, 1890-05-08
THE EXTRA SESSION.
Spokane County Legislators Ex.
press Their Views on the
Subject.
Their Views Differ as to the Tint
When It Should Be
Held.
The Extra Session Was Made
Necessary by the Tide
Land Men.


who are residents Of this city were
interviewed by REVIEW reporters
yesterday as TO their views on the
extra session of the Legislature,
which IL IL necessary to hold In
order to pass the apportionment bill
which should have been passed at
the last session. The following Ike
pressions were received.
Senator II. Il. Houghton said
"The legislature adjourned without
apportioning the state into senato-
rial and representative districts, as
required by the constitution, and
without such apportlonment no
subsequent Legislature can bo
elected. The constitution OF the
state of Washington provides that
no bill which does not contain an
emergency clause (Which emer-
gency clause must receive the votes
of two-thirds of the members elected
to each house, shall become law
until ninety days after the final ad-
journment of the Legislature.
ain my opinion sufficient time
should be given to complete the
labors of the Legislature and reach
an adjournment by August |, and 1t
Is for that reason that i think that
the special session should be held rs
early AS July 10, in oruer that the
appOrtionmcnt bill, Ii passed with
out the emergency clause and by a
majority, may 20 into effect in time
for the November election.
"rhe majority ought not to be
compelled to submit to the dicta-
ton of minority, or to the pro-
vision of an apportionment bill, in
order 70 have 1t go into effect in
tlme.n
''How do you think the appor-
tlonment should be made, senator?n
al think that 1t should be done
according to the basis of population,
as any other way would be UNJUST
500 you think that the tide land
bill win be brought up at this spc-
cial session."
"No; as | believe that the very
men who voted for II would vote for
it again, although a bill might be
introduced to repeal the bill, but
that | hardly think will occur. I
made II strong fight against the bill
and lost.p
Senator Van Houten: "I believe
July ~ L. the best time TO hold the
special session. The matter of hold
ing an extra session of the legisla-
ture il not confined to the passing
of an apportionmcnt bill, but any
other matter can he brought up and
acted upon. | know of no business
TO come before the legislature, ex-
cept the passing of that bill.
''In your opinion, senator, how
should the apportlcument be
made? asked the reporter.
az think II should be done accord.
ing to population, as by so doing
every district would be fairly
divided"
"How about the tide lands bill?p
~ do not have an idea that the
bill will he brought up again In
/ fact. do not think that any
other bills will he acted upon out.
side of what the special session is
called for.n
Senator Hyde "As to what time
| think the special session should
be held, my opinion Is that July 10
would be the most appropriate. |
don't believe any other bill will bo
introduced at this session, although
there Is liable to be. As to the tide
lands bill, am sure that will not
be introduced again, aud as to
how l think the apportionment
should he made, think that 1t
should be done ON the basis Of popu-
lntion."
Speaker Feighan: "Under the con.
stitutton the npportionment Of the
state for legislative purposes / be-
lleve to lie necessary, and IL is
claimed by prominent members of
the bar that, without such appor.
tionments, we could not hold
a valid election for mem.
hers of the legislature. The appor-
tionment bill was held under ad-
visement by both the committees of
the house md senate until near the
close of the session, and when II
came before the house IL was very
unsatisfactory to the members from
the small countieJ.
at was claimed by them that ac-
cording to the spirit of the constitu-
ton and the rule adopted for the
first election hereunder each
county, regardless of population, was
entitled to one representative.
The members from the larger couu-
ties claimed that representation
ought To he based upon population,
and under this rule, several of the
counties would lose their reprcse nta.
tives. In some cases II would re.
quire two counties to constitute a
representative district. 1t was
J0und impossible to reconcile these
conflicting views, and the bill
failed TO pass, hence sthe necessity
for u special session."
"Colonel, do you think that any
other business should be transacted
at this special session~ asked the
reporter.
"It is my opinion that no other
business than that of apportioning
the state ought to bc done at the
special session. IL may be that
some things were omitted that will
lie necessary to be done in or,ler to
give effect TO the laws passed ut the
last session. but we ought not
to engage In u general system of
legislation as that ought to be left
to the code commissioners and the
legislature elected this fall TO smg-
gest and enact. We spent five
months of earnest, diligent labor,
and passed during that time u num-
Der Of laws that are yet to be
tested In the courts and before the
bar Of public opinion, and next win
ter Will be soon enough to attempt
TO supplement-, amend or modify
them.h