The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-02-05
RAILROAD MEASURES.
The House Refers Them to a
Committee Of Seven.
THE Do,Ncs OF BOTH HOUSES,
New Biiis Coming in - Lively Rate
A Measure Carefully Anendea
SD Then Killed.

OLYMPIA. Feb 4.-The railroad figh. was
renewed IN the House today and the result
was an evident defeat of the corporation
element. The result Of yesterdays battle
was entirely uncertain. though it clesriy
disclosed majority VINO were in favor os
some kind OF railroad legislation The
forces pi the opposition. however, were
handled with such skill and iinesse that
the outlook for effective railroad legisla-
ton was extremely duDaous- Today.
however. the majority was united and pre-
vailed and the result will be an entirssy
new bill which viii seek TO assume proper
and reasonable regulation OF the railroads.
to prevent discrimination and extor;icn
and to establish reasonable maximum
rates OF freights and passenger fares.
The fight of the opposition was made on
quihie over the parliamentary status OF
these bills Four OF the i've had been left
BY the committee OF the whole yesterday.
and the committee had arisen and simply
reported progress without asking leave TO
sit again. When an attempt was made TO
refer them to special committee the point
was Instantly raised that they had been
left in committee and could not be taken
out without suspension of the rules. After
long wrangle the speaker decided that the
bills could be resurrected by simple ma
ioTity vote. This was done. Then q special
committee Of seven was appointed to draft
railroad bill. The personnel Of the COM
mltiee selected is unmistakabiy anti-cor-
poration, in the temperate sense of the
term. and the bill submitted. If moderate,
will probably pass the House Whether or
not ii will pass the Senate is giving neither
the committee nor the House much con-
cern. but the probability is it viii not un-
less it is Of the most inofiensive nature.
The committee. knowing the temper of
the House, will undoubtiy draw a reason
able bill. As stated, there is aclear majority
in favor Of wholesome railroad legislation.
but the majority lacks cohesion and would
not hold together in protracted fight,
while the minority is active and viii accept
no measure without violent protest, unless,
indeed, it be Clark's harmless bill. The
special committee will meet tomorrow
morning and begin the draft OF the bill.
The substitute reported by the House
committee on counties and county lines for
the bills relative TO the division Of counties
Incorporates some of the features of the
Meade bill, but the requirements are much
mere severe. In Meade's bill majority of
the qualified electors of any portion Of .
county could petition the superior judge of
the nearest neighborng county not
affected by the proposed division, and If
the auditors Of the respective counties
could not show cause why the disaf-
fscted territory should not BE- stricken OF,
the judge should make IN order to that
effect In the substitute, however, the
petition must b. signed by three Gffhs Of
IL qualified electors 81 the Affected porl
ton. Then the superior judge Of the near
est disinterested county shall. upon the
proper showing. order an election. If the
people of the affected portion decide by .
three-fifths vote that they desire to be at
tached to the new county, ii shall be so
done. The difference between the pro-
posed laws is very essential.
Senator Rinehart introduced bill on the
jurisdiction OF justices of the peace. It is
provided that the jurisdiction Of justices in
criminal prosecutions shall be co-extensive
with the counties for which they shall have
been elected. and shall extend 10 ali misde-
RatiiSnoOH 7tt u AitC IlOt GACG6u-
ing $500, or by imprisonment in the county
jail not exceeding three months by both
snch fine and imprisonment; also to all
offenses arising under any city or town
ordinance when the punishment is not
greater than herewith provided. Section
lss6 of the code OF Washington is re-
pealed.
Senator Wood will introduce a bill ssto
amend an act entitled an act to regulate
the mode of proceeding to appropriate
lands. real estate. or other property by cor
porations for corporation purposes, and of
asceriaining and securing compensation
therefor" The eili grants the right to
corporations TO petition to the superior
courts in the districts where the land is
to be appropriated, setting forth the names
of owners. The act allowing juries to de-
termine the value of lands appropriated is
annuiled.
The bill to provide for state printing
which passed the Senate today was
amended so that the state printer receive
rates for printing bills IS provided in the
present contract Bills are now printed for
sixty cents per thousand ems, forty-four
lines TO page. long primer type and nom
pAreI yigietS between lines
Geoghegan's bill TO provide grand jurors
for superior courts is To obyiate the need
nos existing in courts Grand jurors shall
be drawn at such times as superior judges
see fit The bill passed bat not enough
senators we're present 10 pass the emer-
gency clause. The vote will be reeonsid-
cred and the clause adopted
senate substitute for Parkinson's blue
jav bin authorizes county commissioners to
offer honnties for predatory animals or
birds.
The senate adjourned yesterday pending
debate on Birds anti Pinkertou hili To-
aay consideration OF the bib was resumed.
Wood explained the provisions of the
measure. and earnestly urged that il was
good one. Long and Drum opposed il.
the former attempting Ia strike out al
after the emergency clause. lie failed
Drum tried 10 strike out section /. and
hkewise did not succeed. Then. when the
amendments had been defeated. the enc
mics ai lhe hii moved to pasce il or asal
passage. hoping in the absence OF 80 many
members that i would not receive the con-
ssifusienal majority. Their parpose was
defeated by adjournment There is .