The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-18
Its Loss One Of the Greatest Scan.
dals Of the Legislature.
EVIDENCE THAT II WAS STOLEN.


That celebrated snserrogatory. Who
hit Mr. Billy Patterson may, In the
light of recent Developments al Olympia.
Ne changed TO.
Who stule the biigs'
OF course the inquiry would relate To the
Davis fdH. known in the records OF the
bate but unIzms ated fusion senate as s.
y. lSs. which, after passing both houses
OF the Legislature. iacontinentiy disap-
pesred and Was lost sight %. The pas
sage OF the bin was of vital Importance
10 several people. among others i;e author.
Senator Davis. fnsionst. OF Snohomish
county. the banks OF the state which have
the bulk Of the state permanent school
fund on deposit. and the bond buying
houses Of the East who deal In the securi-
ties Of til. cities counties and school dis
friets of The state Of Washington.
Yesterdays rost-InteIIigenccr exclu-
eivaly told OF the mysterious dsappeaF-
ance Of the Davis bill. after II had been
passed by both houses, and before II ever
reached the governor. Investigations con-
Quoted By Secretary Esfieiu1ari, at the sem
ate, who il still at Olympia. lead to the
conclusion that the bill was never trans
mitted 10 the enrolling committee of the
senate. Correlatise proof Of this is found
I'm the fact that The book kept ny the
enrolling clerk OF the senate. Miss Kath-
crime Baxter. OF this city. contains no
record OF the bill. Neither does the re-
ceipt book OF Secretary Eshciman show
that the bill ever left his possession for
that OF the enrolling committee.
At this point. the Investigator is con-
frontea with the fact that the bill IL
suIssing that f.. that only the engrossed
copy remains and the enrolled bIll Itself
n either non est or that II was never
made. In either event the result II the
sane and the bill Is dead.
Mis- Katherine Baxter. who had charge
OF the enrolling department OF the sen
ate, yesterday said that her records
showed no trace OF the bill whatever
leaving tho conclusion with her that the
bill had never been transmitted to the
enrolling committee. OF which Senator
Crow, of Spokane. was chairman. II have
here q record of the bills which were re-
cesvea and enrolled by the enrolling com.
mittee. Miss Baxter said yesterday
showing her book. There In no record
whatever OF this bill. or course this IL
only my private record. but I'm II kept
the numbers OF all the bills delivered to
pc. I see by the Observation-Disclosures that
Secretary Eshelman says that his receipt
book does not show any record of the
bill having been sent TO the enrolling
committee. II seems clear therefor. that
the bin MAS never sent to the enrolling
department"
Of the rsuafe. the docket of that body
kept by Miss Hunter Of Iiwaco. shows
that the bill was enrolled March q the
last day OF the session Up 10 the present
time. however. the weight Of evidence II
apparently In favor OF the contention OF
Secretary Esheiman. that the bill was
never enrolled and that the enrolling conn
mittee never received the bill
The interro.atary still remains "Who
stole the bifi7'
No scandal growing out the late f,i-
sion senate and they were not a few has
caused SO much talk "a the loss OF the
Davis measure. That II has disappeared
and the VIII of the legislature been de.
seated thereby will nos ne regretted by
certain people. Had the measure become
a law IL would have operated 10 diminish
The profits of the large bond. buying
houses Of the East several of whom have
representatives, In this state. Had tho
Davis bin become operative. the state land
commission would hav. been In a position
"a have gone into the market with ssOos
I'm cash and bid against the bond houses
far the purchase OF city. county and
school district bonds drawing per cent
and a, par. In many ceaHties and school
districts or the state that are perfectly
solvent the authorities have been COM
relied Ia issue bonds at per cent ana
sometimes higher or have been una Die to
4'8Hf. Bsaf se TIE ~Atatlll4~
houses With the state an active compel
itor. the hnssa buyers would have been
compelled 20 sAay more for their secur.
ties. Ia this way their profits would have
been diminished thousands OF dollars
There Is I'm the permanent seheni fii.s,,
&0p0a and upward This sum II Is true
may ne invested In bonds OF the state
In denominations Of s5ess alia upward tlsl-
d~ tire Bedford BILL the money - b
slsad in reieeming outstanding gen.r..i
4and warrants. At the same tinl. IA.
fund Is likely 20 Increase very rapidly
during the neSt year and the indications
are that there will se a large amount Of
cash on hand In tho fund far "A canslssesS.
nhte portion of the time
SENATOR Keith troru'ists chairman OF
the senate stftings committee YESTERDAY
expressed srca, surprise ~ the loss OF ~.
eu 1T il really toe bad e said ne II
was personally interested In THAI bill