The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-20
Populists in Senate Ruthlessly
Voted Away State Money.
PURCHASE eAlLlnesR's CODE.
Fusion Senators Forced Through
Resolution Authorizing Purchase
of Thirfy-sfx Copie. Of the Code
These We're Nothing but Free
Gifts 10 the senators - The
Republicans stood for Economy.

Whenever the fusion majority in the
last state senate desired to vote away the
taxpayers money for foolish OF useless
purposes, n had no computations of con-
science regarding the matter. In this
respect the last legislature stands out
conspicuous In the history Of the state.
In the session Of 1891 some small pretense
was made in the direction Of economy
by the fusion majority In many ways
as the record shows. this effort was mis-
directed In the session Of two years
later. namely, 1899 the fusionists had a
majority only In the senate and they made
the best use OF II In dIiigent effort to
appropriate the states money as fast as
Il was possible.
The Journal Of the senate shows many
extravagant and uncalied for acts on the
part Of the fusion majority, but none
moro conspicuous az an example Of the
hollow pretense Of fusion 'economy''
than the resolution offered by Senator
Ptuminer directing the sergeant-at-arms
70 purchase copy Of Balllnger's code for
each OF the thirty-four members OF the
senate and the president and secretary.
This act cost the state s26o for which lit
tie or no benefit was derived.
The purchase Of thirty-six volumes Of
the code was merely q piece OF extra
vagance on the part Of the fusion sen-
ate. The codes cost on an average 1850
per set They ornamented the desks OF
disappeared. The resolution to purchase
the codes for the senators was strenuous
" opposed by the Republicans In the sem
ate. A. the Journal shows.
The resolution to purchase the books
was introduced by Senator plummer jan
nary H. reading ms follows:
Resolved by the senate OF the State
OF Washington, That the sergeanf-at-
cure copy ~ Rallingers Annotated
Statutes and Codes OF Washington for
each member and the president and
secretary of the senate
Senator Harold Preston. of King county.
offered nm amendment that a special COM
fni'tee be appointed to ascertain the cost
- the books. and 70 ascertain what books.
II any. would answer the same pur-
poses The amendment was adopt
Cd and committee including Senators
riummer. Baum. Mantz. Preston and
Schofeid was named
This appears on page 10, II and 10 IT
the senate Journal 81 1902 The commit
tee on January IL fSenate Journal page
~ reported IN favor OF purchasing Of
nmes of the code, or one Tor each sem
ntor and one each for the president and
sergeantsat-arms
The Republican senator's endeavor-
rd to thwart the extravagant Intentions
~ the fusIonsts and Senator Preston
moved that the number be reduced to
seventeen, or one for each desk. This
amendment WAS voted down by the fusion
senator Wiltshire, OF King. moved an
amendment that each member deposit
$40 with the sergeant -at ARMS az security
for the return Of the code to the state
at the end Of the session.
This amendment. too. was lost. aH thA
fuwionixts who were In the majority had
evidently determined to make the state
pay for the hooks which were afferward
70 be the personal property OF the SEN
afors.
On motion 70 adopt the original report
sixteen fusion senator's. majority of tho
elm naher voted yen" while nine Repuh-
Fcan senator's voted may" Three Rapub-
iiean sanatofs we're absent,
The purchase of the code was pure
"axafts IN the language 81 the profes-
slonai lobbyist at Olympia. The state
never secured any benefit for the expen-
ditnre amounting 10 $3.50 Later IN the
session Senator Land AZ King county, re-
ported that his copies Of the code had
been stolen and the senate unhestatingiy
voted him another set.