The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-02-18
THE STATE LAW.MILL
Review of the Weeks Bust.
ness In Olympia.
ROUTINE IN SENATE AND HOUSE

ROUTINE IN SENATE AND HOUSE
Now That the Senatorial Fight II De-
cided Both Houses Have Settled
Down to Business.
There was scene of confusion and
excitement in the upper house OF the
Washington legislature Friday morning,
when Senator Taylor, of Pierce, rose to
a question of personal privilege and
made bitter speech in denunciation OF
the statement made by Senator Squire
before the senatorial investigating COM
mittee, to the effect that Taylor was
one of the men whom Warner claimed
were in the combination that could be
handled with money in the senatorial
fight. Talyor used pretty strong Ian
guage in referring to Squire, and de-
manded the appointment of commit
tee to investigate the matter. The
committee was appointed, and, at Tay-
lor's request, is composed Of three Re-
publicans of political faith opposed to
that of Taylor.
Most of the day in both houses was
devoted to the second reading of bills,
and no important measures were passed
by either body.
The senatorial investigating commit
tee met Friday evening, but no wit
nesses were examined. The testimony
in the Warner-Squire case was ex-
amined, but was found SO voluminous
that the committee was not able to fin
ish it's report.
The investigating committee meets
from day to day and expects to continue
investigating other features Of the
bribery matter.
Keith's memorial asking the United
States government to recognize the Gu
ban government and receive its repre-
sentatives failed to pass On account of
not receiving the necessary eighteen
votes, there being seventeen affirmative
and five negative votes.
The senate in the afternoon passed
Lands bill requiring street Car COM
panies to employ only men who have
had previous experience in operating
street cars. The bill received consider
able opposition, some members believ-
ing its intention is to tie up street rail-
ways in case of strikes. Several I'M
important bills were postponed indef-
nitely.
The house, Friday morning, refused
to repeal the bill enacted by the last
legislature providing for grain inspec-
ton, weighing and grading.
The bill had been offered by Mathiot
of Walla Walla, and argument in its
favor was that the cost of inspection at
Sound points caused larger part of
wheat shipments to go by way of Port
land. The bill was ordered postponed
indefinitely, after debate. Another
bill by Ames, on the same subject, was
also killed.
Hansen's bill to divide the state in
two fish commissioner districts-one
embracing the Columbia river, the
other Puget southland for the ap-
pointment of a commissioner for each
district, was considered at length in the
house this afternoon and passed it's
third reading. The two commissioners
are to receive a salary of 81, 500 each,
and the supporters Of the bill claim
may be better protected with two than
with one, as at present. The salary of
the present commissioner is $4,000.
The following house bills were con-
sidered on second reading, ordered en-
crossed, and passed to third reading
this afternoon:
By Caywood, relating to herding
sheep and cattle; Land, providing for
the registration of voters in school cleo
tions; Roberts, providing for uniform
system of public blanks; Hansen, Great
ing the offices of fish commissioners; ].
0. Edwards, making eight hours con-
stitute days work On all public work;
Land, creating the bureau of labor;
Strive, relating to answers in civil ac-
tions; Way, restoring citizenship to
Eugene Guilty; Geraghty, for the bet
ter protection of railway switches;
Wolf, giving employees prior right in
judgments against railroad companies;
Geraghty, to prevent railway companies
from working employees more than
twenty consecutive hours, and making
eight hours constitute days labor.
These house bills were passed by the
house in the afternoon:
By Edwards, to regulate weighing
and measuring coal; Edwards, to pro-
vide for the recovery of bodies of work
men entombed in coal mines; Edwards,
for the better protection of workmen in
coal mines; McAtee, for the protection
of fish in stocked lakes.
The house killed the senate concur
rent resolution providing for joint
committee to visit the agricultural COL
lege and make reports of its condition.
The house killed the resolution for the
sake of economy, many members be-
lieving that such committees were
usually sent out as pleasure excursions.
Carr of Okanogan has introduced
bill in the house. which provides that
all fees of grand and petit jurors shall
be paid from the salary fund.
The governor has requested the resig-
nation of Fish Commissioner Crawford.
The question of referendum came be-
fore the house during the week past
upon Mr.. Moore's proposition to amend
the constitution by providing that
majority vote of the legislature may
submit constitutional amendments in