The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-06-14
A SPECIAL SESSION
Governor Rogers COnvenes the
State Legislature.
trouble Came Up Oyer the Capital
Punishment Law Recently
Passed.

Olympia, June S.-The state IegisIa-
!ure VIII meet IN extraordinary session
III thle city tuesday morning to consider.
alhend OF otherWlse pass upon the new
hahds capital punishment law in such a
manner as to prevent a miscarriage of
lustlce IN the cases OF NOrdstrOm, SeatOn
ana other condemned murderers now
awaiting execution in this state and who,
1t Is believed, cannot be legally hanged
after the Rands bill becomes a law.
June IA
A proclamation to the effect was is
sued by Gov. Rogers this morning as a
direct result of the refusal of the su-
preme court of the state to pass upon
the main question raised by the B0ycp
murder case, appealed from the superior
court OF Pierce county, in the hope that
a decision might be rendered that would
unsnarl the tangle into which the law
has become involved through the pas
sage OF the Rands amending act.
Never before in the history of the com
mOnWealth OF Washington, either in
state or territorial days, has any
emergency arisen requiring the assem-
bling OF the law-making body in special
session. The present case is unique in
that regard.
Gov. Rogers expressly states in his
proclamation that the sole purpose of
the extraordinary session is to consider
the Rands bill, and while there is some
doubt whether this will prevent the law
makers from taking up other matters if
they see tit, owing to the peculiar word
ing of the constitution of Washington
the general opinion among the lawyers
is that only the subject referred to in the
proclamation can be taken up.
The extraordinary session, therefore, is
likely to be OF brief Duration Any action
toward correcting the last legislatures
blunder in the Rands bill must, in order
to be OF any avail, be taken on or before
next Thursday, since the Objectionable
measure becomes a law next Friday and
cannot thereafter be changed in any
manner that would benefit the state in
it's endeavOr to bring it's murderers to
the galloEs.
The following is the text of Gov. Rog-
ers' proclamation:
''State of Washington, Executive Depart
ment:
"Olympia, Saturday June s, 1901.
"A proclamation by the governor to the
members of the legislature of the state of
Washington:
Whereas, An extraordinary occasion exists
requiring the assembling of the legislators of
the state of Washington,
''Now, therefore, |. John r. Rogers, gov
ernor OF the state of Washington, by virtue of
the authority vested IN me by the constitu-
tlOn, do hereby convene the legislature of the
state of Washington IN extraordinary session
ln the capital at Olympia, on Tuesday, the
11th day of June, A. d. 1901, at the hour of
II o'clock meridian.
''The purpose for which the legislature is
called together is that it may pass upon, con-
firm or amend the law relating to capital pun
ishment.
I'm testimony whereof l have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the state to
be affixed hereto at Olympia, this 8th day of
June, A. ID. 1901"
No event of recent years has aroused
more general interest among lawyers
and politicians, than the calling together
of the legislature by Gov. Rogers. The |
general public is eager to know whether |
NOrdstrom, Seaton, Boyce and other |
murderers in the state are to meet the |
fate the law prescribes; the lawyers find |
in the matter field for unlimited specu
latlOn owing to the many questions of
criminal and constitutional law raised |
by the governors action, and the
politicians see, or profess to see, deep
down below the surface of the proclama-
ton, indications OF a political scheme in
which the governor and his political
friends have a deep interest.
Special Session Organized.
Olympia, Wash, June 11.-The legis-
lature organized today, and met in Joint
session to hear the governors message.
After bills were passed providing for
mileage and expenses of the session, the
senate got before itself an act to repeal
the Rands act, which threatens to set
free all condemned murderers in the
state. Neither house would go on record
for a short session, although the gov
ernOr asked that the legislature cOnfine
itself to the one piece of work.
TOday's trains not only brought
quorum OF the state legislature, but
twO-thirds majority of both houses The
session opened at 1870 with 24 senat-
ors and Sc representatives in attend
ance. Those present from Whitman
county were Representatives Waters and
Barkhuff aud Senator Crow.