The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-01-21


greater than that Of his own will.
Under these circumstances freedom is
sham and self-government an idle
word. It is earnestly recommended
that statute be prepared and passed
which will prevent the growing evil of
coercion and intimidation of the voter.
FREE PASSES.
Section 80 of article of the state
constitution stipulates that: It shall
not be lawful for any person holding
public Office in this state to accept or
use pass, or to purchase transporta-
ton from any railroad or other corpora
ton, other than as the same may be
purchased by the general public, and
the legislature shall pass laws to en-
force this provision
Another section provides that trans
portation companies shall not grant
such free passes, and that the legisla-
ture shall pass laws to carry such pro-
vision into effect.
The legislature has never passed the
necessary laws to enforce the provi-
sions of the constitution, and hence
they have been practically inopera-
tive. No time should be lost in pro-
viding by law that corporations issuing
free passes and officials who accept
them shall be properly punished.
RAILWAY RATES AND FARES.
The proper regulation and control
of common carriers, including railroad
and steamship lines, telegraph and tele-
phone companies, is difficult problem
of solution. Government ownership is
the only final remedy; but that is yet
in the future. Freight rates and pas
They should be reduced. The best re-
suits could be obtained from law es-
tablishing maximum scale of rates
and fares, and providing for the en-
forcement of the law through the
agency of commission, giving the
commission power further to lower the
scale, as time and circumstances may
justify. Inasmuch as the governor of
the state is responsible for the execu-
ton of the laws, believe that such
commission should be appointed by
him, any member of it to be removable
at the will of the governor. The ex-
penses of transportation commission
ought not to be burdensome, and would
amount to an infinitesmal part of the
direct benefit accruing to the patrons of
common carriers within the state as a
result of reduced rates and better reg
ulated service.
ABOLITION OF COMMISSIONS.
The office of arid land commissioner,
am inclined to think, should be abol-
ished, and the duties devolving upon
this official be performed by the elected
land commissioner.
It is the opinion of those best able to
judge of these matters, that the land
commission provided for by recent
statute should likewise be abolished.
I am unable to discover that the
dairy commissioner has been able to
produce pound Of butter more than
would have been the case if his Office
had not been created.
Other and minor commissions might
with propriety be abolished or CONSOLE
dated.
BOARD OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
am of opinion that the boards now
controlling the penal, reformatory and
eleemosynary institutions of the state,
consisting of the state penitentiary,
the reform school, the soldiers home,
the two insane asylums and the school
for defective youth, might with pro-
priety be abolished, and control Of
these institutions be vested in one
board, to consist of the governor, the
lieutenant-govern the secretary Of
state, the state auditor and an official,
whose office is to be created, to be
called the commissioner Of public in
situations, who shall do the work and
perform the services usually devolving
upon travelling auditor. The saving
| in salaries per diem now paid six
boards would be large. Goods could be
bought at wholesale, and local and re-
tail prices be escaped. More response
bility and greater system could be Sc
cured, and in the aggregate larger
saving effected.
Ian
Rumors of an exceedingly bad con-
dition of affairs at the state peniten-
tiary having been afoat, for some time,
a watch has been kept and some anna
teur detective work done by citizens of
Walla Walla, aided by suggestions re-
ceived from discharged convicts.
Without disclosing the serious and
even alarming nature of the revelations
made, request that at the earliest OPP
portunity legislative committee with
full power to act, be sent to Walla
Walla; that an investigation be had be-
fore changes are made in the present
management. If statements made by
reliable persons are true, all the GRIM
inals are not on the inside.
MINE INSPECTION.
The great loss Of life by coal-mine
explosions in this state within the last
few years shows clearly the lack Of
proper mine inspection and ventilation.
| In the three mine explosions at ROsyln,
franklin and Blue Canyon, more than
| a hundred men lost their lives, many
widows and some 200 orphans were
bereft. The mining law should be
changed. It is grossly untrue to the
| interest of the miners. It should not
| be the policy of the state to hamper or
impose onerous conditions upon the
coal mining companies, but, with the
hope Of being able by proper regulation
| to protect the lives of our hardy
miners, something ought to be done.
The Legislature has appropriated at
each session 81, 900 for coal mine in
snection believe this sum to be