The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-08

&een 10 warm that the windows hare
been opened. and fran the a. groves ard
grass dotted passHs surrounding ire old
frame building there comes the sweet
breath Of the woods ard the sounds 90
birds building their nests These have
wooea the members from the plodding
work OF listening 10 the reading OF uniH-
feresting bills aud the dry Debates, and
many fErfive sianeee arc east from weary
eyes al the attractive scene outside the
balls Of legislation
II In tbs order now 10 advance hills
from second IN third reading without wait
ing TO have them cngrossed. This saYes
time and greatly hassens the passage OF
Laws II. too. is another Indication that
the end Is not far of. The housa has
been free from interesting Debates or bot
fights this week. the members devotins
their energies solely 10 the consideration
OF the Iass bills. Ia this way IL has been
possible for the house 10 transact lot
OF business. Measures have besn ssnt 20
the senate By the dozen, for the house
has determined TO clean MP It's calendar
and be ready on the last day to give its
time TO the senate nilss and To conference
committee reports.
Fancy ink-weiIs pairs az long clipping
seissorx waste paper baskets and other
handy articles. which are always pur-
chased Ia great abundance by the segis-
Iaturs are beginning 10 disappear. This Is
q sur. sign that the legislature is ap-
preaching the hast fhroeg. The other day
q dictionary In the senate chamher was
missed from its accustomed place. and will
probably not be seen again There are
people Of course, who like 10 have me-
mentoes % the legislature a5ogt the
house.
The lobbyists are thick. They are not
very obsrusfye, except In a few cases.
but they are not inactive. Naturally, at
tempts will be made to secure the pass
age Of special legislation to serve selfish
purposes but In the house and senate
there are members who are rigiaDtiy
watching the course OF events. prepared
to stamp out the jobs IL any such appear.
Employees Very Busy.
In the enrolling and ensrossing depart
ments of both the house and senate. the
employees are working overtime Oh the
bills that have passed. Many OF the
clerks work until late at night. The force
OF employees in the engrossing department
OF the house has been somewhat In
creased, hut there was still deficiency
until yesterday. when Daniels introduced
q resolution directing the committee
clerks. when not otherwise employed. TO
report TO Chief Clerk Dillon for assign
ment to duty In the engrossiBg room. The
resolution provided that for the time the
committee clerks were thus employed they
should draw 81 per day extra.
This resolution WAS followed by another
today by Daniels. providing that II any
OF the hoGse employees should circulate pc
titions FOR an increase OF salary they
should be dismissed. The resolution was
passed 1t was occasioned by the fact
that the desire Of SONS OF the committee
clerks 20 have sums voted to them under
the guise Of an increase OF salary. dating
uaually from February /. had actually ex-
tended to the pages. One of the latter
was found today circulating a petition
for raise In pay, and was promptly
squelchsd-
The legislature will cease. under the
law. at midnight Thursday. As a matter
OF fact. however. IL will ne ten or twelve
hours later before the last motion TO
adjourn IL carried There will be
rush at the last moment TO have the bills
that passed engrossea and signed by both
the speaker Of the house and the presi-
dent Of the senate.
Speaker Cute sticks close 10 his desk
and carefully attends 20 every bit OF
business that COMES before the house In
the last day or two OF the sessions the
work and the weight of responsibility that
fall tn the speaker greatly increase.
Speaker Guie Is alert and vigiiant. aud
has a thorough grasp Of The business Of
tho legislature.
T. HOW ARD WATSON.
nnsa