, 1891-11-28
SPEAK!

"The legislature might enact such legis-
lation as would array the corporations
against the republican party" OF words to
that effect, was one of the expressions used
by Governor Ferry at his called cabinet
council last week with reference to the ne
c9ssity of an extra session. There is hardly
any danger Of the republican party doing
any such thing in this state-nor the dem
ocratic party, either. Corporation men
own and control most Of the leading news
papers of both parties which are supposed
to reflect public sentiment in Washington.
Corporations built up the country in a great
measure and give employment to thous-
ands ofmen Of all political parties. They
are entitled to receive as much protection
as the day-laborer-no more, nor less-and
the governor ought to think of something
besides corporations in discussing such a
question. He referred to the fact that if an
extra session was called the veto measures
Of the acting governor must necessarily
come before the legislature as the constitu-
tion provides, and this, perhaps, would
lead to legislation which he might be COM
PEELED to not approve himself. In referring
to the present clamor for the lowering of
the lumber rates, he seemed fearful that the
legislature might enact such measures that
would not be public policy to approve of
in fact that the legislature might go too
far. There appeared to be tender solici-
tude for corporations that must have been
astonishing to some Of his coadiutors. The
cabinet council was by no means unani-
nous on the question that an extra ses-
sion should not be called State Auditor
Reed and Land Commissioners Forrest are
said to have stood up manfully for the
necessity of such a session. Secretary
Weir who had previously told many
friends that he certainly thought there was
need for such a session, it appears did not
see that the emergency was 50 strong, after
he had listened to the pleasant sophistries
of the chief executive. Commissioner of
Education Bryan said that while there
was no emergency existing in his depart
ment calling for such session, which may
be quite true, he nevertheless had nothing
to interpose against it, while the state
treasurer who had always looked upon it
as matter of doubtful expediency, did
not care particularly either way.
The truth of the matter is,
that the state auditor, the state land
commissioner and the attorney general,
all see the necessity of an extra session,
because matters over which they have CON
troll are in a tangled condition, and must
necessarily remain so to the great detri-
ment of the state and thousands of cred
itors. The make-shift of Certificates Of
Indebtedness in some instances, ana the
stoppage of public works all over the state
in these hard times, is not pleasant thing
even for the republican party to contem-
plate. If it is the determination Of the
governor to refuse to call an extra session.
the army Of creditors, those thrown out of
employment, and those who are cropping in
the dark for lucid explanations of some of.
the laws passed at the last session Of the
legislature ought toknow it, to say nothing
of those who howled long and loudly for
an extra session relative to Laughton's ye-
toes. Under which King, Bezonian?