The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-03


business houses. barber shops, and even
saioons, Senator OwiBgs today presented
bill. whose tendency viii be 10 relieve
those members who have suffered 90 much
hebdomeaaI misery during the past four
weeks. The effect of the Olympia ordi-
nance has been TO compel all legitimate
business houses. barber shops, bath
houses. saloons and, in fact. every branch
Of trade excepting hotels, restaurants and
drug stores. to close their doors ON Sum
day. The city council claimed that II was
merely inforcing state law, which ex-
psessIy gtipulates that no business slaa 0e
transacted on that day. The council fntI-
mates that il Is willing 70 repeal the pres
ent obnoxious ordinance If the general
Law Is so amended that incorporated cities
may have local option In such matters
Senator OElngs' bill provides that cities
shall have power 10 regulate the transac-
ton Of business on Sunday, exempting
such cities from the operation OF present
favor, approaching its humanitarian pur-
pose, and it viii doubtless pass with q
good many votes TO spare
The harbor line commission is preparing
a bill to give owners of wharyes and other
Improvements upon state harbor areas the
prior right of lease Of ground upon which
such improvements are located 1t has
not yet been determined how long this OPP
ton shall continue. but upon its expira-
ton it is provided that such improve
ments shall be condemned and sold at ap-
praised value, and owner reimbursed in
that amount The commission is also
framing another bill defining the powers
of the harbor line commission. 1t is pro-
yided, among other things, that the COM
mission shall be empowered TO make leases
of lands upon harbor rims; to fix rates for
wharfage. tolls. commission, dockage and
drayage and all charges usual in trans
ferring freight upon the water front; TO
require the harbor line commission and all
of its agents, having the collection and dis
bursernent Of moneys connected with the
water fronts, 10 give bonds; 10 provide
for the preparation and adoption of a sys-
tern OF permanent and substantial i'm
proyements for each harbor, and TO make
rules and regulations for the protection
and preservation of the waters of the har-
bors from being filed Up with ballast,
the bills are ready
Some comment is being made upon the
fact that three judges of the supreme court
who will be called upon TO pass upon the
decision of Judge Lichtenberg were MEM
bers Of the constitutional convention; at
least two of them took particularly act
i've part in the discussion relative 10 the
tide land article. Judge Dunbar was chair
man of the tide land committee, and
framed the original proposition relative to
the tide lands, which was knocked 10
pieces in the convention. Judge Stiles was
the recognized leader of the advocates of
riparian rights. Judge Hoyt was president
of the convention, and probably did not
engage so much in discussion as his asso-
ciates but he held decided views. His at
tention being called 70 these matters to-
night, Colonel Prosser, chairman of the
commission, said:
az do not consider that the previous attitude
Of any OF the judges on the tide land question
can cut figure in this case The supreme court
Is called upon TO pass upon the law as il is, and
to consider the constitutional provisions as they
find them. The question Is not what the pre-
yious ayowed opinions of these gentlemen may
have been, but what Is the law now. They
are as well able TO determine eandidiy and fairly
as judges who are not familiar with the history
OF the tide and harbor line matter in the con-
stitution."
Colonel Prosser was himself member
of the constitutional convention with
Judges Hoyt, Dunbar and Stiles.
Another very lively county division
fight is in store. A delegate arrived today
from Whitman county with big petition
asking for the division of that county and
creation of Palouse county. 1t is proposed
TO divide the old county by a north and
south line, and to make new one out of
little over one-third Of the entire terri
tory next 10 the Idaho lines. Ex-Repre-
sentative Pickrell, one of the delegation,
speaking of the matter tonight, said:
Paouse county will be fifty-six miles long
and about fourteen wide. IL has q population
OF 1900 or 10000, and assessable wealth OF
from 100000 to s6.O00,0oo. 1t is the richest
acre being arabic land. People generally con-
slider that the division il bound TO come sooner
or later, and they have decided TO secure it now
If possible. The bill viii be introduced in the
House tomorrow by Representative Moore. The
temporary county seat win be Palouse City.
The delegation consists of Judge Pick
rell, w. III. Lochty, III. w. Bassett, and
Andrew Clyde, and they propose TO stay
until something is done. The Whitman
county delegation is understood to be di-
vided on the proposition, 1t is stated that
III. F. Suksdorff and others, who last year
made hard tight for the step for county
TO be created out of the southern part of
Spokane and the northern part of Whit
man, will shortly be on hand to urge their
old project, and matters will thus be con-
siderabiy complicated.
Representative Meany will leave tomor-
row for Seattle, to arrange for a conference
of the special university committee next
Friday night with the city council and
Chamber of Commerce. Captain p. B.
Johnson, who is here as the special agent
of the regents of the university, will attend
also to the introduction.
The Farmers Alliance gained victory
before the House railroad committee to-
night by securing favorable consideration
of Fellows bill TO regulate freights. Seven
members of the committee, Ready, Tyler,
Collins, Miller, Hutchinson. Fellows and
Anderson of Mason were present. Three
bills, Sharpstein's, Fellows and Hutchin-
sons, were before the committee. Hutch
inson withdrew his bill to secure action on
Fellows, which was somewhat similar.
The discussion was spirited, Tyler and
Anderson endeayoring to secure delay, but
the majority was determined to force mat
tiers. Fellows bill attempts to regulate
rates on freight in which the state of
Washington is interested. 1t divides
them into six special and four general
classes, and prescribes rates only for the
former. The special classes include agri-
cultural implements, cattle, horses, lime,
salt, grain, hay, -four, lumber, lath, coal,
brick, stone, etc. The grain rate for instance
for the first ten miles shall be 4 cents per
ton per mile, for the second ten miles 2
cents, and thereafter uniform rate of 10
cents per ton. Under this classification
grain rates from Spokane Falls to the
Sound would be $40 instead of $3.50 per
ton, as at present. The general classes in
cIude all articles not enumerated in special
classes. and rates upon these shall be the
same as were in effect on the Northern Pa
CHIC December l. 1890. Hutchinson who
is leader of the railroad legislation move