The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-28

mission Of his own selection. and there
by have all the advantages Of the power
that goes with IT.
The railroad commission bill had been
introduced in the house February 8,
and referred TO a committee, which re-
ported back to the house on February
~ that the bill pass as amended. On
the 18th the bill was called up under
special orders and. on motion OF Mr..
Freeman. was indefinitely postponed.
The vote was So 20 IS. Among the men
that voted to indefinitely postpone this
commission bill were Cline. winsor. RAJ
der, r. r.. Baker. DE MattosT
why aid thsse acknowledgements
oppose the passage OF this bill. which
was OF such alleged great interest 20 the
farmer? How does II come that these
very men are today Just as bitterly op-
posed 10 the governor Of this state as
they appeared to be during the session
Of 1877 The defeat of Rogers pet
measure In the house brought forth his
message, and in order TO hasten the
work this bin Of thirty-nine sections was
carried upstairs 70 the senate, and the
gross attempt was there made to force
bill OF 40 much Importance into the
pending railroad measure, without con-
alteration Of It's merits or defects. IT
was 10 be made the law OF this state
without even q moments consideration.
Never IN the history OF the legislature
Of this state was such an other act OF
reckless iaw-making ever attempted.
But 1t failed. In tho senate. as in the
house. tho bill was defeated by vote
Of tho middle-of-the-road Populists.
Part Of Rogers-Tnrncr scheme.
Now for the story that led up 10 all
this interesting development. IL r. UNI
questionably true that there was hardly
IN sympathy with n tist and reasonable
reduction of the freight rates then in eff
feet In the state. ~ n proper commission
y had been brought s up; IN wh s,sct ine
one and not one to be appointed by the
governor. It would have passed without
question, Of doubt. The legislature was
Overwhelmingly fusion in both houses.
The responsibility OF passing bill for
the Just reduction of rates was with the
fusion party.
hill Il had become apparent 10 all the
members OF the legislature Irrespective
Of party. that Rogers and Turner had
fense ana o oenss n se or ~ n
ner and Rogers. Rogers having used his
Official position in the behalf Of Turner's
election to the senate Turner agreed 70
do all In his power 10 assist Rogers In
his fight TO succeed Senator Wilson two
years later. In order to obtain an ab-
solute control OF the polical party ma
chinery In the state. certain bills had
been Introduced Among the bills that
were to he enacted into law was that es-
tablishipg the state board OF control, the
dispcusary bill and the railroad commits
uir III al
bills had already become apparent and
the middie-of-the-rpad Populists and
other fusionists who were mot on friendly
terms with the governor en- account OF his
autocrntic conduct as shown up during
the senatorial election. became alarmed
at the trend OF affairs.
trolied the workings OF the late fusion
convention held at Seattle II Ii evident
that they had every reason TO feel
alarmed. Y all the bills had been enact
1897 session. what tremendous power
the governor would have welded, The
board OF control In itself already assured
him OF the support ~ hundreds of office
holders. but with the dispensary bill a
law, the numbers would have increased
70 thousands and with the commission
bill In force his power would indeed have
The commission bill was an especial
pet of both RoEers and Turner Through
IL they expected 10 control the railroads
Of tho farmer, NJ for the purposes n their
own selfish designs Through II they cx-
pected to browbeat or blackmaii the rail-
road companies into supporting any polit-
zeal chicanerv they might have In view,
not only In matters OF fusion politics. but
also indirectly In Republican affairs.
When the Populiats saw how Rogers and
Turner were intrenchirg themselves be-
hind bills that when put into law gave
them absolute control OF AFFAIRS. thev
fought them all along the line When the
commission bill failed To pass the house,
Rogers wrote hts message and called 10
his aid such men as Turner. Frank
Graves snively Titlow and others. II
was an open secret that Graves wes 10 be
chairman ~ the board and that Sniveiv
and Titinw were to be members Of the
same, This was to the poruiists like wav-
frr the red blanket into the face OF the
huh Members who had pet measures
that had az vet not been signed by Rog-
ers were held up and threatened
Every effort TO force the populista into
isne. however proved unavailins and the
parsv lash was invoked IN vain. The
threat ~ holding an extra session was ot
welcomed such course,
final EFFORT was made IN the senate
e- March TO put through the Miller
htfl hut this was also defeated by a
vote 81 II 20 IS. the bill being indefinitely
postponed Having no hope to mass Il IN
the house which was overwhelmingly
fusion the governor threw up the sponge
and Graves had to foreRo his ambition OF