The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-05
The States Demand on the Ma
ti0nal Government.
ELoQuENcE OF MR.. ANDERSON.
The House Passes the Eight Hour
Law in Original Form.
Senate viii Probably Amend It to
Death-Introduction of a Memorial
Asking Appropriation for Canal Con-
Meeting the Seattle Lakes.

OLYMPIA, Feb. Especial. THE legis-
lature is alive to the imperative necessity
OF vigorous and unmistakable action if the
state is to secure its heritage of lands from
the government. The Owings memorial
has had the effect of arousing the interest
of all the members, and it has beer in
dorsed IN manner that leaves no
doubt OF the united feeling of all
members upon the question. The memo
rial came down to the House from the
Senate today, and its consideration was
immediately begun. An untimely motion
was made to refer the bill to committee,
that 1t might take its usual course. This
brought Anderson of Mason to his feet in
protest against the motion. and an APP
peal Tor prompt action in the following
language:
hope this motion to refer Senator owings
memorial to the committee on state lands will
not prevail. In the enabling act empowering
the territory OF Washington to form constitu-
tlon and state government there was granted to
the new state 5000 acres of land for
university, $1,000 for an agricul-
tural college, 100000 for a scientific
school, 100000 for state normal schools, $4,000
for public buildings, and 10000 for state char
liable, educational, penal and reformatory insti-
strongly recognizing the immediate necessity of
securing special legislation to enable
the state to have these lands selected
and reserved, pending the survey in
conformity with section 10 of the enabling act,
which reads That all lands granted in quantity
or as indemnity by this act, shall be selected
under the direction of the secretary of the in
terror from the surveyed. unsurveyed
and unappropriated public lands OF the
wi fha fruif ~ tho
tive states entitled thereto" Senator Owings
during the last session of the legislature intro
duced two memorials, certified copies of
which were sent to our representa-
tives in congress. In addition to the
memorials, letters and kilograms have
been sent, and prominent men from this state
have urged and implored our representatives in
Washington City to make an effort to enact
some legislation looking to the selection of these
lands Not single resolution, not single act
has been introduced.
The appeals of this House, the murmurs of the
people and the urgent tone of the press have
not succeeded in arousing the autocrats we
have sent to Washington from their almost
criminal lethargy. How many more petitions
and memorials must we shower these
men? How. many more times must this
House and Senate bend the pregnant hinges of
their knees, begging aud imploring these pam
pered devotees of canyasback, terrapin and
Tokay to do their manifest duty? duty COM
parable to which the results of the greatest ac-
tiyity, and eloqueDce discounting the utterances
of Webster, in behalf Of this state would be as
nothing.
Over two years have lapsed since the passage
of this enabling act Had the land been secured
when it should have been, the state would be
the owner today of s2o,00o,oO0 worth OF timber
lands. Think of it. Myriads of set
tiers are covering the public lands and
the faintest rumors that particular section of
country is likely to be surveyed, starts swarm
of sQuatters. At this moment they are occupy
ing lands within three thousand yards of the
snaw line and all the land OF any value in the
'ialand empire is being filed on. Where is our
money to come from to build our public
buildings, agricultural colleges, normal
schools, charitable, penal and reformatory
institutions? Yes, wheree The people say
where, the press says where. What shall we do
to avail ourselves of this imperial domain, now
slipping away from us like a fast-ebbing tide,
far out over the bars, far into the sea, out of
sight into the horizon?
want this memorial to pass now. l want its
results to be swift and sure. / want its senti
ments burned into the heart and soul and con-
science of the men whom the people of this
state will hold responsible for the mis-
management of this princely patri-
mony. The representatives of this great
state are meeting every day in state house, fit
only for the habitation of owls and bats; a state
house where the acoustic properties compel q
a speaker to yell to be heard fifty feet away;
yilely ventilated, and committees compelled
to meet anywhere that rooms can be found. IL
is not question OF comfort, Of
quiet, of facilities, so that important
questions can be considered under favorable cir
cumstauees 1t is simply question of keeping
out OF the rain and cold. The time has come to
stop begging. As a representative, as man,
as a Democrat who has the interests OF the
people at heart insist. / demand that this
memorial of Senator 0wings shall not be rele-
galed to that oblivion which seems to have been
the fate of our previous efforts, and warn you,
il il is, ali the land that will be left from the
plucking of the land shark, the settler
and the syndicate. will be the snow -mantled
erags OF our mountains, ft only for the snug
gerry of the eagle, and the unuttered reaches of
moving dust, east of the Cascades, and the home
of the sage brush and sage hen.
The speech was frequently interrupted
by applause, and the memorial was inn
mediately put to vote and passed unani-
mously.
The detailed report of yesterdays proceedings
of the legislatures will be found on page of
this paper.
THE EIGHT-HOUR BILL.