The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-07
COMMISSION BILL PASSED.
MOUNTS RAILROAD MEASURE
GETS rHnOuGn THE House.
the EleetSon 81 190o-Con0is-
sioaers made Elective - Good
Chanee for Passage ~ senate.

Special Dispatch to the Post-InteIligencer.
OLYMPIA March S--By a vote OF -
yeas 10 % nays the house this afternoon
passed Mounts bill creating railroad
commission. The measure was amended
so that IL will not become operative until
after the election of 1860. The commits
sioners are made elective instead OF APP
pointiye as was provided By the original
bill In order to secure the passage of the
bill today and TO obtain an opportunity
FOR its consideration in the senate. Judge
Mount was forced to consent this after
noon TO the elimination Of the section pro-
vfding that the governor shall appoint a
commission TO act between now and the
election OF 1901. The fate OF the bill now
rests with the senate. Judge Mount said
tonight that he had a good reason for
believing that the bill would pass the
upper house.
Transfer Section stays In.
Under the special order the house took
up the Mount bill this morning at lo:45
O'Clock. The bill had been reported from
the railroad committee with amendments.
The reading of the bill proceeded without
unusual interruption until section 10 was
reached This section provides that where
two lines OF railroad have the same point
as their terminus. they shall not be COM
PEELED to transfer cars. Another section
OF the bill provides that railroads shall
transfer cars at junction points If 1t is
necessary % to do In order to forward the
car TO the destination designated by the
consignor.
LaFoliette. chairman OF the railroad
committee. moved to strike the section.
In support of his motion he said: with
conditions as they are in this state. this
section would give to the stronger roads
in this state undue advantage over
the weaker ones. The o. r. & N, the
pioneer railroad In the wheat growing
district would be at a disadvantage The
Northern Pacific has lines to Seattle. Ia
coma and Portland, whereas the Q. r. &
N. runs from Spokane to Portland alone.
II this section were the law, there would
be nothing to hinder buyers In .. r. &
n. territory from ordering their wheat
shipments sent to Seattle or Tacoma and
the o. r. Il n. would be getting only
the short haul There is fight between
the o. r. & n. and the Northern Pacific,
and I do not believe this legislature
should get in and take the side OF the
stronger against the weaker road"
Mount defended the amendment, show
ing that the section provided only that
two roads having the same terminal point
shall not be compelled to exchange cars.
The motion to strike out the section was
lost.
mmissioners Made Elective.
Gose of Walla Walla who offered the
amendments prepared by Mr.. Grosscup,
the Northern Pacific attorney and lobby
list. introduced an amendment to make
the commissioners elective instead OF
appointive This applied to section 20 of
the printed bill
Mcdonald. I.aF'ollette. Rosenhaupt,
Gleason and others opposed the amend
ment.
Said Mcdonald: Gentlemen OF the OPP
position. say TO you. you have four
more days counting today to pass a COM
mission bill. II is better. In my opinion
TO have these commissioners chosen from
three parties than from any one party.
n you want commission BILL vote
against the amendment. IL you don't want
one vote for IT.
LaFolIette said that the political con-
ventions OF the various parties seldom car
ried out in full the wishes OF the people
He was In favor OF having the commits
sion appointive, and opposed the amend
ment.
Welty favored the Gose amendment: at
Is good thing to have a club like this
legislature hanging over the railroads."
said the man from Stevens. '"rhey can
buy up three men much easier than they
can buy whole legislature"
Fippe oi laughter went over the
house.
Rosenhaupt cut into the debate with a
terse and meaty remark: II have list
ered with some admiration to the re-
marks OF the gentleman from Stevens
tWeity). IL can easily be seen that IL a
railroad commission We're created. IL
might lessen the attractions in store for
members to be elected to this legislature"
UauEhter.)
" Nstte "a rDfr he al fatt
Goses amendment carried on rising
yote--s3 To y.
Mount Tries Again.
On reconvening after the noon hour the
house finished the consideration of the
commission bill A few minor changes
were made in the measure. When the
last section was read Mount offered a
new section, providing that the governor
shall appoint commission which shall
have all the powers provided for In the
act. and which shall hold office until new
members arc elected two years hence. and
shall qualify as provided in the bin.
Objection WAS made by Bedford to the
consideration OF the amendment on the
ground that it was the same as the Cur.
tsss amendment which failed OF adoption
ut tho morning session. The speaker
ove2rfled the point 81 order and the
amendment prevailed on a rising vote
s. 10 -
Mount Immediately moved a suspension
OF the rules and the passage OF the bill
Lost.
Later In the afternoon. Mount having
ascer1ainei that the sentiment OF the
hosiss was opposed 10 allowing the gov
ernar 10 appoint. Immediately moved To
reconsider the vote by which the arr,.n1-
isent referred 10 was adopted This VA.
carried. and the amendment was stricken
cut In ths form the hiil passed: yeas
-. nays u; ahsen; -
Yeas