The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-01-25
PETITION FOR MAXIMUM BILL.
Hon. J. w. Arrasmith Thinks Com.
mission Bill Only Can Win.

Railway legislation is a subject which
is agitating the people from one end of
the Eastern Washington grain fields to
the other. Leading Colfax citizens were
requested early in the week by workers
south of Snake river to secure non
partisan petitions and forward them to
members of the legislature, requesting
them to support a maximum rate rail-
road bill, if it could be done without
weakening or fatally striking all legisla-
ton along this line.
A petition of a nOn-partsan nature
was signed by number of COlfax men
and wired to Senator Hall, embodying
this request, but the signs of the times
point conclusively to the fact that moth
ing but the railway commission idea,
now before the legislature could possibly
be secured, and a division between that
and a maximum rate bill would certainly
prove fatal.
From a Man on the Groand.
Hon. John w. Arrasmith returned
Wednesday evening from Olympia, where
he had been since the opening OF the
Legislature, joining hands with the Whit
man county senator's and representa-
road legislation.
Speaking of the propositions along
this line now before the legislature, Mr.
Arrasmith said:
80 lar, no maximum rate bill has
been introduced in either house, but two
bills for a railway commission are before
the bodies, one introduced by Senator
Harold Preston, republican, of King
county, and the other by Senator Toll
man, democrat, of Spokane. The bills
are Identical except as to the naming of
OF the appOintive power of the proposed
commission of three members The
Preston bill provides that these appoint
ments shall be made by the governor,
neutrality-suspicious. and state auditor,
or majority of them, while the demo-
cratic bill vests the governor with full
power in making the appointments.
Should the republican bill prevail the
commission would consist of two repub-
licans and one democrat, but if the dem
Ocratic bill should carry the governor
would probably name two democrats
and one populst or silver republican,
all from one political family-which
would IN effect destroy the non-partisan
character of the commission.
AT the time of my leaving the capt.
toll, the Preston bill seemed in a fair
way OF passing, though it was expected
the vote would be close.
Il am inclined to think that. if the
people at large will favor a commission
bill, and not show a disposition to push
maximum rate, it can be secured at
this time. The prospects seem excellent;
out 1t does not seem possible, with the
strong west side influence against it. to
secure maximum rate bill, such as has
so long been cOntended for.
AS near as | can Judge. a commits
sion bill will be generally satisfactory to
the people, even of the east side, and |
believe that, at this time at least. it
would be grave mistake to insist upon
maximum law and thus fatally divide
the strength OF those favoring some
Kind OF satisfactory railroad legislation.
Should the commission bill carry. | do
not believe Governor Rogers would veto
lt, even though taking complete power
over appointments from him.
For the first time since the agitation
ior remedial railroad legislation began
the composition of the railroad com
mlttee OF the senate was not dictated by
the railroad interests. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Mcbride showed a spirit of perfect
fairness in making up not only this. hut
all committees"