The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-03-06


standing that every assertion made
reads as If it were prefacei by the
words: 1T is reported"-or 1T is
claimed"-or other similar words to
indicate that the story is one float
ing around legislative halls in Olym-
pia and into the ears Of many people.
The Story In Full.
Five thousand dollars paid to each of
the seven members of a senate COM
| bine would have defeated the railroad
commission bill.
This was the proposition submittel
by persons claiming to be authorized
to represent the "Solid Seven" before
railroad representatives. 1t was the
proposal couched in one instance in
indefinite terms and a second time in
bold explanations by one Of the SEN
ators involved.
Seven of the senators who lined up
with the commission forces were will
ing to sell out. These seven stood
with the program to force the railroad
commission bilf UP to point where a
vote was to be taken and then begged
that action be delayed. They wanted
to use the interim between second and
third readings for purposes of graft.
On the very day that these senators
agreed to stand through thick and thin
with the commission men they were
seeking a spokesman who would induce
the railroads to pay them their price.
The names of the members of the
Solid Seven will not be found in the
Kennedy bill, nor are the four men who
voted against the subcommittee bill
among the seven After all, this ex-
PLANTATION is not absolutely necessary,
for manifestly valuable support must
have come from the alleged commits
sion strength.
It was after this offer had been
turned down and there appeared no
other manner of beating or amending
the railroad commission bill as draft
ed by tne railroad wing, that the roads
determined to force the mesaure, give
it their votes and put it through be-
fore the ''Solid Seven" were given an
opportunity to realize on another side.
Decided to Spoil the Graft.
The solid Seven" was working on
$3.50 contingent fee for certain
other bill which was bound up in the
agreement between the radical COM
mission men and the Seven" and
which was likely to be beaten if the
commission bill went through before
the house reached their next measure.
The railroads determined to spoil the
second graft as they had turned down
the first.
The roads are not overly scrupulous
in legislative matters. In the past it
has been declared without effort at
contravention that money has been
paid out to defeat railroad legislation.
The Solid Seven" believed the same
tactics would be resorted to this time
1t takes time to outline a legislative
! program. The railroads decided after
the campaign to accept railroad COM
mission bill. They decided that by
| adopting an attitude of evident fair
ness they could obtain sufficient con-
cessions to make their position tenable.
1t was decreed then that no money
should be spent to buy the legisla-
ture.
AS late as the visit of high traffic
men to oppose the Kennedy, Boone and
Reed bills the railroads were assured
that money was not needed to protect
the railroads. 1t was declared that the
desired concessions could be had. Not
even the Kennedy bill showed all that
the railroads were prepared to concede,
and even if the idea of purchasing
concessions had been entertained, it
was deemed such action was not
necessary.
A demand for money at the last mo-
ment came upon a railroad lobby I'M
prepared to meet the demand. High
railroad officials not here may have
had the authority to meet the demands.
They would not do so, and it is claimed
that they took this attitude from
choice. At the same time it is to be
questioned whether they could have
done so in any event
But the roads could have allowed the