Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-10-06
;hev misiudge the temper of their own


They have swallowed" they will go
before the people" and "expect the voters
to confde," but will they? |, like the
Review, misjudge the voters OF this state
| If .they allow themselves to be hood
winked by the anti-Laughton buncombe.
The Seattle Press-Times delivers itself
in this fashion: mo sensible man VIII
deny, if his acts are not promptly dis
owned and his refusal to aid his party in
the passage of just and reasonable laws,
condemned, that Democratic orators from
hundred stumps will attack the party,
and that it will be held responsible for
the sins of one of its members" His
acts have been disowned, and his refusal
! to aid his party" has not been condemned
save by allowing every act to stand as
the act of the party.
The only thing of any consequence
which Governor Ferry and the Repubi-
can party have attacked as though they
meant to reverse Laughton's action was
the geological survey legislation. But
this. let it be noted, was the joint product
, of a Republican legislature and Repub-
lican acting governor, and Ferry's action
in no way removes the responsibility OF
the Republican party; it simply trans
fers it.
The vetoes by the acting governor OF
many important measures passed by the
late legislature have stood as the work OF
the Republican party, as no attempt has
been made to reverse Mr.. Laughton's
acts in that capacity. The most import
ant OF these vetoes, perhaps, was that
of the WATSON bill, which was calculated
to vastly reduce the freight on wheat,
and was a measure OF ESPECIAL moment
to the wheat raisers of Eastern Washing
ton. The farmers of that region were
| indignant, and in order to pass such a
measure an extra session was demanded
after Governor Ferry returned from his
California sojourn. No one who has not
come in direct contact with the farmers
of the Palouse and Walla Walla countries
can fully realize the intensity Of the feel
ing which prevailed upon the defeat of a
measure calculated to lessen their bur-
dens, since somewhat lightened by the
concessions granted by tie railroad COM
pany. Their indignation was something
bordering on madness. But, notwith-
standing repeated demands by the press
and people, Governor Ferry did not care
to call an extra session of the legislature.
The veto OF the anti-Pinkerton bill was
another heavy blow to the workingmen
Of the state as subsequent events-and
indeed antecedent events were not lack
ing-amply proved the wisdom Of the bill i.
Its necessity was almost paramount, and
the bringing into this state, to take the
places Of white la5orers, of nearly a
thousand negros from the East following
close upon the veto Of this bill, brought
merited condemnation upon the party
and its leaders countenancing it, as we'll
as unmerited hardships and sufferings
upon numerous class OF intelligent
laboring men.
The time-check bill was another Of
Laughtons infamous vetoes.
INCREASE OF SALARIES.
Since the admission OF Washington as
a state its citizens and taxpayers have
been most numerically feeced by those
in control Of affairs. In addition to the
expensive legislature, each of the several
state officers, notwithstanding the liberal
salaries provided by the constitution, by
means OF numerous clerkships, deputies,
special work, travelling expenses and
other subterfuges, have had them largely
increased, and, in some cases, more than
doubled. Owing to the fact that the laws
enacted by the legislature and published
in books costing 50 each, and that there
is no other provision for disseminating
information as to the doings of the peo-
pies representatives, few voters are aware
OF the fearful expenses entailed upon them
by reason of the large salaries and reck-
less and unwarranted expenditures of the
public funds.
1t is my purpose in this connection to
show how the constitution is subverted
or at the best disregarded, in the matter
OF salaries of state officers. 1t was the
intention OF the constitution makers to
limit the salaries, above which they
could not be carried. AS arranged by
the present government each office far
exceeds the provision of the constitution
in it's appropriations. Following give in
detail the appropriations for the various
state officers from the LIST day of April,
1891, to the 31st day of March, 1893, (see
session laws Of 1891, pages 21S to 225, in
clusive):
Governors salary. ....... S 5000
governors private secretary. $50. $500
Governors stenographer and type
writer. ;.............. 800. 2,40O
Governors messenger and isnitor 96O
Rent OF governors office |. 2OO
Furniture of governors Office. zoo
lncidentals, governors office. 1000
:. Total .......... ..$1s, $3.50
Lieutenant governors salary. go. 1000
Rent OF lieut.. governors office. -. GOO
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