Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-02-22
THE LEGISLATURE.
A bHsf Summary Of the Proceedings Of the
Seventh Biennial Session.

In the Senate last Friday morning
Preston's bill to admit Indian war vet.
erans to the Soldiers Home on the
same terms as veterans of the civil
war, passed.
S. b. No. 1l5, by Andrews, provid-
ing for the inspection of steam boilers,
was indefinitely postponed, on motion
of Senator Megler.
No. 81, by Preston, which exempts
mutua! ire associations from the op-
Grafton of the general insurance laws
OF the State. but which prescribes GER
tain rules for such companies, passed.
The bill provides, among other things,
that no policy shall be issued by such
a company until 200 separate risks,
aggregating at least 100000, have
been taken. 1t further provides that
no single risk shall be taken for more
than 81 900 until an assessment on all
its members equal to II per cent. OF
the standard premium specified in
each certificate OF policy would cover
the risk taken.
A considerable amount OF routine
business was transacted.
The following bills we're introduced
No. 1S9, by Tolman, relating to the
the power of incorporated cities and
towns to maintain and operate water
works.
No. 1870, by Preston, an act to &C.
cure greater accuracy in shorthand re-
ports Of judicial proceedings.
No. 19l, by Cornwell, providing for
manual training in the public schools.
No. 1872, by Preston [by requestl re-
lating to the collection OF delinquent
taxes.
At the afternoon session of the Sen.
ate the bill appropriating SAC, 900 as a
sugar beet bounty passed.
There was very little of importance
happened at the morning session OF
the House, Friday. Merrill intro
duced bill fixing the maximum tele-
phone rates as follows: Two party
lines, $3.50; more than two party
$l.5O; long distance, 25 cents for
three minutes conversation on q line
of fifty miles or lees; 40 cents TO,
same on lines from 80 to 100 miles;
cent per minute for additional CONVEX
sation. 1t is provided that telephone
companies shall not put one party on
4" party line without the written con-
sent OF the other members of the
same line.
The House so amended the bill re
lating to the assessment and collec.
ton of taxes as to exempt from taxa.
ton institutions wholly charitable
1t adopted another amendment reduc'
ing the personal property exemption
from $500 to 5000.
| 1t is evident that Everett has no,
given up all hope of being made the
future capital city OF the State. Fair
child this morning stated that that
city desired to entertain the members
OF the Legislature on next Friday,
IWashington's birthday. The de.
sired postponement was due to Ev-
erett's inability to secure a palatial
stramer In which to carry the excur.
sionists to and from Olympia. The
House accepted the invitation.
The Judiciary committee recon-
mended the indefinite postponement
OF the Bush bill defining the crime OF
kidnapping and making the penalty
from three to seven years in the State
penitentiary.
S. B. No. 155, appropriating $500
for the publication of the State Labor
Commissioner report, was passed.
The following bills were read and
referred:
! No. 343, by Bostwick, providing
that in listing tracts for taxation the
same shall be described by number in
stead OF meters and bounds.
No. 344, by Williams, reserving the
natural oyster lands of Pacific county.
| No. 345, by Hastings (by request)
providing that where personal taxes
are not paid within thirty days the
same shall be placed in the hands of
the sheriff for collection, who is au-
thorized to levy on the property taxed.
No. 346, by Philbrick, fixing the
poll tax in cities of the third class at
50. At present the tax varies and
many people take advantage of the
low tax charged by some cities to es.
cape the high tax charged by Others.
No. BAT, by Raine, providing that
persons shall not be compelled to pay
for newspapers ard other publications
unless the same are subscribed for in
person or in writing.
No. 34S, by Carey, making the State
insurance commissioner State fire
marshal and increasing his present
salary $500 annually. The bill au'
thorizes the fire marshal to confer
with fire chiefs in investigating all
suspicious fires.
No. 349. by Gerard, providing for
sale of piece of school land near
Dayton for burial purposes.
No. $50, by Merrill, regulating and
fixing telephone rates.
No. 351, by Durham (by request) in
creasing fees for filing papers.
] No. 352, by same, providing thai