The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-27
VOICE OF THE ANGRY PEOPLE.


LsuRhton gives four long. windy reasons for
his Infamous oct First, that Is Il unooustitu-
tioual In this assertion he places his opinion
against the combined wisdom 81 The sblest
judicial minds In the state. Attornsy- General
Jones, together with such men q Hou9htou.
Ready, Kinneaz, and many other lawyers, after
careful and deliberate examination, pronounced
the bill undoubtedly constitutional and per-
fcctiy sound. Railroad attorneys reluctantly
gave the same verdict, and showed BY their
xealous efforts 70 have the percentage Of rednc-
ton named in the bill reduced that they believed
in its validity.
II the governor himself believed that the
measure was unconstitutional why does he go
on 70 say that it would injure other industries
and discriminate against the dear people In
Idaho and Montana? II II were unconstitu-
tional II would be harmless with or without the
governors signature.
Unfortunately for the governor, his past
record induces the belief that his real motives
in vetoing the WATSON bill differ widely from
the ones given.
His itching digin have traced the word
'ssetoed" upon every bill that has reached his
desk In which he could Discern anything detri-
mental TO the railroad companies He vetoed
the Ready bill requiring railroad companies TO
fence their roads or pay for al stock killed,
on the ground that II was Unconstitutional.
Another bill substantially the same, prepared
by Sharpstein, meeting all the objections to
tho hrst, was passed. He stabbed 1t to death
with his pen. The bill to compel railroad COM
panies to put in connections Ct crossings met
the same fate. But all these measures are In
significant In importance in comparison with
the Dill providing for the reduction Of freight
rates AL else could have been pardoned II this
bill had been spared. But the farmers OF East
ern Washington can not easily forget the man
who has delivered them into the hands Of msr-
ciless railroad corporations for two more years.
10 N 49, >~~~Ah 49, 49, L.
srs OF Whitman county alone 100000 approxi-
mateiy each year. making this act of the gov
ernor cost the county 100000
The second reason given, that the act discrim-
mates against Idaho aud Montana, Is too absurd
to be considered. Does his excellency hold that
the Washington legislature has erred In not re-
ducing the freight rates In these states a. well
~ in Warrington? This argument could b
used against any legislatian with equally good
reason. What right has the Washington legis-
lature to pass law for the protection Of sea
guils, while Idaho and Montana chicken hawks
and tom-tits are left unprotected7 It's discrim-
mating.
Third-As matter Of public policy It IL I'M
wise in this, that it directly discriminates, a.
tiles as against the other counties and localities
OF our state The rates prescribed adect wheat,
barley, Hour, or other millstufs; potatoes,
hardware, lumber. coal, minerals. and all
precious metals and other commodities and
products. 1t Is therefore direct blow ct the
the commodities above referred to. It does not
afford, In my opinion, the relief which the
farmer seeks, but u clearly designed 70 affect
owner and the money-lender who advances
money upon growing crops.
STUFF, your excellency, stun! We are sumo
iently advanced In the science Of arithmetic to
be able TO deduct the freight tariff from the
price Of wheat at the seaboard, and can and are
selling to terminal points without the assist
ance Of middlemen. It Is strange, indeed, that
this bill has been s'cleverly designed" TO benefit
capitalists and wheat merchants when the
measure was gotten up by farmers.
In the fourth and last objection the statement
IL made that the proposed law would absolutely
prevent the construction of new linee of local
roads" This Is not true. When the Spokane
Palouse road was first put In operation the
company named $500 ton as their freight rate
on wheat, the same rate the WATSON bill fixed.
This rate the Northern Pacific would have
maintained had not the Oregon Railway 4
Navigation Company compelled them to raise
1t, refusing them the use Of their track from
Wallula TO Portland unless they complied,
which was done.
The discrimination exists ct present in an
extortionate rate ON certain articles which it
was the purpose Of the WATSON bill to adjust
Spokane Review.
Section ~ Of article of the constitution pro-
vides that "the right Of the individual to bear
arms In defense of himself or the state shall not
be impaired, but nothing In this section shall
be construed as authorizing individuals or cor
porations to organize, maintain or employ an
armed body of men, Mr.. Laughton vetoes
bill based upon this declaration, for the reason
that it might deny lonely settlers, miners and
others the privilege of calling in the assistance
n oh Nf inc thoip
ployes in the event of a sudden attack by bands
of lawless men. What pitiable subterfuge!
What desperate cropping In the darkness
for . few faint rays of light with
which to combat the brilliant sunshine OF lib
erty and law! As If the courts were composed
OF childish minds incapable of the least discre-
ton, and existing for no other purpose
than to chase after strained and impossible con-
structions! As If this benefcent law were not
aimed at the protection of the individual citi-
zen from the lawlessness OF the very armed
bands of mcrcenaries which the governor has
seen fit to foster and encourage! Az II one quib-
Bile were not enough, the acting governor is
grievously concerned over the possibility that
under the bill he has just vetoed hunting par
ties might be forcibly deprived of their arms!
But why longer dwell upon q matter 20 palpably
absurd, so plain to every intelligent and fair
minded citizen?
Oakesdale SUM-
William Russell. who deliberately and with
out provocation shot Daniel Canty in a saloon
in Pennington on the night OF January IS, 1890,
and who, after fair and impartial trial was
sentenced to twenty years in the penitentiary,
has just been pardoned on petition of the .1ead-
ing citizens of Whitman, Spokane, WalIa
Wslla and other counties. The names of the
Whitman citizens who signed that petition
would like to be seen by an indignant public,
Beyond question the names are few in number.
1t was no doubt the influence OF money that &C.
cured his pardon. It Is just as well our state
legislature enacts but little law, as in the great
majority of cases law is entirely ignored and
often put to an open shame Acting Governor
Laughton has engendered the hearty i'll will OF
the people OF the Palouse country in pardouine
Russell.
Portland Oregonian.
In the absence of Governor Ferry, OF Washing.
ton, from his post, Lieutenant-Governora and
Acting Governor Laughton has made the execu.
tive Office of the state do the behest of the cor
porations, and the press of the state Is giving
voice to the indignation OF the people It is the
general opinion throughout Washington that
Laughton will never be called into service by
popular suffrage again.
Last Of the Hoods Canal Slave.
Union City Trihuna