The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-24
Interest Now CenterS In the
Railroad Commission.
APPLICANTS ON ALL SIDES.
some Asptrants Openly solicit for
Their own appointment I'm Case
the Turner BiIG passex-Erank
Graves. cId kcnt and :. VI. Allen
Said 60 Have Bcen Selected by
the Governor--A Bitter Etsht tn
he Made Against the bill.

OLYMPIA. Feb. s.-SpeciaL-fnteress
In the personnel o. the railroad commits
sion. which II is proposed % create, is be-
INK aroused By the consideration OF the
Turner measure which has been intro
dueed in the house and which viii COME up
for consideration tomorrow afternoon or
Thursday morning. Indee2t. the talk OF the
fusion politicians. who arsN here In large
numbers. anticipating the distribution ey
Gov. Rogers of the Snoils OF victory. -
confined almost exclusively 70 the matter.
The Office OF railroad commissioner. though
the legislature may not make the salary
a large enc, Is conceded to DE one Of the
first IN Importance and prestige ia the Silt
OF the governor.
The average politician takes his reck-
oning on this basis, so much so that the
political gossip in circulation Is having an
important relation on the action OF ths
legislature tn framing the act. The blu,
which was introduced by Stafford. + being
vigorously pushed by the Spokane deiesa-
tion
II is easy TO foresee, IN the consideration
Of the bill. one OF the prettiest fishts in the
present session. There is great deal OF
opposition 10 the creation of a eafnnais-
sion and the success OF the measure is.
extremely doubtful. IL win be refnens-
hered that when tie bunea-grasS ment-
ers determined TO carry the Csnutt bin
the equally determined opposition OF the
Spokanites. Open war was declared. and
the Spokane men prepared to light tho
bill with all the strength they could mus
ter. Finally a secret meeting OF the rail-
road committee was held and truce was
patched un. the Spokane delegation agree
ing 10 allow the commission biz 20 be laid
aside while the efforts OF ALI were 10 he
concentrated on the Canutt bill. The
bunch-grasers promised 10 support tho
commission bin II the Canutt hiR passed
thu house. This happened today and Inn
mediately nfterward tho Spokanites, head
ed by Roberts, demanded that the com
mission bill be taken up and that the
whitman county members redeem their
promises.
Roberts attempted to have the bin made
a special order for tomorrow. but failed.
the opposition mastering quite large fol-
lowing Tho hil accordingly took It's place
on tho calendar. and may be reached to-
morrow The failure 10 have ths bill treat
cd "a well as the other rnilroad bill under
a special order is the first reverse which
the Spokane delegation has suffered. but
according to wen posted observers there
are others In store.
or late there has been a great deal Of
gossip concerning the men who are 10 be
selected to constitute the commission.
The names OF two dozen prominent fusion
politicians have been mentioned In con-
nection with the Office and. ignorant Of
the provisions of the constitution against
such a thing. number or the members
OF the legislature have announced them-
selves candidates.
To illustrate the absorbing interest that
ir taken I'm tho matter, well known East
ern Washington politician was heard TO
say ha would be glad 10 turn his salary
INTO the state treasury and $1,000 year
besides. TO be appointed on the commits
sion IL one OF the other members could
be named by him. This would lead ono
TO believe that the perquisites attached
to the onice would be worth noticing.
Thoroughly sitting the gossip relative
10 the personnel OF the commission, II
would seem that any three OF the follow
ing have "A good show. Frank Graves. OF
spokane: Gid Kent, OF Whitman: q. NJ.
Allen. OF Seattle; J. II. Judson, OF Ta-
coma and H. r. Manring. OF Whitman.
Indeed we'll posted men who are IN close
touch with the administration assert posi-
lively that Gov. Rogers has considered
favorsbiv the names OF Graves. Judson
and Alien. Authorities agree that Graves
will be chairman OF the commission. and
the presence here during the last three
days OF the manager OF Turner's campaign
strengthens the assumption that he has
been decided on "a the head of the COM
mission
II the governor has determined 70 sp-
point Graves the seton OF part OF the
railroad committee In recommending an
amendment delegatingto 90 board OF state
officers the power OF appointing the COM
rnisslaners is easily explained. This
board is TO consist Of tho governor leu
tenant governor. secretary OF state. attor-
ney general and auditor. or course this
arrangement viii take ogt OF the hands
OF the executive a lot of patronage which
no man would willingly surrender.
II Information eorroboratiye OF Graves
rumorea selection Is obtained by the
-grsgsers, they will fght the COM
mission bill TO tho bitter end. To 0 man
they are opposed to Graves. One OK them
said tonight:
II have always hal but iitt'e faith In
the proposition TO create another sslarted
commission. but hsd half way agreed 20
support the stafford bill. but II Graves
Is 10 be appointed on the commission. that
settles ft with me-"
Members Of the senate who are inter-
estad ia the measure reducing freight
rates indicate hat they viii lay aside the
Canutt bill uness the hoese acts favofa-
bly, on the commission bill