The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-24
NAILS FOR HIS COFFIN.
what the People Think 81 the Aeca'
deufaI Governors votoee.


fenced about two yearB ago 70 twenty years
term Of imprisonment In walla Wslla, for .
most atrocious murder. The reason for the par
don no one knowA Following In the wake OF
this, the acting governor misused his CfIicial
power By binding his better tudg-
,, nent and vetoing what was known
~ the WATSON railroad bill, which paused both
houses Of the Legislature by . unanimous vote
and met with the hearty approval Of the public.
The purport Of the bill was to relieve the farm
ers Of the state from exorbitant freight rates In
getting their produce TO market II sought to
bring the wheat crop of Eastern Washington TO
Puget sound. its natural outlet. rather than
have ii shipped, a. heretofore, TO Portland and
Eastern cities. In this way to also relieve the
farmers Of considerable trouble, consequent on
their being farther removed from their shipping
center The bill was hailed BY the farmers Of
Eastern Warrington with delight, and they
looked to it, arrival - the iulhllment
OF . long-felt want But their gladness
was only short lived. for Governor
Laughton, in magnanimiH Of soul
and benevoIence Of character, thought that our
sister state Of Portland was being discriminated
against In the matter Of freight rstes, and said
thst such discrimination would work against
the interests Of sister states. Well,
what can We be expecting to hear next,
when our chief oficer, whom W elect and pay
good fat salary TO for looking after our states
interest, will turn directly on what he was
elected and 10 paid to do and work for the inter-
est Of Oregon or some other state, or perhaps for
the interests of the Northern Pacific. There was
time when the Northern Pacific crowd were
the people. but the last few years have seen
different state OF affais. The Northern Pacific
are not the people any. more, and in many in
stances are not 'sin it
Fairhaven Bee.
With disregard for public opinion which
IN I'D mi ~tlA In &soR1x AIT
ing Governor LAughton has vetoed the Was
son freight bin. BY 70 doing he has not
disappointed the most san1uine expectations
of his enemies. Az for his friends, they must
long ago have known the extent of his de-
votion TO the public interests and welfare Of the
people. The wasson freight bill was measure
designed to relieve, In measure, the farmers
Of Eastern Warrington from the out
rageous robbery which the railroad COM
panies have perpetrated upon them
for yean past. it, provisions were
neither unwise nor unjust The reduc-
ton In rates provided for was reasonable, not
excessive. A. . matter Of fact Il was not near
enough, - those acquainted with the facts wiz
testify. We are not in favor of any legislation
which would tend 70 cramp railroad develop
ment in this state. We want more railroads,
and should use every just means to encourage
and foster their construction. But We do pro-
test against the manner in which the railroads
OF this state have been allowed to plumber the
producing classes Of the proceeds Of their toll.
ern Washington. The farmers had every expec-
tation OF being able to get good prices for their
grain They calculated upon freeing them
selves from debt and being able to
make many substantial improvements What
did happen7 The railroads, not satisfied
with the usurious freight they were obtaining,
huneeTed Tor more. BY combining with the ele-
vator companies they forced the price Of wheat
down to figure which barely paid for its pro-
ducttou. The farmers were forced 70 cell, and
after they had sold the price Of wheat went way
up. Smarting under sense Of injurious treat
ment, the agriculturists went to the legislature
for redress They were given the mild measure
known as the Wssson bill, but Governor Laugh
ton has refused them even that Mr.. LAughton
deserves TO be pilioried. He would probably re-
ceive some such tyeAtnaut e he valued his akin
80 lightly a. to witt Tie farming section Of the
state.
Ellensburgh Capital
The action Of our accidental executive in
vetoing the different railroad measures passed
by the late legislature cannot be too
strongly condemned. He has forfeited
what little respect the people began to
have for him after reading his message, and has
confirmed the belief that he is utterly without
scruple or regard for his party or the people
who elected him. The WATSON railroad bill
meant relief to the extent of probably $780, 900
to the farmers of this state, and was enacted by
Republican legislature in compliance with
promises made in the platform Of last year.
1t was Endorsed by both political parties
as . simple act Of justice to the pro-
ducing classes, ann yet this man who, because
OF the illness OF Governor Ferry, has succeeded
to the authority it was hoped he would never
have, with one stroke Of the pen robs them Of
the fruits of their labors and forever brands
himself traitor to his party and one who 10
unworthy OF the confidence or respect of honor
able men. His veto message is Of the aimsiest
character and Is too transparent to justify dis
section. II was . sad misfortune to the Repub-
lican party and the whole state when Governor
Ferry was compelled through i'll health to re-
linquish the reins OF government into the hands
OF Laughtou, OF Nevada
Roslyn News.
Governor Laughton has vetoed the WATSON
railroad bill reducing freight, also the measure
known as the anti Pinkerton bill. He gives no
cause for his action relative to the latter veto
but explains at great length his objection to the
WATSON bill. Patriotic members of the legisla-
ture worked hard and faithfully for the passage
of these two laws. They were both needed and
commended by the substantial people of the
state. 1t was considered a triumph of right over
wrong when those two bills passed both
branches of the house. The people were re-
corporate influence But they rejoieed too soon
as the veto of the governor made manifest The
reasons given for his act are foolish and ridicu-
lous. He might have assigned a thousand such
objections, but no intelligent man could ever be
led astray by such veritable clap-trap. The
honest people OF the whole state are satisfied
and convinced that neither OF these bills was
vetoed by the acting governor from n sense of
| duty or right. He is welded to aud owned by
| the railroad influences and the knowledge that
these two bills were meant to check their extor.
tons caused him to enter his veto.
Colfax Commoner.
The passage OF the maximum freight rata
| bill, known the WATSON measure by the
| state legislature, was greeted by them with
delight Through its reduction of Is per
cent of the present high and ruinous
rates, they perceived a retention OF some of the
profits of their hard and unceasing toll, which
was swallowed up under existing evils by the
mercenary and soulless corporations A glim-
mering hope overshadowed their countenances
that an evil which had held sway and FREEDOM.
mated over them for years, to be at last par
tally removed. leaving to them some returns
| though small individually, yet in the aggregate
| amounting to many hundreds of thousands OF
dollars. But, alas, their hopes have been shat.
| tered, their congratulations banished and their
| speculatious DESTROYED. With one fell stroke of
pen the remedy given them by their legisla-
ture has been wiped out, and where they had
perceived some relief, they are now confronted
| with governors veto.
Goldendale Courier
Ry his veto Of this hill Actinv-Eava,,o.