Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-03-13
We Turn to the Ledger.

We IurE 10 the Ledger.
" WAS expected, Mr.. Scohey tries
t. wiss." out out Of his action when
II l.. 2l9. Tor constitutional amend
1nent reducing the compensation OF
OF State officers, was under c0nsidcra-
ton 10y the lower branch Of the assem-
lily. He quotes from the journal to
show WHEN the bill VA. introduced.
when it was placed on the calendar,
when 1t came up for second reading,
aud when it passed to final vote and
was defeated. The impression that is
intended to be conveyed by the en-
tracts he publishes is that that was all
the reference the bill received while il
was running the gauntlet OF hostile
camp.
1t Is perhaps necessary to state to
those who are unfamiliar with legisla-
tive work, that the journal gives only
the outline of legislative action on
measures; the speeches that are made,
the strategic motives for delay, and
the finesse whereby measure like
that under consideration, popular
among the people and odious to the
tax-eaters in fat public positions, would
be strangled, do not appear on the Off
cial record, but are given very much
in detail by metropolitan journals,
which generally publish full reports.
1t is to this unofficial, but none the
less veritable history, we turn to sus-
tain the charge that Scobey tried to
defeat the proposition for reduction of
State salaries. BY reference TO the
Tacoma Ledger, OF Feb. 18th, on file
in the State Library, we find that
1.-THE proposition for constitutional
amendment, introduced by Witt and
Lang, came up for consideration, and
caused quite skirmish.
1t would reduce the salary of Gov
ernor to $500, of Lieutenant Governor
to $780, Secretary of State to $500;
Treasurer to $500, Auditor to $500;
Attorney General $500, Superintendent
of Public Instruction, $3.50; Judges of
the Supreme Court to $1,000, Judges of
the Superior Court to $1,000, and MEM
beers of the Legislature to 81 per day.
MIR. Scobey sought to amend the
bill to death, and moved that the COM
pensation of legislators be S. per day
Mr.. Witt protested against such
child's play. He was in earnest and
wanted the measure treated with fair
ness.
Now whether Mr.. Scobey's motion
failed to become a matter OF record
because it received no second, or was
regarded by the Speaker and House
as mere "child's play" matters but
little, nor does Mr.. Scobey's vote on
the measure pass for much against his
declaration, which he asserted was
made with candor and earnestness, to
double the per diem OF our Thousand.
Dollar-a-Day Legislature" That gen.
tleman's name is SO we'll down in the
alphabetical roll-call, that it was an
easy matter for him to determine Just
when he could vote one way for policy
or vote another way for profit, on any
measure when it came to final show
down. 1t is quite evident that the
Ledger reporter understood Mr.. SEQ
bey's tactics, and just how he felt on
this measure, for he declares that the
gentlemen "Tried to amend it to
DEATH"
Doubtless the Oregonian and the
POst-Intelligencer reports gave equally
as comprehensive synopsis of just
what was done and drew the same in.
ferences, were files available to quote
from, and if the Olympian demands
further proof, while we scarcely think
think the game worth the candle, we
we will make an endeavor to quote
from both those veracious Republican
newspapers, in support of the indict.
ment