Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-03-29
THAT RAILROAD BILL
Some Cooler Views on the Veto Than
Some Others


f. S. Mussetter is admitted, by news
paper men and readers in this state, who
know him beS1 to be a clear headed man
/ and an able writer He is possessed of a
quick perception of and keen insight into
matters Of public policy, and following is
given an editorial from the Snohomish
Sun, of which he is editor, giving his
views on the WATSON bill veto:
Papers published east of the mountains
still continue to TEEN with editorials
denunciatory Of Governor Laughton's
veto of the WATSON railroad bill; nor are
the Seattle papers far behind the breth-
rem east Of the mountains in their assaults
upon the acting governor. As might be
expected from their surroundings, the
Tacoma papers support Mr.. Laughton in
the stand he has taken and in this they
are heartily seconded by various other in
fuential publications throughout the
state conspicuous among which are the
Fairhaven HERALD and the Olympia
Tribune.
That Governor BaughtOn should have
vetoed the WATSON bill is not at all sur
prising 1t has long been known that his
face has been set against railroad legisla-
ton. This fact was broadly conveyed in
his message to the legislature when he
warned them against extreme legislation
on this point and as delicately as possible
that no legislation at all were better. His
position was that a railroad commission
should be created-in compliance with
the constitutional prOvision-in order
that reliable data might be collected upon
which the next legislative assemblage
could proceed to frame sound, just and
intelligent laws. This, he held, was as
far as the legislature should go on the
way of railroad legislation at the present
time.
BY virtue of the position he occupied,
the relation in which he stood to the peO-
pie and the legislature gave him perfect
right may, more, made II Imperative
upon HIM to offer advice upon
this subject and to suggest
whatever measure he deemed best.
Such a course has always been followed
by all the presidents of the United States
and all the governors Of every other state
and territory. The governor, by reason
of his thorough familiarity Of the affairs
of state. is expected to outline a policy;
and it is the exception rather than the
rule to disregard advice so rendered,
especially when all branches OF the al
ministration are Of the same political
complexion.
The last legislative body, however, saw
Fit to disregard we'll established precedentS
and completely ignored the governors
suggestions; nay, IL even went further
and administered a direct slap in the face
Ii is to be wondered at, then, that the
ire of Mr.. Laughton should have been
aroused? Or that grim smile OF salts
faction swept across his lace as he trotted
out his little veto pen? He did not be-
leve I'm railroad legislation at this time;
he had so expressed himself on repeated
occasions; he had the power to pre-.
vent legislation on this question and
he welded that power. Whether or
Il IL, franf tor fnll
Influenced by any corporation tendencies
affiliations the Sun is not prepared TO say
nor does il care. The Sun heartily APP
proves Governor Laughton's course aud
believes that three-fOurthS of the people
west of the mountains coincide with this
view.
We Of Snohomish county, want all the
railroads we can get. We would like to
see a railroad running through every
township in the county. We know that
steel tracks are the precursors of the de-
veopment of the vast resources OF this
county, and the sooner those resources are
developed the more prosperous will we be
come. However slight may be the rail-
road Legislation. 1t always has tendency
to retard the Construction of roads. This
has been the experience of every state
(withOut single exception that has made
the experiment. Secure the railroads first,
and then legislate against them afterward.
As Senator Henry Long, of Lewis county,
one of the wealthies farmers OF the state,
aptly put it, Let US catch the RABBIT first,
and then skin him."
As to the constitutionality or unconsti-
nationality of the act the Sun has nothing
to offer, now that it is a corpse. Suffice it
to say that the governors views are sec
onded by many able lawyers throughout
the state. Representative Goldman, of
Columbia county, who could have secured
the Democratic nomination for congress
in the place of Tom Griffitts mad he so de-
sired it, is one of the best constitutional
lawyers Of this state, and assisted in
framing that document. When it came
TO recording his vote on the final passage
of the bill he arose in his seat and ex-
planned his negative vote, stating that he
voted against the (Wasson) bill because
it was clearly unconstitutional. Senator
Owings of ThurstOn county, the leader
Of, and the brainiest man in the senate,
did precisely the same thing in recording
hfe vota