The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-18

gave abundant evidence today of IT'S de-
termination to do its part in the enact
ment of railroad legislation. There was
practically no opposition TO the three
measures affecting railroad companies
that were passed. Conflicts arose over
amendments, but the expressed reason
for both the desire TO amend and the wish
to defeat amendments, was solicitude for
the constitutionality Of the pending meas
ure. So far as could be seen the railroad
companies took no interest in the proceed
ings and allowed the bills to 60 By default.
1t is freely talked that the equanimity OF
railroad men is due to confidence that
the senate will be more conservative III
dealing with the bills passed today.
An effort was made in the interest Of
Western Washington to make the pro-
visions Of the Anderson bill applicable to
lumber and shingles, but there was sug-
gestion adopted 10 bring forward another
bill covering these products. The water
melon interests of the Yakima country
sought recognition through Weed. of Va
kima. and Webb, of King. but the house,
after taking at first as joke the PROPOSE
ton 10 include melons in the bills list of
commodities. rejected it.
Baker attempted to have the section Civ
ing companies right of appeal to the
courts eliminated, though it is a question
whether or not the measure would be con-
stitu;iOnal, if it did not contain such
proposition. The section was retained.
The onslaught on the railway companies
had its humorous features, one OF which
was, of course, furnished by Mays. He
offered an amendment to perfect the Ian
guage of the Anderson bill and made a
redhot speech in favor of it. 1t was, per-
hsps, the most ardent effort of the session.
He closed with a grandiloquent plea to
adopt his amendment and cause Seattle
and Tacoma to grow together and become
the greatest city on the Coast. When he
concluded, the ayes on his amendment
were called for, and the only response was
his own. The house roared over its failure
10 be impressed by the eioquence OF the
gentleman from Garfield.
During the debate on the railroad COM
mission bill. introduced by Hoole of Clal-
lam, Judson moved to strike out section 9,
creating the commission, and thus kill the
bill. Judson declared the commission
plan TO be a delusion and a snare; one
that 1t would be entirely harmless to the
transportation companies.
Baker declared that so long as courts
and not legislatures really make the laws
he was opposed to the control Of railroads
by the commission method.
MentZer framed the amendment and at
tackled the bill. He declared that the com.
mission system had proved failure in
other states. He wanted the legislature to
Tx passenger and freight rates ITSELF the
former to be 3 cents mile and not leave
the tariffs to be adjusted by three men.
who could be 'bribed, cajoled and
wheedled by the railroad companies" who
would only need to buy two men to con-
troll the entire subject of rates.
McNew said the bill was not acceptable
to the people OF Eastern Washington, as
all the parties in that division Of the state
had agreed in the last campaign that a
commission was not wanted.
Speaker Arrasmith said that while he
heartily concurred in the remarks of Nc
New regarding the necessity Of a law fix
ing the maximum freight charges, which
he believed to be exorbitant, he was also
in favor OF this legislature enactng such
legislation in addition to the proposed
Anderson bill rs will give relief to the
west side Of the mountains.
Karr declared that there were plenty of
small steamers that were now being oper-
ated for accommodation and were not paw
ing expenses, and he doubted the wisdom
OF subjectihg them to the supervision of a
commission.
Pierce OF Lewis favored the bill. The
maximum freight rate bills that were
talked about would not help this side of
the mountains, and he was in favor of
legislating for the whole state. Therefore
he would vote for this bill and the maxi
mum freight rate bill also
Mays said the people of the whole state,
and especially those of the eastern part of
it, were clamoring for a reduction of rates,
and he believed !: was matter that
should not be acted upon too hastily.
Scott said the people wanted relief from
railroad charges. but he did not think this
bill would afford any relief at all, and
| would be a costly experiment. He de-
clared that it would annui all maximum
rate laws.
AT this point several attempts were
made to dispose of the bill for the day.
McNew wanted TO have the committee
rise and report the bill back with the
recommendation that it be indefinitely
postponed. Motions 10 amend McNey's
motion We're made for the purpose Of max
ing the bill = special order for future
day, but Chairman Ludden declared them
ali out OF order pending the disposition of
the Judson amendment
There were calls from all over the hall
al this time for the question" and Hoole
begged 10 remind the house that. "A the
author Of the BILL he had the right 10 close
the debate, but Judson's poin, that as the
author of the pending amendment he him
self had the Closing speech was wei taken
Icy the char iioo.e then proceeded to de
fend the bill, and made 4 strong speech IL
favor of IL on It's merits.
Gilman interrupted the speaker to ask
him II the Puget sound shippers needed
any relief Hoole replied that his own
county, which had no railroad and which
was dependent upon steamboats, entirely.
was compelled to pay 8 a ton for ireigA,
from San Francisco when that same
freight WAS shipped right past his county
from san Francisco for Seattle for 81 4
ton lie declared that the proposed COM
III ssion Till would give such communities
relief that could not be expected from
maximum railroad freight rate laws. and
that one MAS just as important as the
other.
In the discussion of the IlooIe bill. the
house dii not display any strong svmpa-
thv with the commission Idea ana il j.
probable that II vote had been
reached on the bill it would have been
defeated. No one considered u,
sufficient III itself A. remedy.
and i Was onlY In connection with the
;,-opo>llon ~ Mss the Anderson rate tl.l
TIA. q. Vas favored Members who opposed
la Be-