The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-20
FOR RAILROADRATES
Legislative Differences May Be
RecOnciled Soon.
4 NEW BILL MEETS WITH FAVOR.


OLYMPIA, Feb. H.-fSpeciaL 1.-The de-
feat Of the Fellows bill obviously means .
compromise measure. The sentiment Of
thepegislsture Il crystallizing, and the drift
plainly II towards legislation that allows .
reduction on grain rates and prevents dis
elimination, and affects no other classes OF
freight whatever. It seems remarkable
that members have not been able to agree
upon measure before. There have never
at any time been irreconciliable differences
Of opinion, because members from the east
side have openly stated that their first OBJ
ject was TO secure lower grain rates, and
the reduction Of other rates was merely in
cidental and relatively unimportant.
Members from the west side have expressed
themselves as entirely willing to concede .
reduction Of grain rates and reasonable
legislation in other respects. The real diff
ference has not been, therefore, on matters
vitality Affecting the interests Of Eastern
Washington. but on minor subjects.
In recognition of the probable result OF
the conflict in the House, o new railroad
bill, drawn up on different plan from
any set presented, but conforming TO the
general sentiment of the legislature, viii
be introduced tomorrow or next day in
the Senate II is to be drawn by . prom
incnt senator from the east side. 1t will
provide, among other things, that the rate
on grain shall be IS per cent. less than that
charged on the Northern Pacific January
maximum freights shall not be greater
than is charged on the respective roads on
the same date. Roads TO be constructed
hereafter shall not be allowed TO charge
more than other roads operated under SIM
liar conditions Any road that considers
itself burdened or aggrieyed shall have the
right Of recourse to the courts.
anendmentfo make the Fellows bill much
the same as this proposed measure, except
that II Is constructed on a mileage basis.
The De Steiguer amendment, however,
practically eliminates that feature of the
bill. so far as grain rates are considered.
The four general classes provided in the
Fellows bill were abolished, and rates in
defeated bill was amended in several re-
spects to accord with the prevailing senti-
ment of the House. When it comes up
Tuesday 1t may be further corrected and
acted upon favorably. If it is, and when
it is, it Is safe TO say that it will be sub
stantially the same bill as that to be in
troduced in the Senate tomorrow.
The east side members take the defeat Of
the Fellows bill with much better grace
than might have been expected. The
threats Of overwhelming Republican de-
feat in Eastern Washington two years
hence, have practically ceased. The fact
Is, if the Republican party were to be com-
pletely swamped east Of the mountains,
and were TO send TO Olympia solid anti
railroad delegations. they would be no
stronger numerically than they are today.
Members from the east side are practically
unit on the subject of railroad legisla-
ton. They could not muster more votes
from the east side il every one were a
member of the Farmers Alliance. They
realize that they must be in the minority
two years hence precisely as they are to-
day, and therefore their threats have no
great weight or real significance. There il
no reason why the railroad question can
not be settled amicably and satisfactorily.
The House judiciary committee tonight
decided to report favorably Shaw's bill to
make the warden Of the state penitentiary
the public executioner. It likewise recon-
sidered its action upon Lawton's forcible
entry and unlawful detainer bill, and de-
cided to report it favorably.
Colonel Patrick Henry Winston arrived
tonight from Tacoma. The colonel states
the object of his visit to be to look after