The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-31
Sticklers for Fine Points Try to
Raise a Scare.
THE ADJOURNMENT QUESTION.
Claimed by Some the Legislature Has
Adjourned Sine Die.
Even If the Point Is Well Taken Action
to Mend Matters VIII Be Made
Today The Harbor Improvement
Bill.

OLYMPIA, Jan. SO-[special HAS the state
legislature adjourned sine dicr This is a aues-
ton that is being asked here today, and there
are number of members of both houses who
are unable TO clearly answer il. When the
House adjourned yesterday afternoon, shortly
after o'clock. it was to meet Monday at 80 p.
n. The senate adjourned an hour or so later
until o clock Monday. The constitution pro-
vides:
Neither House shall adjourn for more than
three days, nor to any place other than that in
which they may be sitting, without the consent
of the other"
IL is now Claimed by some OF the stickiers for
hne points that the House stands adjourned
sine die and that it win be necessary for the
governor to call special session before business
can be resumed. Speaker Shaw would appear
to be OF this opinion. He hopes to remedy the
error, ii 1t is such, by holding a session tomor-
row morning, aud has been rushing about
among the members all the afternoon notifying
them that the House would assemble
at 10 o'clock. President Wilson OF the
Senate will take the same precautions.
lie holds, however, that the adjournment
cannot be considered sine die, even though il
may be violation OF the constitution In the
latter case, he says, the legislature must be con-
sidered as adjourned only until the regular hour
tomorrow. Attorney General Jones and Lieu
tenantGovernor Laughton have both been con-
suited on the points involved. They maintain
that the adjournment was within the eonstitu-
ton1ug OF legislation yet to be enscted, advise
that both Houses meet in the morning. Certain
Weil-Enown attorneys have declared that in the
event OF this not being done they will question
any laws thar may hereafter be passed ii it
should be TO their interest 10 do so.
The House committee on railroads held long
session this afternoon, but succeeded in making
very slight inroads in the large amount OF busi-
ness before it. There were present Messrs. Ready,
Anderson of Mason, Fellows, Hutchinson and
Collins. By the way, no meeting to discuss
railway legislation would be complete without
Hutchinson, who stands as the representative
OF the grangers, demanding the enactment of
railroad laws most radical. His bill creating
railroad commission which is something unique
of the kind, was first taken up Besides Great
ing a commission and fixing maximum freight
rates, this bill provides the most severe penalties
for the incorporation of railroads, or for neglect
or refusal by companies to promptly move
freight offered for shipment. For railroad con-
panles remiss in these particulars ii not only
prescribes fines, but subjects them to forfeit
ure OF all rights, privileges and lands now
joyed in connection with the ownership of such
grants have been in most cases
obtained from the federal govern
ment, Mr.. Hutchinson was forced to
admit that this feature of his bill was clearly
unconstitutional. He would not yield the point
that such legislation was demanded. Fellows
of Spokane was with him on this point Both
FeClteu lIsLiuccb OF the recent wheat kaGe
east of the mountains. The Northern Pacific,
they said, had been particularly oppressive in
this respect, stubbornly refusing to furnish ears
or move grain, only where it was in competition
with other lines. They wanted law that
would compel.the treatment of all communities
alike. This discussion ended in the appoint
ment of Messrs. Hutchinson and Anderson Us a
subcommittee to consult legal authorities and
draft new bill covering this point. This done,
it was decided TO postpone action on all bills re-
garding a railroad commission, and the fixing of
freight rates, until Monday evening, to which
time the committee adjourned. 1t is announced
that the general freight agent of the Northern
Pacific Company will be present at that meeting.