The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-29

cOON'S ENEMIES ACTIN {
OLYMPIA HEARS TALK OF BILL
TO ABOLISH LIEUTENANT
GovERNoRSHIP.
Constitution Gives Power to the Leg
isIature to Do Away With
the Office.

| OLYMPIA, Nov 29.-There is some
revival of the talk of z bill to abolish
at the next session of the legislature
the office of lieutenant governor.
| The measure has had advocates in
nearly every session, but no definite
attempt appears ever to have been
made to accomplish actual results.
This year. however those who ia
| the three years about to close during
all Of which time the state has been
without a lieutenant governor. In that
Period Governor Mcbride left the state
for several weeks, and the duties OF
the office that were required to be full
filled during his absence were con-
Quoted without trouble by his private
secretary and the secretary of state, S.
H. Nichols, who became acting COVER
nor during the absence of Governor
Mcbride
In the last session of the legislature
| the members of the senate had the
experience of electing their own pres
iding officer, and it is said they rather
liked it.
Duties Are Not Onerous.
The duties of the lieutenant COVER
H., IN,
siding over the senate during the ses-
sions of the legislature. He becomes
governor in the event of death, or res
ignation of the governor and is acting
governor during the absence or disa
bility of the governor. The state pays
the lieutenant governor salary OF
$1,000 per annum.
Henry Mcbride was elected lieuten-
ant governor four years ago and upon
the death of Gov. Rogers, year later,
he became governor. To test the status
of Gov Mcbride an action was taken
to the supreme court and that body
declared, in effect, that the vacancy
existed in the office of lieutenant
governor, upon the death of the COVER
nor and the qualifying of the lieuten-
ant governor for the office of COVER
nor
The constitution provides that the
legislature may in it's discretion
abolish the offices of lieutenant COVER
nor, auditor and commissioner of pub
lie lands. 1t seems to be conceded by
legal authorities that the legislature
cannot turn out of office in ordinary
cases, but some hold that the express
provision of the constitution concern
ing the office of lieutenant governor
gives the Legislature power to abol-
ish the office at any time.
Enemies of Coon.
1t is suspected that some of the
enemies of Lieutenant Governor Elect
Charles E. Coon, may be responsible
for any bill that may come up in the
next session looking to the abolish
ment Of the office Of lieutenant COVER
nor, but so far the reasons advanced
for the proposed bill consist of argu-
ments on the lack of necessity for the
office.
| 1t is recognized that Mr.. Coons dis
favor for message of the kind would
! mitigate against the passage of bill,
| as the acknowledgement has the
naming of the committees in the SEN
ate. The lieutenant-governor, if he
opposed the bill, could readily refer
it to some committee where it would
be forever buried.
In view of the fact that the intro
ductiOn of such bill would be met by
opposition from Coonss friends on the
ground that it was aimed at him, on
account of ante election scandals, 1t is
not believed here that the movement
in favor of such a measure will
amount to a great deal.