The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-02-21
OLYMPIA LEGISLATURE
Little Accomplished so Far
by That Body.
BUT A FEW DAYS ARE NOW LEFT

There is, However, Sufficient Time Left
for All Needed Legislation without
Undue Haste-Some Important Meas
ures Yet to Be Considered.
OLYMPIA, Wash.-The present Legis-
lature is again besieged with bills aimed
at railroads and other corporations.
Since Washington became 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 to have them suppressed.
This latter is generally known as a 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
est attention, and while the railroads
complain that they have already been
reduced by former Legislatures on
freights until their roads have been re-
duced to position of control by receiv-
ers, there is 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 it, and
the indications are that the bill creating
such commission will be reported ad-
versely. There seems to be little doubt
but telegraph rates will be reduced. 1t
may 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 gen.
eral reduction of the ability of people
generally to earn money. Telegraph
com panies have reduced the wages of
employees, have secured the benefits OF
reduced rents, but have not given the
people 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 % 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 Su-
pervisor's pay is scaled down from $3.50
to 50 per day. The bill amends the law
of 1898 so as 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 q
bill to prevent a pooling of insurance
panies 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 company runs
the risk of having it's license annulled.
ANY citizen may file written charges
against company or it's agents for hold
ing membership in a pooling organiza-
ton, and the insurance commissioner Is
empowered to issue a citation for .
mpany'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 a special tax to create a fund
for 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. It provides for a tax levy suf-
ticient to provide sum which in addl-
ton to the amount of money to be de-
rived from interest on the permanent
school fund for the current fiscal year,
shall equal SO for each child of school
age, as shown by the last reports OF the
several County Superintendent to the
State Superintendent. The tax, how
ever. ia not to exceed six mills on the
dollar. Rogers, the author, made an
extended argument in support OF the
measure, and was supported by Cline,
another Populist. Several Republicans
opposed the bill, contending that it was
wholly for the benefit of the smaller
cities, and placed additional burdens on
large cities. 1t finally passed by vote
of 40 to "a. -,
Although the woman suffrage bill has
twice met with defeat in the House
great many women have continued to
crowd the lobby and besiege the mem
bers in the endeavor to have them take
some action in its favor. Reynolds in
troduced bill which sets forth that in
asmuch as the the Senate has bill rel
alive to woman suffrage. all resolutions
and petitions pending, or to be intro
duced in connection with the subject be
sent to the Senate. RAIDER, Populist,
asked if the resolution carried with 1t
the women, and was informed that It
did. The resolution was then adopted
amid great laughter and applause. !.