The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-03-28
THE NEW TOWNSHIP LAW.
Text of the Measure Approved by the
Governor.

Senate bill No. 80, which has
been approved by the governor,
provides for township organization
and among other things leaves the
saloon question with majority of
the voters in each township, after
such townships have been formed.
this virtually amounts to "Local
Option" but as prohibitory stand
point the law will doubtless prove
a failure, and at the same time give
rise to complications, as one-half of
the townships in county may have
saloons and the other half not have
them. But take the bill as d whole
and it is a good long stride toward
a system oflocal government, which
has stood the test for years in the
older states Of the East. 1t will
lessen the expense of assessing
and localizes the road question.
Following is summary of the
important parts Of the bill:
Olympia, March 24-Senate bill No.
SO, approved by the governor, provides
for township organization and pres
cribes the duties and fixes the compen-
sation of township officers and provides
for the assessment, levy and collection
of town taxes. When at least thirty
days before general election 100 or
more qualified electors of any county
in the state present a petition in writing
signed by them to the board of county
commissioners of their county, asking
the question of township organization
in said county be submitted to vote of
the people at the next general election,
it shall be the duty of the county COM
missioners to submit the question of
adopting township organization in said
county to the electors at the next general
election. If the question carries it is
the duty of the commissioners at their
next meeting to divide all the surveyed
portion of the county, outside of towns,
into organized townships and each
township must have at least twenty
inhabitants who are legal voters. When
county has been divided into town.
ships the commissioners shall designate
plan for holding the first town meet
ing in each town, which shall be held
on the first Tuesday in March following
the election. Each town is body cor
porate and has capacity to sue and be
sued; to purchase and hold lands within
its own limits; to make contracts and
hold such personal property as may be
necessary; and to make orders for the
regulation of corporate property. Town
meetings will be held annually on the
first Tuesday in March and every per-
son possessing the qualifications of an
elector in any town is entitled to vote
at any town meeting and is eligible to
office. There shall be elected at the
annual town meeting in each town three
supervisors, one Ofwhom shall be desig-
mated on the ballot as chairman; one
town clerk, one treasurer, one assessor,
one justice of the peace, one constable,
and one overseer of highways for each
road ristrict in the town; but justices
and constables shall be elected ONLY
once in two years, except to fill vacan-
cies. Electors of each town have the
power to determine: The number of
poundmasters and location of pounds
To determine the time and manner in
which stock shall be permitted to go at
large-To vote to raise revenue for i'm
provements-To determine whether
license shall be granted for the sale of
spirituous, malt or intoxicating liquors,
etc, etc.
The following compensations are al
lowed town officers:
Assessor, 81 per day while Employed.
clerk and supervisors, 81 per day when