was more conscien-
tious and harmonious inits delibagations.o
more evidently animated by honest pur-
poses in all it does as body. There Is
certain amount of rivalry and even jealousy
between the two houses that gives rise to
frequent differences, but they have never
been serious in their nature, and, indeed,
are often amusing. But within themselves
the bodies are united. If they would only
decide upon definite day of adjournment,
and work to that end, they would do much
more
The past week, however, has been buster
than any before it. The bills passed by
one or both houses during that time were
Is follows:
BY BOTH HOUSES.
HI. B. No. 49, ny Painter-To appropriate
s25 0oo for jute plant at Walla Waila peni-
tentiary. tAmended by senate.)
s. B. No. 81, by Landes-To relieve inn
keepers from liability in certain cases.
S. Il. No. ST, by kinnear- Concerning Of
fetal bonds.
S. b. No. Al, by Seaborg-To protect
al a n e. So
by House.)
5. 3. No. 40, by Clough- Prescribing du-
ties OF lieutenant governor.
S. b. No. So. by Wiison-Proyiding for
appointment OF official stenographers in su-
perior courts.
H. Il. No. 173. by Randali-To prohibit
the hunting OF large game for sale in all
months except December. (Amended by
Senate.)
IL. B. No. 205. by Evans--To provide tor
the payment of the printing of the reports
OF the late territorial officers.
By THE SENATE.
s. r. No. 20. BY HYDE Relative TO ex-
emption of volunteer nremen from jury
duty and cspi tation tax.
s. B. No. as. hy Whalley--To create the
Office of STATE printer.
:. Is. No. 70. by Long-To authorize
drainage work by corporations and forma-
tion of drainage districts
:. B. No. :, hy Relative 10 du-
ties Of governor.
5. b. No. 10, by kinnear-Relative TO
powers and duties of superior courts.
:. b. No. s6. by Drum Relative to fling
OF transcripts OF judgment
;. b. No. 100, by Hunsaker-To require
railroad companies to promptly forward
freight.
= b. No. IL. by Lawrence-To provide
for location oil agricaiturs college in Whit
man county.
$. Il. No. ~. by Wilson Rel ative TO cities
and towns extending their credit
Ry THE HoUsE
H r. No. isa, by Evgns-To secure TO
creditors q just division of credits by as
signees-
H r. No ISL, by Geoghegan-To provide
grand Jurors for superior courts.
III. b. No. I23, BY Megier-To appoint q
fish commission and denns its duties.
b Ne. I02. by Blaesfan-To prevent
bulls running al large.
H. B. No. 20. by oaphsnt-To create a