Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-06-14
THE LEGISLATURE
ACCOMPLISHED MUCH IN VERY
SHORT TIME.

Bill and Passed One Ke.enactIng Its PrOviS
Ons with Proper Amendment dismissed the
Lady Commissioner from the Pan-Amer
lean Board-Passsd Several Acts Vetoed BY
Executive. and Appropriated $1,000 in Pay
ment for the Good Work They Had Done.
In pursuance OF call, the State Leg
islature met in extraordinary session
Tuesday shortly after II o'clock noon
with quorum present in both
Houses. The Senate roll call showed
"a OF the 35 Senators present. In the
House So answered TO their names.
Ex-Speaker Albertson called the
House to order and was at once elect
ed Speaker of the session. Chic
Clerk Cowen and Page Blaine HopT
were reelected.
Falknor, Chalmers and RosenhaupI
were appointed committee to notify
the Governor the House was in ses
sion.
Lewis, Fairchild, laval, Wilson
and Fslknor were named committee
to select House employees and fix theil
compensation.
Chalmers of Clarke moved that the
House do not remain in session more
than two days, and the motion wa:
defeated. Those who opposed took
the position that they favored an early
adjournment, but while in session
would favor giving all matters mature
consideration.
A resolution by Rosenhaupt tina,
the pay of members be limited to two
/ days was also voted down.
In the Senate, the Secretary, Assist
ant Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms
Of the last session were reelected.
Megler, Biggs and Smith were
named a committee to notify the
Governor the Senate was in session.
The rules Of the late session were
adopted with minor amendment tc
make them fit the special session.
The chair reappointed all the old
Senate committees.
Senator Megler was elected Presi-
dent pro tenn.
The committee on Salary and Mile.
age was instructed to make an esti-
mate of expense of the session and the
Appropriation committee 10 prepare a
bill to cover the same. Both Houses
adjourned until o'clock.
The two Houses met in Joint session
and received the Governors message
which was as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of
Representatives.:
A grave question has presented it.
self which has constrained me to call
you together in extra session. This
question is nothing less than the
proper enforcement and execution oil
law. Statute law, it appears to me-
should simulate, as far as possible, the
divine law, or the law of nature.
Punishment should follow the infrac.
ton OF law, in extreme cases, as in
fiexibly and relentlessly as the coming
of day and night. The only ground
upon which we can properly stand in
the intliction of penalties is the pro-
lection of society. And this is in.
stinctively and perhaps unconsciously
generally recognized. Where punish
ment does not follow the commission
of heinous crime, disrespect for law
and its enforcement becomes univer.
sal and the people are prone to take
the execution Of law into their own
hands. This is held to be anarchy, or
the absence of law. Instances of this
are familiar to us all. The only rem
edy is the prompt infliction by society,
through its constituted authorities, of
proper and condign punishment. The
force of law consists in its penalties.
1t may be said with truth that with
out penalties laws have no proper ex-
istence. Capital punishment believe
to be necessary, in extreme cases, for
the proper protection of society. Sta.
tistics, apparently reliable, are quoted
to show that in the United States the
sentence of imprisonment for life
means, in actual practice, only an in
generation for eight and q fraction
years. New trials, technicalities, legal
bubbles and pardons interfere TO pre-
vent the infiiction OF penalties neces-
sary to the protection OF society. In
the case of convicted murderer now
awaiting execution, the criminal,
starting from Victoria, told number
OF people that he was going to Tacoma
to take the life of woman who had
been his wife. He followed her into q
crowded restaurant, where she was
earning an honest living Is cashier,
and, spite Of her screams and implora-
tons for mercy, shot her to death.
Able attorneys have thus far saved his
lille and it is hoped, presume, to still
further prolong his existence, by re.
sort to further bubbles and technical
tiles. Having been incarcerated for
some time the question is now raised
whether he is not insane, and, there.
fore, not amenable to law. If ad-
judged insane and confined in an asy-
lum, when cured of his insanity he
would probably be liberated, when he
might again become insane, commit
other crimes and this process be con-
tinued indefinitely. Other murderers
in this State are awaiting your action
with mingled hope and fear. The sit
uation,' as it presents itself to US, in.
wolves great responsibilities. A mawk.
ish sentimentality is abroad in the
land. Its effects are seen in the non.
enforcement OF law and the conse-
quent increase OF crime. The people OF
the State of Washington look to you
for such deliverance as will assure
them of whatever protection the law
can afford. l am convinced that you
have the will and the ability to COM
pletely satisfy their earnest hopes and
expectations.
The constitution of this State pro.
vides:
Article III, section Z: 1.-THE Gov
ernor may on extraordinary occasions,
convene the Legislature by proclama-
ton, in which shall be stated the pur.
poses for which the Legislature is con-
vened."
Convinced that an extraordinary &C.
casiOn, within the meaning of the con.