The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-20

been a busy day In b-osn houses OF the
legislature. -Four bills were passed BY
the sefaHe and eight by the house. Ia adj
ditscn 90 dasposirs Of several other Inn
porsant matters. II now looks as though
the session would accomplish something,
ard President Lace and Speaker Morrison
seem determined to expedite matters as
much as possible.
The features today were the failure %
the local option bill 10 pass the senate by
one vote short of the constitutional re-
quirement. and the passage by good ma
scrfty of the wonan's suffrage bill. kel-
iogg gave notice OF reconsideration OF the
local option bill. and Deckobach did like
wise on woman's suffrage. Every member
OF the senate was present except F'rink.
who absensed himself from the senate
chamber just before the bills were called
and returned after their disposition. The
chamber was crowded with frieads and
opponents oT the measures. and the inter-
est was so sntense throughout the after
noon that President Luce was several
times compelled TO demand better order
tn the lobby.
Senator Deckaach opposed the local op-
tinn bill because he deemed Il unjust.
Previous trials. he said, did not bring the
desired result. while II did give drug
stores very lucrative business.
Senator Belknap saw a dispositions 20
laugh the bill down. he said, but he con-
sidered 1t Of paramount importance. He
reviewed the periis of open saloons and
their associations. and spoke at length on
the evil influences exer,ed. For the sake
OF humanity he hoped II would pass.
1T ia a relic Of harbarism and pagan
ism.' was the way Senator Range alluded
10 the liquor traffic. He said that If the
majority Of the people wamt saloons they
can have them. II they don't want them
they need only say so, and that is the
American principle.
Senator I.esh wanted Il distinctly under
stood that he was opposed to saloons. but
he did not consider this bill general In it's
effect
Senator Crow said he favored the oiIl
because 1t contained the princlple of self
government.
Senator Taylor. who presented the bill
by request. said It was good proposition
from a local option standpoint He had
his own views on the subject. ne said.
but was viking to accept the will and
wishes OF some 5000 or fo.oao OF his con-
sttsnents. He made an eloquent plea In
Its support The insane asylum. peuiten-
tiary and reform schools are flIed with
the curses Of saloons. he said. but I'm time
the saloons would be crushed and the
better element would have the upper hand
in local government.
Senator Dorr said he had experienced
the defects OF local option and prohibition
in the state OF Iowa. when saloons were
replaced by drug stores. dives and vice In
all bts phases. This measure. In his judg-
ment. would place elections In the hands
of SALOONS men. with their interests para
mount TO those OF good government He
was opposed to the principle unless We
could have national prohibition.
The roll cali showed seventeen votes in
the affirmative and sixteen in the mega
i've. but, failing 10 receive eighteen votes,
a majority Of the SENATE the bill was
lost, as follows:
Ayes Belknap. Brown. Campbell. Crow.
ross. Harper, Helm. Hutchinson. Lerss,
Miller. McManus. Pusey. Range, Ser
geant, Shaw. Taylor. Wooding-f7
Noes s-Dcekebach. Donofroe. Dorr. East
erday. Fhid, Gilbert, Hall, Horr. Ide.
kellogg. I.esh, Megler. Roberts. Van
.Houten. washburn. wiison-ls.
AAsent--Frink.
Senator kellogg later oorasaoned sur
prise by moving for reconsideration He
gives credence 10 the belief that ne Will
vote for Il when reconsldered. II he does
1t viii pass.