The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-22
rnE WORK OF rnE LEGIsLATURE

81 least peru0 judgment upon tne CHAR
acter and the work Of the first legislature
OF the state OF Washington. An
examination. however cursory. of the
work accomplished, 10 sufficient TO
induce in any unprejudiced mind
the belief that the first legislature OF this
state sas . body which will not
suffer by comparison with any legis-
iativs body that has ever sat in any
Western state. This belief il based upon
the immense amount OF work which the
legislature Of Washington was called ppon
TO perform. and upon the quiet but bust
ness-liks and effective manner in which
that work was accomplished.
To Institute comparison of the session
which has recently closed With any session
OF tbs territorial legislature. or with
any future session Of the state leg
stature. would be manifsstly absurd. The
first state legislature had problems 70 solve
and work TO perform which no subsequent
legislature viii b called npon to deal with.
Ordinarily, . legislature Is expected to per-
form certain amount Of routine work. IL
itdoes this in respectable and businsss-like
manner, the people are well satisfied. II
II goes beyond this and institutes one or
two important reforms. the people are
moro than satisfied. Tho task
which presented itself to the
first Legislators OF Washington.
however. was far different from that with
which legislators usually have 10 deal.
They we're called upon TO reorgsnise not
one. but every department Of the govern
msnt They we're called upon to provide
solution for number Of important ques-
tons arising from the peculiar situation of
the state. with its thousands of miles of
shore line fronting upon navigsbls waters.
In addition 70 ell OF these unusual duties,
the constitution prescribed for them many
other duties no less unusual and no
less important II may safely be said that
no other state Legislature which has assem-.
hied during the present century has had to
deal with questions at once 30 diverse and
30 important ~ those which confronted the
first legislature of Washington.
The legislature which was 10 undertake
the great task Of disposing of these ques.
tons assembled under unfortunate cireum-
stances. Because OF technical mistake
for which il was In no wise responsible, its
members were compelled 10 assemble
day alter day for almost two weeks with
out nansactsng any business. The legisla-
iare was only constructively in session.
and all that It's members could do was to
wait Tor the issuance OF the presidential
PROCLAMATION which would complete the
admission Of Washington into the
Union. When tho proclamation had
Mt last been issued, the contest for
the two seus,orships occupied the attea-
ton Of the Legislators for few days.
These contests were settled in the shortest
time possible, and the legislature then set
Tied down to the transaction of the more
important business Of the session. So
quietly was this business transacted that
the people are only now awakening TO q
realization OF the extent and the import
aaee OF the work which was accomplished.
y The frst work tina, presented itself was
that OF setting the state government in
motion. To this the legislators addressed
themselves The laws necessary to put the
various courts in operation were passed
with little delay. This field was 80 well
covered by the laws enacted thai the
judicial system OF the territory gave way
almost imrerceptihiy 10 the judicial system
al the state. Laws prescribing the
duties OF the executive officers we're
passed. The debit which the state had in.
hsrised from the territory vas funded most
s'ivsnisgconsiy--n advantag eoasly. in.
deed. than bad generally been deemed pos
ao'e In Short every department. Of the
state sovernmens VAS Get in motion. and
eesore the end Of the session the wheels
were turning as smoothly as IL the state
hsd been IN existence for century instead
Of for tee months
This Was, however. hut the beginning oi
the work Of reorganization The crude
laws of The territory we're sssailed In every
direction. and permanent and mere
eeynplsir laws took their ylsces
urea TIE statute eooks. A thor
c1sa Reorganization os the schco.
system vas provided for. The cid road
Law Was thrown aside and an entirely
new one Vas substituted in its
place revenae law which
has received The ccmmendssioa Of the
rsess throughout The uatsed States vas
enacted The entire system Of eoaar<nsa-
tson Of distgaes and county os.oers was
r~vosussoassed. the counties we're esassisexi