Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-01-13
Washlu1tnI Stailday;i1
OLYMPIA. WASH.
fhlOli MORNING, liNliRi -, 1905.
New Capital and New Customs.

New Capital and New Customs.
The capitol annex is very good, far
as it goes. II is none too large for the
members now, and each recurring
year with growth OF population impos-
ing larger representation, il will dem
onstrate the mistake that was made in
not supplying the building designed
by Architect Fissg, and partly con-
strncted on Capitol Hill.
There has been, so far-except on
inauguration Day-adequate accom-
mediation for the spectators, a condi-
ition that has never been possible at
organizations of the Legislature since
Statehood. The galleries of both Sem
ate and House were partially filled at
and since organization. a splendid con-
dition for promoting sanitary and So
cial relations that conduce to pure
aud honest legislation. Nothing is
better to promote physical comfort,
the basis OF mental power, than pure
air, and nothing tends to keep the
average legislator fair in his dealings,
and proud Of his record, more than the
approving judgment of the honest yeo-
many, who readily sit in judgment
when conditions for comfort are what
they should be. At the Inauguration,
however, the cramped quarters were
rendered the more conspicuous from
Encouragement somewhere. Wheth-
er il may be attributed to incompetent
cy or design, has not yet been fully de-
termined, but there are many who
seem to think that it was simply the
result of an effort to be "swelI." If
admission was to be by card, why, in
common justice and fairness, was not
the intent made known to all the PEG.
pie? Why was it that Big 1 and his
wife and her cotarie, or Little U, Deepen.
ent and his cousins and his aunts, to
the fifth generation were given bits of
pasteboard that readily admitted them,
while many grave and dignified seign-
iors were hustled from the door, with
curt answer and disdainful glance, "No
room" Possibly some OF these men
have spent . lifetime in payment of
the tithes which have enabled the
State to erect q palatial building and
now pay princely salaries to those who
bask % so refulgensly y in the "littls
bri Of authority" that falls at times with
about As much apparent cause or real
sviden CO Of appreciation as might di.
rect stroke of lightning.
It is to be regretted that what might
have been truly gala season should
have had the seed of discomfort 90
deeply implanted by those possessing
no right of usurpation, at q dedication
OF State building owned by all and in.
auguration Of an executive honored
and respected by all. It certainly be.
trsyed . selishness and greed as unu.
sual As it 10 modern. Time was in our
western history when such indecent
haste for precedence would not have
been In evidence, nor would an oppor-
tuito for it have existed had the orig.
inal capitol been finished.
Everything about the capital 10
modern in its adaptation, and the
members cannot help b pleased with
all the plans made for their comfort,
especially those who have attended
sessions held amid the discomforts Of
eramped quarters and with inadequate
supplies in almost everything for con.
venience and comfort.
The present membership seems to
have lost eight Of the fact that their
desk.room is limited. in the compen.
sailing advantages of fresh cir and
beautiful surroundings. The same
desks are used. however, ~ ct last aea-
sion, and there are just enough in
either house without provision for
increased representation. Half the
time Of the last session was consumed
in cursing the inanimate objects whose
smallness, if nothing else, should have
protected them, and which were made
to get enough Of them in to tho pres.
cribed limits Of the Representatives
hall 70 accommodate the present MON.
bership.
II may be we'll In this connection to
suggest that the ratio OF representa-.
ton be enlarged 60 as to leave the
membership ~ it is; and that probably
10 the intention of Che honorable So.
Ions. for they have increased the list of
ef6ces 90 Is almost to include every
body in sheir respective cons,ituen.
cies. There seems to be no need, with
equal compensation with the members,
to make it include all who have bees
buzzing in their bonnets. When the
roll was called Tuesday, to swear in
the ofice-holding contingent. there
were nearly as many on the official
list - Tho membership roster with
many still scattered over the State
who will appear later on to begin ser.
vice. Their salaries range from IS to
"a per day, Sundays included, sixty
days, for four to six hours labor, paid
every Saturday.
This patronage is not wasted" Il
is all dispensed to those who manage
primaries and do the voting, whatever
may be their other qualifications. The
ladies, who made the best and most
faithful officers when they had an op.
portunity to demonstrate their qualifi-
cations, are iealously debarred from