The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1901-03-15
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE Is
DOING
THE SENATE.

The closing week of the session is
getting warm, and each member is
doing lot of schemiug to get the bills
in which he is interested through the
sitting committee Within this week
all the plans of the session will come to
a focus, and some very close fights are
developing. Monday and Tuesday
many measures were passed and about
as many were consigned to the grave
yard. The Senate continues to grind
out laws, but very few of the measures
passed in either house during the last
two days are likely to get through the
other house, unless combinations are
made to rush them through.
The following measures have passed
the senate: 1874, appeal from board OF
equalization; 1876, new horticultural law;
212, giving employees liens for work
performed within six months; 276, regu-
lating fraternal societies requiring GER
tain rates; 218, garnishments before
justices; 200, liens on vessels for services;
211, Redistribution of counties, leaving
Mason county in oath class; .2O4, tram
roads along county roads; 247, liens
and taxibility of inn-keepers; "a, pref
erence right to purchase adjoining
tide lands; 246, for codification of laws
to date, to be sold for not more than So;
81, amending probate law; 24S, right-of-
way to railroads over state lands; 26o,
relating to estates; IS, printing l2OOo
school codes, etc. Also House bills,
providing certain restrictions Oh sale OF
timber on school lands and requiring
removal in three years to prevent
speculative holding, asking congress
to call constitutional convention to
submit amendments to federal constl-
tuition, including people voting for
senators.
The bill prohibiting nickel in the
slot'' machines passed the senate by
an almost unanimous vote. The lobby
was well filled by persons interested in
the adjustment of the instances, but
there was no debate on the bill and the
members promptly voted for its passage.
The senate passed Gunderson's school
book bill and it is now up to the Gov
ernor for action. 1t is very likely that
the bill will be signed and become a
law. On examination and discussion
it is found that the bill is not so bad as
some thoughtless people, who have lit
tie knowledge of the subject, believe.
At any rate it passed both houses with
practically no discussion, after show
ing of figures to prove that books under
state contract have always cost the
school patrons more than similar books
could be purchased for in the open
market at retail, besides the system is
responsible for the mighty poor books
in use in this state during the past ten
years.
The bills changing the existing laws
to conform to the constitutional amend
ments voted on at the last election
were passed; one providing for an ex-
emption Of three hundred dollars to
each householder, but as the emergency
clause failed to receive sufficient votes
the law will be imperative so far as the
assessment for this year is concerned.
The other provides the qualification of
reading and speaking the English
language for voters. Another law
provides that persons cannot vote with
in six months after naturalization.
There is the usual closing day scram-
BILE for movable articles, which are
considered perquisites of the members,
as they would otherwise be taken by
employees and visitors. Things that
are needed to finish out the session are
gradually disappearing, in spite of two
watchmen engaged at night.
An attempt to reconsider the oyster
bills Tuesday night was successful,
and they were placed OH the calendar,
the plea being made that the objection
able features would be removed. The
members interested in oysters fought
the proposition so hard that the bills
were Indefinitely postponed by vote
OF Al, the house having decided that
they did not want to hear more of them
this session. So the steal may be con-
sidered as dead beyond recall, and our
industry is safe.