The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-07


From whom did they draw their inspi-
ration r. be asked: from Nelson Bennett
and Alien G. Mason IN Tacoma. Judge
Burke and such men in Seattle. From the
testimony of snch men this bill was pro-
dnced- IL il an attempt 70 give the North
ern Pacific 81. .0N. 600 worth Of property and
The Oregon improvement Company .
million or over
He continued IN opposition to the idea OF
riparian rights by reason OF the peculiar
topography and shape OF the shore land
The lines. II run out from abuttnT prop
erty 20 the tide lands, would conaict and
intersect At . thousand points. There
would be inserminsble litigation to which
the state must necessarily be . party. 1t
was matter that would take the courts
i've years TO settle
Mouitrsy went on to speak Of the lobby
behind the bill.
Who are they ?" he asked. Are they
the merchants or the poor men who build
up this eountrysn 20
Herren rose 10 question of erder: "Is
there any mention Of the lobby in this
bill ~ he inquired
The point Of order is not wen taken"
thundered Judson. When there has been
lobby here it has always been rulahle to
take parliamentary notice OF il
Shouts Of laughter greeted this unique
decision.
Moultray continued his attack ON the
lobby, declaring that they either we're the
big capitalists OF the state or its hirelings
paid by corporation gold For this. ii no
other reason, they ought 10 vote against
this bill
Tucker of San Juan made one of the
strongest speeches Vt the whole debate.
There are no riparian rights in this
state" he declared. Riparian rights,
where they do exist. have never conferred
the right to purchase. The state conssitu-
tion ignores the riparian rights idea. No
other state has an inland sea like Puget
sound. would give the owners of the i'm
provements the right To buy tide-lands. not
from any legal right. but because of public
policy. that the business of the state may
not be disarranged. Is it the old settlers
who own Commencement bay and Elliott
bay7 Is it the old settler who has made
Commencement bay bristle with piles like
quilts upon the fretful porcupine7 The
old settler has no agent here today. The
old settler has no more rights than man
who came here yesterday. The laws are
for all classes and they can make no dis
tinction."
Pickreil held that the abutting owners
had no legal rights whatever. The Oregon
supreme court had 30 decided.
Judge Evans favored the upland owners
rights in . very able speech, which was
heartily spplauded.
Speaker Feighan favored Pickrell's sub
stitute, while Minis OF Chehalis held that
the state is receiving moro from taxes than
it would by selling tide lands.
Clarke Of Spokane in favoring the rec
ignition Of riparian rights, got back at
Speaker Feighan in amusing shape.
my distinguished colleague shot st moth
ing," he said, "and hit IL fair and square.
The upland owners are given nothing.
They must pay ss much as anyone else" F"
Clark added his regret that the eastern
and western portions Of the state were on
Oppoeit4 sidsa and expressed the hops thai
no st1ck differences e these would lesd to
the division Of the state. tCries Of no."
"No.n1
"San Juan county will say NO every
time to the division of the state" said
Tucker.
Before the vote on Pfckrell's substitute,
Moultray attempted to raise the question
that certain members were disqualified
from voting under the new constitution,
by reason of having private interest He
had already spoken twice and the chair
ruled him out OF order.
Speaker Feighan made the point for
him. Temporary Speaker Judson promptly
decided the point not well taken.
"The chair rules that this is . matter OF
public interest and not of private nature.
Every member Is entitled to vote"
Applause and shouts Of correct" greeted
the decision. The question on Pickrell's
substitute was then taken and lost; yeas
q. nays Al; as follows:
Yeas-Blackfan. Blair, Brown of Spokane.
Cleman. Day. Dean. Parrish. Flummeffelt, Gan
dy. Hutchinson OF Pierce. Kennedy, winkler.
Moultray. Ohpaant ostrander, Painter. Person,
Pickrell, Purdy, Robertson, sharp. Spencer,
Tucker Turner. weatherford, Mr.. speaker-S.
Nsvs-Allen. Bird. Blackburn. Botheil, Brown
OF Pierce. Bush. Clark, Cook. Drew. Eddy,
Edens Evans, Foster. Geoghegan. 0ilchrfst.
Grant, Grubb. Hamilton, Herren, Hughes, Hunt
ington. Judson Of whatcom. Medcal. Megier,
Morse. Nash, Minis, Peterson. PiummeE. Power.
Rotch. Ruiter, shinn. shaw, Stevenson, Straight
ii
Feighan offered An amendment that ell
tide lands within any incorporated city or
town, or within one mile OF same, except
such as are occupied by substantial i'm
provements for business or commerce shall
be sold at public auction to the highest bid
der.
Feighan denied that the amendment had
been offered In the interest OF any incor-
poration. There isn't corporation IN the
state big enough" he declared, TO own .
hair in my head
Feighan's amendment was lost-33 TO IS.
On motion OF Allen. section Is OF the
printed bill was amended so as to provide
for one-tenth of the purchase price down.
and the giving of nine promissory notes
for the remaining nine-tenths. with inter
est al 8 per cent. instead of Z; also, by add
Ing proviso that the purchaser shall be
entitled 10 pay the whole or any part OF the
purchase price At any time before ma
turity, and the interest on the amount so
paid shall then cease.
Eddy attempted 10 amend the bin By
eliminating the state officers from the
board OF eoualization and substituting i've
qualified electors
They may be directly interested. be
said, cor they may have prejudice
against those who own the lands. The
granting OF these officers extra comPenss-
tion might also be unconstitutional.
The amendment was lost
An effort was here made by The friends
of the bill 20 force sots on II, but there
we're many and earnest protests
Jadson Of Pierce said ne favored the
bill. bar unless il was engrossed before the
fnal vote be should be compelled 10 vote