Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-12-19
RIGHT TO PICKET FOR BETTER LAWS
MUNICIPAL CONVENTION HAS CON.
pLeTeD ITS LABORS.
Many Changes in Old
Laws and Some New Ones.
Similar Convention Will Prob.
ably Be Held Before Each Leg
iSlatiVe Session.

Seattle, Dec. l5.-When the legisla-
ture convenes next month, special
committee representing the municipal
legislative convention will be present
with a large number of important pro.
posed laws and amendments to existing
statutes, which they will ssk the leg
islature to pass.
The convention, which has been in
session since Monday morning, came
to close yesterday afternoon, after
scrore or more of proposed measures
had been outlined and committee
had been appointed to draft them in
the form of bills for presentation to
the state law making body.
1t was the sense of the convention
that each and every member should
use his utmost endcavors to have these
measures favorably acted upon by the
legislature, and that every endeavor
should be mace to enlist the aid and
support of all cities and towns not rep
resented at the convention.
The new laws and the amendments
which the convention decided to IRE
sent to the legislature, refer to matters
in which every city and town in the
state has an interest In preparing
these measures the various committees
of the convention performed their work
with regard for the welfare of all
the municipalities having an interest
in them.
Copies of all proposed measures will
be sent TO the councils of all cities in
the state for their approval, so that
the bills may go before the Legislature
bearing the stamp of approval of the
people in general.
Those in attendance at the conven.
ton expressed themselves as feeling
that the work Of the organization was
highly satisfactory, and that it will
lead to future good to all the cities
which will participate in such a
meeting.
Chairman Lindsey urged that a con-
vention be called before each and ev-
cry session of the legislature, that it
may become permanent organization
and be recognized by the legislature as
mouthplece through which the cities
of the state may express their desires.
He extended an invitation to the con-
vention to meet in Spokane upon the
occasion of its next session.
Legislation Recommended.
Following are the topics of legisla-
ton recommended by the convention:
To make the law Of eminent domain
ny 100 I'll fc Cit Of
third class, as we'll as to those of the
first class.
To amend the law regulating the
sale of property for delinquent inn
provement assessments to eliminate ex-
cessive bidding on such property by
speculative purchasers.
To pass a law authorizing cities Of
the first class to assess state, school and
county property for local improve
ments.
To pass law exempting cities from
liability for damage claims arising
from accidents on unimpreved streets.
To pass a law requiring property
owners to maintain sidewalks in good
condition in front of their property.
To pass law placing assessments
for local improvements on the same
basis as general taxes and making
them an equal lien against the property
To repeal the law requiring regis
tration books to be kept in the city
precinct polling place for registration
purposes before election dates.
To amend election laws 80 as to pro-
vide that the original registration
books shall be placed at the polling
places on election days and certified
copies shall be kept at the Office of the
registration clerk for the purpose of
better guarding against fraudulent
voting.
TO amend the election laws SO as to
compel the secretary of state to supply
copies of the election laws to city
clerks for the use of election officers.
To amend election laws so as to give
cities the hit to change the boundaries
of city voting precincts when such
changes may he deemed necessary.
To pass law requiring that 30 per
cent of the road and bridge fund col
lected within the corporate limits of
any city be spent for the improvement
of roads within that city which con-
meet with county roads.
To pass law enabling cities of the
third class to construct lateral sewers
under the bonding system.
To pass law enabling cities Of the
third class to validate outstanding in.
debtednesss above the amount of in
debtedDess legal for such cities.
To amend the local improvement as
sessment law for cities of the third
GLASS so that they may assess to the
center of the block.
To pass law providing that the
mayors and councilmen of cities Of the
third class shall receive compensation.