The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-26
Railroad Commission Bill Slain
in the House.
MUCH TAINTED ey POLITICS.
Legislators Influenced By . Charge
That the Commfssiencrs Had Al
ready Re~n Picked ous--Eaecf OF
This Action It 10 Thought viii
Make the Canust Measure Iaeaeet-
fve-Firsf Crashing Reverse of the
Administrations.

OLYMPIA. Feb. s1-SreciA'--T>or the
first time since the eegtaning OF the sss-
sion the political alliance entered tato be-
tween Gov. Rogers. Laeut-1iov. Danie.s.
Attorney General Winston and Senator
elect George Turner weat down 20 defeat
today.
Although there have been abundant In
aicati0ns Of the existence Of this alliance,
its workings have never been 80 apparent
20 everyone in tha legislature and amenS
spectators as in the night over the railroad
bills. That Senator Turner'S pet idea Was
embodied in the stafford bill creating a
commission. which was drawn BY Turner
himself. has been 70 secret, but the fact
that IL had already received executive ap-
pFoysl in advance cf its consideration ey
the legislature has only been made ePpar-
ent during the last week The BID was
killed this afternoon In the house. and in
its defeat the administration met the
most significant reverse since Its assump-
tlon OF power.
The Turner bin came up on second read
ing this morning. II was generally known
that strong opposition 10 the bill had
been developed and there was a large
crowd IN attendance in the lobby OF tne
house Among the Interested spectators
were Attorney General Winston, and dur
ing the noon recess Lieut.-,iov. Daniels
came down from the senate 20 10 what hs
could TO save the bin from belng killed.
Before the reading clerk had read more
than five sections OF the hill. Bush OF
Clarke moved that further reading be dis
pcnsed with and that the hlli be indefinite
IL postponed. This was the beginning Of
the hottest fight OF the session. II lasted
over the noon recess and was ended at
o'clock hy a motion for the previous aues-
tion BY Bush. On roll call the bin was
killed. s6 10 SIS. seven members not voting.
The Ho.tiiitics begin.
An instant after Bush's motion was
made, Roberts OF spokane. a strong cham
MON os the measure and Turner lieu
tenant. was on the floor with an indignant
protest against summary action.
Let us hear the hlll read" said Rob-
erts In an appealing way. Let us give
the people OF the state and tho members
OF the legislature an opportunity OF ascer-
tanning what is in this bill. | do not be-
iieve the house should deal thus SUM
marily with this bill. which Is one OF the
most Important measures which has been
introduced"
Hodgaon added his voice 10 the chorus
OF protests against summary action. lie
said:
'T regard this commission bill az the key
10 all our railroad legislation, IL iR a
case as TO whether the state Is 20 run tho
railroads or the railroads to run the state
/ want this bin read and considered
Johnston. who Is one of the most forcibIs
speakers in the house. took the floor and
made an argument against killing the bin
| By Bush lie said:
you are treating the people OF the state
| with contempt when you propose 10 kill
! of this bill in this manner. The people
I viii not endure such treatment From
every corner ~ the state the cry OF this
people demanding railroad legislation has
I gone up. ProDer respect sor the people
I OF the state demands that we pay some
heed 10 these demands for suitable rail-
/ road legislation. | want this bin read In
| fun and It's merits properly considered by
my own mind vet how shall vote on ths
| bill. but nevertheless / do not want IL
| killed In this fashion"
To Administer the Coup de Grace.
williams made the hrst speech against
/ the bsii and In favor OF ending its career
/ then and there. Hie replied to Johnston
/ and Roberts in vigorous fashion. saying:
/ "It IS true that the people OF the state
| have demanded railroad legislation, but
| when have they demanded that this ieTis-
l iafure fasien upon them another expens-
| i've commission All OF you attended tho
| convention at EIienHburg- Was there any
demand made there that a railroad COM
mission be appoinfedY In what platform
4 OF the Peoples party or OF any of the
I parties 20 the fusion movement WAS there
hint OF q demand for the creation OF
( this commissionT Talk about fulfilling
+ our promises TO the people--tid you not
/ at Eiiensburg promise the people Thar
/ their burdens or taxation ana enP.nso
should be reduced7 DO YOU call this
/ measure ore calculated to reduce the ex-
/ pensss Of the state Cove nnentf You who
I are fightlng FOR this bill know that the
deal has been fixed-that the personnel a
/ the commission has been selected. You
( know that this is sch"ne 90 give 70
! 10 taka a step backward as The enact
/ ment OF this btu VIII be-
eauutt MN of M Eject.
Stafford followed Williams He spoke
against the pos ponem Of the hsL said
/ re:
'-rhe Canutt bin viii ne Imperative
/ without this commission bill. The inter-
I cats 0f all the producers Of the state de-
I rnand that we consider This blL 1 am
I against Lhe motion 10 inaehn4f@y p9st-
pos5e this measure
warner severely arralgned The support
. ers OF the nilt He referred 20 the fact
Z that he had opposed the radical cus male
by the CaButt bi.i and had appealed for
I a reasonable measure.
You have uow admitted that the Ca
I ruft blu wlll be "A dead letter without
4 gilis commission bin 4on have adnAltisd
{ fhAt one could not 20 passed without
she other. 1 say that you dare not 20
{ hack to your constituents Gsf@- having
gsassed this bill. The deal is all made for
fhs Arg30fmf rnent of these commissioners.
The men are chosen" 9Cfles ~ no
are they ~aaHae them and of Dont give
II want 10 know 81 The Objects of this
+ bsti ere 20 relieve the railroad compa nias
{ continued Warner. We wlso are pIesfEei
! 10 give me people of the stale relief from
I tha burdens ~ government cannot sli0w
+ this olA 80 20 r1x ogGh tfils house ! an Or
{ posed 20 the measure and defnan tnaf y
{ u indefinitely pzys @Es1ued here ard now.
P4aer said. III FGu create a railroad
I commission ycrs wlii only provide for az
I c.ner eIleafar for litigation and delay II
( sna fsgas stature caauet eontfos she rail-
{ T'oads % commission Of Three men can do
& 60
Questions Ruin speech.
Geraxhty spoke earnestly ard wifa
/ force IN favor Of the bill. quoting the DE-
/ cislon of The saprsms court IN tas Regain
/ case. said he.
suppose thas ~. csnuft bfi should 20
! declared unreasonable BY the courts.
{ What recourse would gol have II thls
( commission ~ ngt cFeatedF
Gersxhty argued a. length on TIE legal
I questions involved ~ the contr0Vsrsy.
/ bus me force OF his argumsnfs vas
spoiled 20 some sxtsnt ~ ths questions
that were rapidly piled ~ number of
Iaernberz- Powen asked Garasnty:
would not a conslgres who objected %
/ TIE amount Of the charges against his
/ property nave 3 right - - into court on
an action II repisv2u ana test TIE FeA-
sonAb!sness OF ths rates.
G@rsxhty replied as 70 The Jurisdiction
{ ef ezsuras il sueh matters ~ reading fur
taer frorn the decision OF the suprerns
court Powell insisted on All answer 70
/ his ausstiesn wnseh involved the riznt ~
! fn- courts 70 determine 1sstner a rate
/ Wa excessive. The speaker interrupted