The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-02-08
Arb BADLY SPLIT UP
Eastern Washington Legislators
On Railway Bills.
All Favor Relief, But They Are In
able TO Unite Upon Any
Definite Plan.

favor OF relief from existing conditions
but the 26 members present were di
ylded IN opinion as to the best plan o
procedure. Four propositions were con.
sldered without conclusion being
reached. The first plan was to oppose
the Preston bill and fight it to the end.
Ihe second was to stand for the Tolmau
Dill to have the appOintive power given
the governor in the Preston bill and
then support it. The third plan was tC
support any railway commission bill
which would win and the fourth was To
| oppose such measures and unite on
freight rate bills. Each plan had ite
supporters, but opinions differed 80
much that 1t was decided to take no ac-
ton now and to ask no pledges from
! the senator's, who are to consider the
| Preston bill tomorrow The chairman
OF the caucus, Senator TOlman, is given
| authority to call a second meeting when
ever there appears to be a chance for
eastern Washington to know it's strength
and win out for east side interests. The
caucus was harmonious. The diversity
OF opinions indicates how complicated
the railway question has become.
Law for Kfdnapers.
Olympia, Wash, Jan. 2O.-Senator
Mantz introduced bill today apprOpri-
ating $25, 900 to build a state wagon
road from the upper falls Of the Little
Pend d'Oreille river in Stevens county
west through Stevens, Chelan and
OkanOgan counties and terminating at
Marble Mountain, in Skagit county.
Senator Welty presented a bill de-
signed to prevent any Cudahy kidnapping
cases in this state. The present law
Furnishes kidnapping where the victim is
under u years of age or where the vic
tim is taken ont of the state. Senator
Welty's bill covers all forms of kidnap-
ing and includes threats against victims.
The penalty is to be from one to IA
years imprisonment.
University Bill Killed.
Olympia, Wash, Jan. 31.-After a
sharp fight in the house this morning.
the King county delegation temporarily
withdrew it's bill asking an apprOpria-
tiOn of 1926, 900 for new buildings at
the state university. The bill had been
favOrably reported by the committee on
appropriations and the democratic
minority, in connection with the wing of
the republicans which is opposed to
King county methods, was prepared to
make fight on the bill
State Highway Measure.
Senator Crow introduced a bill pro
vidng for the creation of a state high
way commission and defining it's duties.
The bill was prepared by the State Good
Road League at Seattle recently, and
generally revOlutiOnizes the manner of
building roads outside of Incorporated
cities and towns. The bill gives the ap-
pOintive power Of the commission to the
governor and provides that ole member
shall be from the faculty of the state
university; another from the state agri-
cultural college. The third man shall
be state highway commissioner at a sal,
ary of $25OO a year and expenses. He
shall have general supervision of all
road building, furnish plans and specifi-
cations upon request of county commits.
siOners and preserve uniformity in build
ing. One half OF the expenses of the
new roads must be borne by the state,
the county bearing the balance. Prop
erty owners along the highway pay Is
per cent of the cOunty's share and new
roads will not be built unless l 5 per cent
OF the cost is guaranteed by the prop
erty owners in advance. The bill is
elaborate in detail.
Looking for Capital Site.
Tacoma, Wash, Feb. 1.-TacOma had
for it's guests today the members of the
seventh legislature OF Washington, and
the lawmakers were we'll entert aimed.
The prime object Of bringing the repre-
sentatives and senator's to this city was
to show them beautiful Wright park,
which Tacoma will donate to the state
as a capital site if the state capital shall
be moved to Tacoma.
Hall and His Joke.
Olympia, Feb. Ex-senator Oliver Hall
OF Whitman county is a bit OF humOr-
ist on occasions, and he let a dart fly
the other day at the expense of Senator
Crow, who never loses an opportunity
to herald himself as the champion
of the PalOuse tiler of the soil,
and workingmen and women in gen
eral. Senator Lands bill making eight
hours a days work for women in fac
tories was before the senate. Senator
Crow announced himself in favor of any
law which would shorten the hours of
| labor for women.
Senator Hall, who had opposed the
bill thereupOn withdrew his objection.
"Inasmuch," said he, Gas the senator
from Palouse is favorable, | will change
my position, as it is a we'll known fact
that the farmers OF the PalOuse work
such long hours that their hired men, as
we'll as themselves, when they return
from the fields at night frequently meet
! themselves going out in the morning"
Representative Durham has intro
duced a bill providing that teachers
institutes shall not be held during July
or August.
Capital Purchase Postponed.
Olympia, Wash, Feb. 4-Consdera-
tion of the bill to purchase the Thurs
| ton county courthouse for capitol
building was postponed by the senate
/ today until Thursday forenoon at IL a.
m. The motion to postpone was made
/ by the father of the bill, Senator Ruth.
/ He stated that three senator's we're alb
/ sent and he wished every member pres
I ent when the vote was taken. Without
/ discussion the pOstpOnement was made.
The wide tire bill was considered and
ordered sent to the judiciary committee.
/ There was some objection to the meas
ure on the ground that wide tires were
not desirable in some sections. These
objections will be aired before the com
mittee.