Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-02-16
NEARING THE END
WsshingtOn'S Legislature Pro-
ceedS Very Slowly.
NOT MUCH YET ACCOMPLISHED

Undue Haste-SOmc Important Meas
ures Yet to BE Considered.
OLYMPIA, Wash.-The present Legs-
lature is again besieged with bills aimed
at railroads and other corporations.
Since Washington became a State the
anti.corporation legislation attempted
at each session of the Legislature has
been enormous, but this year outrivals
all others. There are bills reducing the
charges against the people by the rail-
WAYS, the telegraph, the telephone, the
Pullman and other companies. This is
due in part to the times, in part to the
anti-monopoly cry of the Populists, and
to the desire OF many individuals to force
the corporations to come forward with
sufficient funds 10 have them suppressed.
This latter is generally known as bill
with club " in it, and there are many
such. Among the more serious meas
ures, however, are the bills for reduc-
ton in the freight and passenger rates
OF railroads and of telegraph and tele-
phone rates. The freight and passenger
rate bill will perhaps receive the great
complain that they have already been
reduced by former Legislatures on
freights until their roads have been re-
duced to a position of control by reCeiv-
ers, there is Il general belief that there
will be at least reduction in the pas
senger rates. There has been consider
able talk in the State of Railroad Com
mission, but the temper of the House
Committee seems to be against 1t, and
the indications are that the bill creating
such commission will be reported adj
verselv. There seems to be little doubt
but telegraph rates will be reduced. 1t
NAV not be to the extent of the Van
Houten bill, which provides for 40 per
cent reduction, but it is pretty certain
to reach rs per cent. This is held to be
necessary and in keeping with the gem
eral reduction of the ability OF people
generally to earn money. Telegraph
ompanies have reduced the wages OF
employees, have secured the benefits OF
reduced rents, but have not given the
people a corresponding reduction in the
cost of transmitting messages. This,
too, it is claimed by the promoters OF
the telephone reduction bill, is true of
telephone companies.
A great reduction in the number OF
employees and the amount of their COM
pensation has taken place at this session
as compared with two years ago. The
salaries have been cut 20 per cent all
along the line. The committees are
grouped and with the exception OF the
judiciary clerk, each committee clerk
has been assigned from three to five
committees. 1t is found that the COM
mittee clerks have for the first time dur
ing Legislative sessions plenty to do, but
not too much for the pay they receive.
Washington has certainly acquitted
itself with credit in regard To Legislative
employees.
Some important changes in the road
law are suggested in the bill by Wood
ing of King. 1t reduces the road poll
tax from 81 to SO per day, and the SUI
pervisor's pay is scaled down from SOU
to 81 per day. The bill amends the law
of 1898 so rs to permit the Commission
ers to purchase or otherwise acquire
suitable tracts of land not exceeding five
acres each, from which TO take gravel
for road work. The poll tax may be
worked out at the rate OF $3.50 per day
for eight hours labor and when team,
pillow or wagon is required credit of
$3.50 is to be allowed.
Senator Hutchinson has introduced
bill to prevent pooling OF insurance
companies for the purpose of raising
rates. 1t makes it unlawful for any
company or its agents doing business in
this State to belong to any organization
for the purpose of fixing fire insurance
rates or preventing or lessening compe-
tition, and in SO doing the con- pany runs
the risk of having its license annulled.
ANY citizen may file written charges
against company or it's agents for hold
ing membership in pooling organlza-
ton, and the insurance commissioner is
empowered to issue q citation for a
company's representative to appear and
show cause why the license should not
be revoked.
The most important measure that has
passed the House recently is Senator
Ranges bill in the interest of the pro-
posed Lake Washington ship canal at
Seattle. The present Congress appro-
priated $25, 900 to begin the work, but
delay has been ocCasioned by the refusal
of certain property owners to grant right
of way. Ranges bill empowers the
County Commissioners to condemn
property for public improvements and
provide special tax to create a fund
Tor the purchase of such property when
condemned. The bill has now passed
both houses and is in the hands OF the
Governor for his signature.
Representative Rogers bill to amend
the school law of 1890 has passed the
House. 1t provides for tax levy suf-
icient to provide sum which in addi-
ton TO the amount of money to be de-
rived from interest on the permanent
school fund for the current fiscal year,
shall equal $40 for each child of school