Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-01-15
WHOLE NUMBER 1922.

missioner might also, by way OF diver
sion, undertake, at least occasionally,
the instruction of our farmers in the
highly important art Of properly and
scientifically setting Il hen. Seriously,
1T seems to me that the regulation of
the sale of milk, butter and eggs, is II
matter entirely for municipal control
Other and minor commissions might
with propricty be abolished or consoli-
dated.
BOARD OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
l am of opinion that the boards now
controlling the penal, reformatory and
eleemosynary institutions of the State,
consisting of the State Penitcntiary,
the Reform School, the Soldiers Home,
the two Insane Asylums and the
School for Defective Youth, might
with propriety be abolished, and con-
troll OF these institutions be vested in
one board, to consist of the Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary
OF State, the State Auditor, and an Of
ticlal whose office is to be created, to be
called the Commissioner of Public In
stitutions, who shall do the work and
perform the services usually devolving
upon travelling auditor. The saving
in salaries and per diem now paid six
boards would be large. Goods could
be bought at wholesale and local and
retail prices be escaped. More respon-
slbility and greater system could be
secured and in the aggregate larger
service affected.
AFFAIRS OF THE PENITENTIARY.
Rumors of an exceedingly bad con-
dltion 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
received from discharged convicts.
Without disclosing the serious aud
even alarming nature of the revela-
tions made, | request that at the earli-
est opportunity Il Legislative commit
tee, with full power to act, be sent to
Walla Walla; that IN investigation be
had before changes are made in the
present management. If statements
made by reliable persons are true, all
the criminals are not on the inside.
NINE INSPECTION.
The great loss of life by coal mine
in this State, within the
last few years, shows clearly the lack
of proper mine inspection and ventilla-
ton. In the three explosions at Ros-
lyn, Franklin and Blue Canyon, more
than hundred men lost their lives,
many widows and some two hundred
orphans weee made. The mining law
should be changed. 1t is grossly un-
true to the interests of the miners. 1t
should not be the policy of the State
to hamper or impose onerous condi-
tions 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 ap-
at each session $1,000 for
coal mine inspection. l believe this
sum to be practically wasted, as the
law now stands.
OF STATE BANKS, AND
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
Frequent and most grievous losses
have fallen upon this State by reason
Of the failure of institutions in which
deposits of money have been made.
For the future this may, to great ex-
tent be prevented by the appointment
Of a State bank examiner. In other
States, notably in Kansas, this plan
has proved most effective, and losses
from this source have been reduced to
a minimum. Such an official might
be paid by fee charged for each ex-
or each institution might
be required to pay q certain sum per
annum. No expense to the people at
large would be involved and much good
done.
THE FISHING INDUSTRY.
From the best sources of informa-
ton at my command, am clearly of
opinion that the law should, within
limit of time, prohibit ut
terly all fish traps, wheels and other
gear, as means of catch
ing fish in waters under the control of
the State of Washington. A as means
Of revenue to the State it is probable
that an annual tax imposed on each
boat engaged in fishing, should be COL
lected. This would more than offset
the amount now collected from 9raps.
The following extract from the mes
sage of Governor Sylvester Pennoyer,
to the Legislature of Oregon, for the
year 1898, is here included and en-
dorsed:
Salmon fishing has been for years
one of the most prominent industries Of
Oregon, and the Legislature should pro-
vide by law against its complete de
struction by the greed of those at pres
ent engaged in it. When the industry
was first established, gill-nets were
alone employed, with meshes sufficient.
ly large SO that the smaller salmon were
allowed to pass undisturbed. Within
the last few years, however, traps and
have been brought into quite
general use and salmon of all sizes and
by the ton, have been caught by them.
This has seriously interfered with gill
net fishing, which formerly gave en-
ployment TO a large number of brave
men, who piled this calling with their
gill-nets, manned at the peril of their
lives, only to find themselves competing
in market with the owners of fish-traps
and wheels, who in favored locality,
and without danger, caught hundreds of
fish in the poor iisherman's one. Among
the monopoly of tish-traps and fish
wheels, and the wholesale destruction
OF fish. and, as Il consequence. the ulti-
mate extinction of this great industry,
the attention of the last three Lesisla-
lures has been directed in vain.
The protest is again most urgently
To allow any owner of favored
locality the privilege that cannot be ex-
ercised by other citizens, of erecting
or tishwheels, thereby secur-
ing salmon bv the ton while other citi-
zens cannot, is monopoly that should
no longer be tolerated. We boast of our
free government, and of our equal laws,
and yet we are permitting a monopoly
that no monarchial government on the
face OF the earth allows. In the Magma
Charter granted by King John, A. d.,
1915, it is stipulated that all kydelIs
(weirs), for the future shall be quite