Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-02-20
ninth LEGISLATURE
WILL PROBABLY BREAK RECORD
FOR EXTRAVAGANCE.
High Hopes of the People In This
Session About TO be Dashed
Down. Railroads Frame COmmiS-
sion Bill, and Extravaganza Runs
Riot at Olympia.


Notwithstanding the fact that the re.
publican state convention was "rail'
road ratification meeting" the sentiment
in favor of railroad commission was SO
emphaticaly pronounced. that, backed
by the party press, the members Of the
ninth legislative session early gave it out
that q commission law would be enacted,
and aggrieved shippers throughout the
state became quite hopeful. The false
basis of those hopes are now becoming
apparent. Deferring to the commission
sentiment, we are to have such law,
but go framed. by railroad attorneys,
that it will suit none but the roads it is
presumed to control. The passage Of
this emasculated commission bill will be
a much larger evil than would be the de-
feat of any such measure. Its enactment
will create the opinion that no such law
will afford the desired relief, and the
roads will continue to manage things in
the old, public be damned, manner.
The fact that this session elected the
man with the slimest purse to the
United States senate gave reason for the
hope that proper regard for economy
would regulate it's actions, but this is
being rapidly dispellsd, and the session
is preparing to 90 down in history as the
most extravagant on record. Lest the
HERALD should be suspected of drawing
upon it's political imagination for this
statement, an editorial on this subject,
in the Seattle P..I. OF Friday last, is SUBJ
mitted below:
"The charges of reckless extravaganza
on the part Of the state senate in the
conduct of its business have been in
vestigated by special committee Of the
senate. The special committee, after
full investigation, was compelled to re-
port that the charges were true in every
particular. The report showed that
there were actually fifty-fve employees
on the pay roll of the senate, which itself
contains but forty.two members. and
that the pay Of the senate employees
amounted to $25 per day more than the
pay of the senators themselves. The
committee further reported that the
number Of employees was 90 disportion.
ately great that many had absolutely
nothing to do, and it showed that the
largest number Of employees for whom
legitimate places could be found was not
in excess of thirty.eight, or seventeen
less than the number on the pay roll.
1.-THE senate considered this report,
aud after a debate. in which many sena.
tors expressed themselves aggrieved at
the suggestion to deprive some OF their
friends of sinecures, the senate by vote
of % to Is indefinitely postponed the
report.
"Seventeen men, not needed for any
public work, will continue to draw sal
aries from the state. for which they will
render no services, in order that certain
OF the senators may be enabled to pay
their political bills at the expense Of the
public treasury.
"This is rank and raw steal. 1t is
we'll that it should be called by its
proper name, 80 that the senators who
have placed themselves on record should
understand precisely how their action
strikes the average taxpayer. They have
no more right 10 pay their political debts
in this manner than they have to pay
their laundry bills or their board bills
out Of the public treasury. When they
vote payment to seventeen men for per.
forming no services, they are guilty OF
malfeasance In precisely the same sense
as if they made any other unlawful ap-
preparation from the public treasury and
divided the proceeds among themselves.
"The debate and the manner in which
the senators sought to justify themselves
for voting money to persons performing
no services showed lax ideas OF decency
and propriety, an utter lack Of the con-
ception OF the duties which the senators
owed to their constituents. Substantially
the argument was that with which every
thief justilies his actions. They needed
the money.
"The worst feature OF this is that some
of the most reputable members OF the
senate have placed themselves in the
wrong in this matter, to the unconcealed
delight of the members OF the combine.
They should hasten to get themselves
right"
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