The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-04


SS1ssEsoldi Snss.Eisnd. owinss' CT. Thompson.
There is no doubt that the amendment
of the Senate will be concurred in by the
House. The bill in its present shape pro-
vides that upon grain and produce there
shall be reduction of Is per cent. from
the rates on the various roads on Decem-
of S. per ton shall be charged on these ar
ticles for 500 miles or less.
The record of the session up to this date
may be summed up in the following:
Passed and approved by the governor:
Senate bills 63, House bills II; passed one
house, Senate bills 80, House bills 25. It
thus appears that the Senate, which has
less than half the membership ofthe House,
has acted favorably on over three times as
many bills. The number Of Senate bills
postponed in the Senate is 81, House bills
Al. The total number of House bills
postponed in the House and Senate is l12
-Four days only of the session remain, and
an immense amount of business is un-
done. When the legislature adjourns next
Saturday, many of the Hill code bills will
remain on the calendar, with numerous
other important bills of general nature
In view of the unfinished condition of
business, the talk of special session is
renewed, and strong pressure will no doubt
be brought to bear upon Acting Governor
Laughton to use his prerogative and con-
vene an extra session. The governor de-
clines to take the responsibility Of such
action, and, unless the legislature itself
passes resolution requesting him to do it,
it is safe to say that he will not alter his
determination. 1t is altogether likely that
such a resolution will be introduced by
Friday or Saturday, but its passage is a
matter Of good deal of doubt. It NAV
be, however, that the Worlds fair appro-
priation and other bills, besides the Hill
code bills, at the close of the session, may
be in very bad shape, and resolution
might get through. The question as to
whether or not there will be an extra ses-
sion depends upon the condition of busi-
ness at the end of this week.
Governor Laughton today made his first
superior judge appointment, selecting Sol
omon Smith as judge of Klickitat county.
Judge Smith is resident OF Goldendale.
and is now clerk of the supreme court.
The Yeomans bill, to appropropriate
$50, 900 for the erection of a building for
the feeble-minded, at Vancouver, passed
the House this morning by an almost
unanimous vote. With it was another bill
to appropriate 81, 500 for the maintenance
years from January I, 1892, at which time
the institution is expected to be in opera
ton. The latter also passed. The build
ing will be constructed under the SUPER
vision Of the trustees of the school for
defective youth, and will be governed by
the same superintendent.
Senator Rutter's mining bill passed the
House this morning without amendment
and by unanimous vote. Representative
Spinning of Pierce. Ready of Kittitas and
Lawton of King made a few remarks in fa-
vor of the bill. saying its provisions had
been endorsed alike by owners, operators
and laborers.
The Senate was in session today from 10
o'clock a. m. until p. M, with the excep-
ton of half an hour recess at noon for
lunch, which was served on the desks of
the members by the sergeant-at-arms and
his associates. For half-hour after recess
allowed the privilege of smoking some
elegant Havanas provided by the sergeant
alarms. During the seven-hour session
three very important bills were considered
and all passed. The first, creating the
board of land commissioners, came up by
special order at 10 O'Clock; the second, re-
lating to the sale of the university grounds
VI
new buildings on certain grounds. at 80
p. m, and the last one, Wasson's railroad
bill, at $3.50. There was not a single
moments delay, and the discussion of the
different provisions Of the bills was to the
point and not at all tiresome. There
seemed to be a general inclination to hurry
matters as much as possible. When the
Senate adjourned at p. m the busiest
and most important day of the session
closed.
Senator Austin's bill creating board of
land commissioners, which passed the
Senate today, provides that the board shall
be composed of commissioner of public
lands, who shall be ex-officio Chairman
and of four members, no two of whom
shall reside in the same county, to be ar-
pointed by the governor TO hold their o6fice
for the term of six years. Said board shall
have supervision and control under the
law Of all public lands not devoted by Law