The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-13
The WORK or THE LEGISLATURE.
Members Satisfied With It-HoW the
HarbOr Line Bill Failed.

"A party OF members Oh tue legiSi3tuIc
was gathered at the Grand hotel yesterday
afternoon talking over the work and the
incidents of the ses sion in that calm, free
and easy way which men assume after
their days work is done. They were
Representatives w. r. Hoole, of Clallam;
C. T. Roscoe, of Snohomish; +. P. He'll
ker and Will r. White, of King. Though
there have been some very severe critl-
cisms on the action or inaction of the leg
islature. they seemed pretty we'll satisfied
with what they had accomplished. Mr..
Hoole said, and his companions generally
conceded in his remarks:
We did not really get down to work until the
last two weeks OF the session and even then the
senatorial fight distracted the attention OF men,
bers from legislation, for they were continually
caucussing and could not get their minds down
TO business Still very few important bills failed
of passage, for the committees were constantly
in session thrashng out the measures to be
passed. The committee on revenue held almost
daily meetings and we passed a very good reve.
nue. law. We also passed a good road law. rail-
road law, state land commission law, university
law. a law exteudidg the time for the payment
of taxes aud one providing for re-assessments in
incorporated towns and cities. The most i'm
portant bills which failed were the harbor line
bill, the free text book bill and the bill giving
counties power to bond for local Improvements.
The county bonding bill failed through the
inaction OF those interested in it. 1t was not
given to the members until three days before
the end of the session and was not passed by
the senate until the last day, that 1t could not
be reached in the house.
One of the most important bills passed was
the one requiring all county officers to pay all
fees received from any source into the county
treasury. There was such a law before as re-
CARDS county fees, but there were other fees to
which it did not apply. For instance, in coun-
ties where there is no land office, the auditor
takes final proofs and receives a fec of s., which
he has been in the habit of pocketing. County
auditors have also been in the habit OF making
abstracts and charging from IS to so fox them.
pocketing the money. Prosecuting attorneys
have been charging $40 for entering delinquent
tax suits, and have been told that one man in
Spokane has made 10000 out of such fees Now
all such fees will 60 into the county treasury
The failure of the harbor line bill was due to
a Misunderstanding Senate bill No. 30, which
is Mr.. Richards bill, came up on Thursday
AFTERNOON. the last day of the session, and
Meany offered another bill. which he said had
been agreed on by the committees of both
houses, senate bill No. so being incorporated in
it. was in the chair and said that when the
proper time came for amendments would re-
ceive his amendment Meany then sent his bill
up to the clerk, Harry Carroll. Ithen told Car
roll to read the original bill, and he had got as
far as section when some interruption came
After that he took up Meany's bill, and read
"Senate bill No. 80, as amended by the house"
After he had read several sections Ludden
raised a point Of order that this was not the
original bill, and said he was opposed to legisia-
ton OF such character, apparently thinking
there was some shenanaging about it. Then
askei Carroll If that was the original bill. and
he read the title again. Ludden made a
bitter speech against the bill and told
me afterwards that he saw Carroll put the
original bill under Meany's. Meany explained
the bill and offered to take any blame for the.
misunderstanding about it Then Roth made a
speech saying that, If this sort of thing was 60
ing to be done, he would move the indefinite
postponement Of the bill, and the motion was
carried. In the evening this action was recon.
sidered on Roth's motion, but the vote was
pretty close. Judson claimed it required two
thirds majority. bpt was overruled by Speaker
Arrasmith. The4 Leo, Judson and Mays raised
the point that the house could not legally act
on any bills after midnight. and for some time
there was great confusion. In the middle of
this Leo moved to adj journ, but the motion was
lost. Then the speaker ruled that it would be
Illegal TO do anything after l.. and that settled
the fate of the bill. Provision is, however, made
that the functions OF the harbor line commits
sion shall be performed by the state land CON-
mission.
do not think The Anderson railroad bill is a
good one. but should have preferred the railroad
commission bill which l Introduced. Il the
railroads can get one judge who is friendly 10
them TO decide that the law works hardship
on them they can make it imperative until the
supreme court acts on the question. But the
bill came from the people east o! the mountains
and Was mainly for their relief, the house
took the ground that if they We're satisfied it
should be passed.
The one cause of regret which DR.. He'll
ker has is that his bill to give boards of
county commissioners and city and town
councils power to deal with contagious
diseases by constituting them boards of
health has failed OF passage.
Hon. Ellis Morrison, who was able
through his previous legislative experience
and his native abilities TO make a tine
record for himself during the session,
thinks the Third legislature OF Washing
ton was a good one for the people. When
seen by a observation-disclosures reporter
yesterday he said that while he regretted
the deadlock he believed that the legisla-
tnre did It's duty IN regard TO important
legislation. said he:
Why, the revenue Law passed will save King
county alone IRON $4,000 TO $4,000 in one year,
Of Eastern Washington were given relief In the
way OF 4 railroad rate bill, which. while not a
they asked tor. will help them great deal aai
open The way tor still further aid a. the next
session. The land commission bill 10 q good
one and also provides for the hasbor lines
Tie general road law Is just what has aecn
needed for years and the bill governing road
and pol taxes furnishes additional relief in the
same matter. Our election laws were amended
IN important details in such = way 10 throw
greater safeguards about the ballot box The
expenses OF litigation were greatly reduced ~
the new tee-bill. Tie powers OF the governor
were increased and more clearly defined, and
the executive department can hereafter have
greater control over the expenditure OF aIipr0-
pI.ations. Ot course the university bill gives
the creates; of satisfaction TO the people OF the
stste, who want 10 see q great educational insti-
tuition built up here. These only few OF
the good measures enacted. | DO not know of
any viscious legislation For these reasons
am proud TO speak we'll of this legislature.
Souvenir OF the Legislature.
One of the neatest little volumes which
have ever come into the PosT-ISTTLLI-
GEXcER office is the souvenir of Washing
tons Third Legislature" by William l..
Nlsscher and ". II. MeEwen. The cover
is artistic. the paper as smooth the
writer's, and the whole is tied with 4
sl,Aen strinr InA contents ara sketr ne.