The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-31
A KEBUKE TO LAUGHroNrsM.
Four Bills Passed Over His Veto Almost
Unanimously.

OLYMPIA. Jan. 30.-TSpecial.l Five of
Laughton's vetoes caused an overflow of
oratory in the house this afternoon. So
far this session there have been few oppor-
tunities for speechmaking. The great
majority of the members have been silent
except in answering to their names at roll
call, or in seeking the attention of tho
speaker for the introduction of bills. But
today the vetoed bills afforded inspiration
for those ambitious to talk, and
the acoustic properties of the old hall
were fully tested. The passage of four
of the vetoed bills by practically unani-
nous vote indicates strong anti-corpora-
ton sentiment in the house. Indeed,
most of the objections offered to the bills
considered today were based upon the
ground that the measures were not drastic
enough. 1t is still something of an open
question whether or not this legislature
has power to pass a bill of a former legis-
4ature over veto, as was done today, and
it is likely that the supreme court will
be eventually asked to construe the
provision of the constitution on the sub
ject. Judging from expressions of men,
bers today, there is every prospect that
the house will pass bill making a still
greater reduction of rates than the Wasson
bill, and if such measure becomes q law
it will avoid the constitutional question
referred to, as it will supersede the Wasson
act. All the bills passed today have yet
to be considered in the senate. but it is
probable that they will receive two-thirds
vote in that body also.
The first veto considered was that of
the measure requiring railroad companies
to fence their tracks In the debate over
it Hurd and Mcmillan thought there was
some force in the objection that the bill
did not meet the constitutional require
ment that no bill shall embrace more than
one subject. Hurd woted the bill re-
ferred to the judiciary committee. Mays
expressed the opinion that there was
nothing in the objection. McElwain said
he favored some such measure, but thought
ninety days was too short a time for the
construction of the fences. Tucker de-
clared that the companies had had two
years warning. Neergaard said that the
failure to build within the time would
not materially affect the compan-
les. Meany opposed the bill be-
cause it excepted uncultivated timber
lands and not the deser: lands east of the
mountains. Egbert insisted that On the
desert lands fences were especially needed,
as such lands were used for stock grazing
Saiee was of the opinion that timber lands
should be fenced. McNew took up
Meany's reference to desert lands and
SAID that if by the term was meant an
area that was of no value he did not
know where such lands could be found,
and that on the so-cal!ed desert land stock
that needed protection was running at
large. Smith OF Douglas said that along
the eighty miles OF railroad built through
unoccupied territory in his county last
year fences were needed more than else
where because OF the herds Of cattle there.
Ludden closed the debate with fervent
plea for the bill
The veto Of the time check bill was sup
ported by Mentzer, who declared that the
bill if enacted would be an injustice TO en-
pIoyers. by requiring them to keep money
always on hand, and would put them at
the mercy of their worknen. He urged
the house not TO put ''cinch" on manu-
facturers, bat 10 give capital an equal
show with labor. He characterized
the bill as piece of demagogy.
Mays advocated the bill. His state
ment that he was a workingman himself
called out cries Of ooh on !" and the house
was much amused " hen he stated, lin in
accord with this bill. though don't think
it's constitutional, exactly" He did not
want 10 be too technical, he said Kelly,
from the point of view Of an employer,