Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-02-19

I
ate, or show good and substantial
grounds for severely dealing with those
| who have been recreant to their Off
cial and moral duties, if any such
there may be.
"While it is gratifying toreport that
SO far as this investigation has pro-
ceeded no charge of corruption or
other action involving moral turpitude
has been sustained against any men,
ber of this honorable Senate, and
while the duties imposed upon this
committee are extremely disagreeable,
and are of such a character as every
member would gladly be relieved from,
yet, in view of the importance of the
matter involved, the gravity of the
charges made and the necessity of sus-
tanning the dignity and integrity of
this honorable body, We feel that We
cannot conscientiously ask to be re-
lIeved from this duty.
1--WE believe that this, or some other
committee, should bc allowed more
time to pursue this investigation to a
satisfactory end, and so recommend"
Houghton at once arose and moved
that the report be filed and the COM
mittee discharged.
Taylor objected. He said the report
had not cleared his good name, and
he wanted it to investigate until the
crack of doom, if necessary. The re-
port of the committee was different
from what he expected. He wanted
an impartial committee, and he had
named Republicans for that purpose.
Crow was averse to the committee
carrying useless investigation fur
ther, and he wanted to see it dis
missed.
HoughtOn said that when the char
acter of any member was assailed,
such investigation should be had as
necessity required. This committee
had been at work several days, and
had found nothing, and he was salts
fled, as he had said when the commit
tee was appointed, that there was
nothing to investigate.
Senator Taylor seems to be insist
ing on this Senate giving him GER
tiicate of good character when he
does not need any such certificate.
This is all foolishness. We are strain
ing away here to build up a man of
straw. The committee ought to be
discharged because there is nothing to
investigate, and their report shows it."
Keith believed the committee had
had plenty of time to learn everything,
if there was anything to learn. AS to
investigating every rumor on the
streets, every clipping from the news
papers, it was all nonsense to think of
it. He believed the Senate should
make complete report from the COM
mittee to-day, and let it be discharged.
Chairman Dorr said there was no
specific charge against any man before
the committee or in the Seattle news
paper complained of. AS far as the
committee had gone, it had found no
specific charge against any man. 1t
had to 60 outside and look into other
things to secure something on which
to base an investigation. Nothing"
said Mr.. Dorr, "has come before the
committee involving the character of
any member of this Senate or his
moral turpitude."
Taylor moved that the findings of
the lower house be printed in the jour
nal, and the motion prevailed. There
was motion to read the evidence
taken by the committee, and this was
attempted. For half an hour the Clerk
read, and then there was a cry for ad-
jOurnment. Taylor wanted the read
ing to be continued, and, after spar
ring few minutes, the Houghton mo-
ton to discharge the committee was
put and carried, ayes II, noes 9, the
members of the committee being ex-
cused from voting.
The House bill for the protection
and welfare of children was reported
by the committee on Morals for indefi-
mite postponement, as there was a
similar Senate bill before the commit
tee, but Taylor objected to this dis
courtesy to the House, and the report,
with the bill, was laid on the table
until the other bill should come up
for action.
Hicks House bill to prohibit capital
punishment was reported back by the
Public Morals committee, with the
recommendation that it be referred to
the Judiciary committee. The COM
mittee finds the bill seeks to relieve
persons already condemned, and de-
sires the advice of the Judiciary COM
mittee as to whether it can be made
retroactive. The recommendation was
complied with.
Houghton's bill for the relief of the
widow of H. C. Ashenfelter, who claims
$1,000 for pecuniary loss in the con-
struction of the State University
building, at Seattle, was sent in with
a majority and minority report. The
former recommended the payment of
5000, the latter recognized the moral
obligation, but objected to the prece-
dent thus established. After debate,
tho asuhiact-mat ttpr was raferred to the