The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1901-01-25
WHAT THE LEGISLATURE rs

DOING
The senate Friday morning received
the report of the railroad committee
the majority recommending the pas
sage of the railroad commission bill,
with certain amendments not Affect
ing its general character. Inc
minority objected to the first sectlon'
which provides that the appointing
power shall consist of the governor
and two state officers. The governor
as he intimated in his inaugural paper
will not take kindly to the proposition
to take from him the power OF creating
the railroad commission, but this is
practically the only form in which the
measure can be passed and the people
of Eastern Washington secure relief.
As many of the members from tina t
side OF the mountains are OF the minor
ity party, it is believed that the bill will
receive their support when it comes to
the vote. The railroad lobby is on
deck with its usual plea against any
sort of railroad legislation, shedding
salty tears(at so much per tear) and
working like beavers.
The usual grist of deficiency matters
have cropped out, that were carefully
kept in the rear during campaign, and
all the departments have not been
heard from. If one OF the state de-
partments during the past admins
tration, has kept within the limit OF
It's appropriations, the fact has not yet
come out. Among those so far asked
for are superintendent office, 81
062.5O; penitentiary, $12, 800; Soldiers
Home, 81, 500; board of audit and con-
troll, $500; Office of land commissioner,
So, 800, state printing fund, SIG, 800, and
so on. These are the appropriations
necessary to carry these departments
over until the end of the fiscal year
April LIST, and must be made, as the
new state officers cannot be hampered
by the acts Of their predecessors.
The legislature adjourned from Fri
day until Monday. Both bodies are
down to work in earnest, and although
not much has appeared during the
sessions much work is being done by
the committees, and will DE IN evil
dence from this time forward.
Senator Andrews, OF King, has intro
duced bill providing for an exhibit
at the Pan-American exposition, and
appropriating $4,000 for that purpose
Although it has many friends, the
feeling seems to be that the public
institutions will call for so much
money this session for additions, de-
fciencies and maintenance, that it is
not likely that an appropriation will
be made, at least in the sum asked for.
Several state roads are asked for and
they, too, will probably have a hard
road 70 travel.
The Capitol question is up thus
early in the session on Senator Ruth's
bill to purchase the court house, some
thing that satisfies but few of the
members, whether in sympathy with
Olympia's fight or not, but which will
be accepted as the only thing which
will effectually down the ghost which
bobs up each session, and the only one
that his excellency, or "accidency"
approves. Tacoma and Everett both
are taking shy at the capitol, but it
is not likely that they will secure
enough votes to get the question before
the people for another vote.
Representative Gunderson was in
evidence the first bill day with batch
of eight, including his celebrated anti
pass bill, and one for the establishing
OF a fish hatchery on Big or Little
Skookum bay. Having the experience
of the previous session, he gets in early
and is doing good work. His anti
trap bill was among the lot and started
the trap interests to work. The
people of the lower Sound are not in
clined to be restricted in their fishing
operations, and are supporting the
cannery interests, but we believe that
if the right course is pursued, mea-
sure can be passed which will protect
the fishermen of the upper Sound
There is little prospect for the passage
of the measure which would legislate
out of existance the traps in the waters
beyond Deception pass, but relief can
be secured, and that will be the aim Of
our representatives.
The feeling for the sale of the oyster
land reserves was quite general, for
some reason, at the opening of the SEES
sion, and something of fight is an
ticipated, but with the cooperation of
the oystermen of Mason County, it is