The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-01-20


The senatorial question seems to
stand about the same as it did last
week though it seems Humes might
be gaining some and Ankeny losing.
The first ballot was taken Tuesday.
1t contained no surprises and was as
follows: Foster,26; Humes, 22;s, Will
son, %; Ankeny, 8; Lewis, q; and
]. B. Allen, l; total: 100 votes, the
absent ones being sick. The Wilson
men still persist in calling a caucus
but of no avail as the supporters OF the
other three candidates feel that it is
not safe to risk their chances in caacus.
The committees have all been APP
pointed (47 In number) and the leg
islature is now ready for business and
would address itself earnestly to need
ed legislation if the senatorial: squabble
was only out of the way. The senator
ial boom of Humes in the form of an
excursion was success as far as num-
bers and noise were concerned, the
latter was enforced by a fine band
which dispensed good music, but in the
line of vote making it was a failure.
All the bills OF the session of 1897
vetoed by the Governor were sustained
in the house, including the capital bill !
because other bills can be formed that
would better meet the exigencies OF
the times. A new bill, however will
soon be introduced embodying the
better features of the old one with new
and less Objectionable features added,
which the friends of the measure will
press for an early passage giving then
ample time to pass over an OBSTINATE
governors veto.
It is queer position for an execu-
tive to take when he advocated in his
message the idea "that the county
courthouse might be purchased if the
authorities were approached in the
right manner" which would cost at
least $4,000, with wing additional
at the cost of $4,000 more and the
other untenable position that he
doubted that if the lands were all sold
they wouldn't bring $125,O00 the debt
on the already built foundation.
The first bill to pass the House on
its way to become a law is one that
reduces the interest on state warrants
| from 8 or per cent. This was done
for the reason that the warrants are
now at 3 per cent premium. This Of
course, affects warrants issued here
after only. Bills have been introduced
touching nearly all kinds eff subjects.
Among them one making taxes pay
able in county warrents and another
that constitutional amendment be
submitted exempting $500 from tax
alton.
The reply of the commissioner of
public lands to the resolution of the
House calling for the number of acres
where located, total value, etc. has set
to nought the idea that the lands will
not build the capitol. The cruisers
have it appraised at 81 100000 and if
it is worth only one-half of that or
even one-third of that sum it will
build the capitol at the present speci-
| fications.
1t is the opinion of many that the
State printing Office should he radical
ly changed or abolished altogether and
the state own the plant and operate it
under the supervision of the state
printer who should be paid stated
salary or the state let the printing to
the lowest responsible bidder. The
cost to other states requiring as much
work done have been only one-half
the amount that this state has had to
pay.