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

handling the bill, he to pay incidental
expenses, but to reap a munificent re-
ward for his services.
All told there were seven men in this
combine, six at $3.50 per, and one to
take what was left. He was the man
at the tap of the barrel and II was
agreed that he deserved the remainder.
Subsequent votes indicate the bare
possibility that others of the Seven
have their managerial capacities, out
lined on other bills. But that is an
other story.
The commission forces were served
with notice that the pet measure had
to be included in the commission pro-
gram or the commission bill would be
defeated. The commission men took
the Solid Seven into their combina-
ton.
A word of explanation-the commits
sion people controlled the house. 1t
would not avail the "Solid Seven" to
deal with house members, because they
the "Solid Seven" give an inkling to
the commission men of the money be-
hind their scheme.
The commission fight grew uncom-
Portable. In the house there was an
alignment of forces against the pet
bill, which it became evident was pref
ty certain to be beaten, and which, as
a matter of fact, was beaten. The
Solid Seven,' working on a contingent
fee, stood to lose everything if the
bin was lost in the house.
Envoy Sent to Demand Cash.
Last Tuesday six of the solid
Seven" named an envoy, VINO was en-
powered to visit the railroad bosses
and demand money. The seventh MEM
Der may have been included, and it
was claimed to the roads he was. He
was the man with the big surplus in
the first fee program and may not
have been consulted.
This first fiscal agent of the "Solid
Seven" is a state official interested
in some of the bills pending before the
legislature. He was empowered to
treat with the railroads for the de-
livery Of the combines votes against
the commission bill drafted by the
house sub committee. At that time the
second Kennedy bin had been killed
and the sub committee bill was on the
calendar.
This, the "Solid Seven" insisted,
fulfilled all their pledges up to that
time. The state official selected as
their special advocate was instructed
to tell the railroad representative here
that the solid Seven" was in a posi-
ton to treat with the roads. He was
turned down.
A new representative of the seven
was then chosen and held an extern
sive conference with certain railroad
officials. He demanded $4,000 each as
the reward for the "Seven's' betrayal
of their promises and their commits
sion pledges. The railroads were given
until II p. m. On Tuesday to reply TO
the offer. At that hour the commits
sion forces were to meet. This offer
also was not accepted.
In the meantime one of the senators
in the deal called upon a high rail-
road official and intimated that he rep
resented himself and one other man.
Then he waited for a reply that did not
come. He did some more intimating
without response. Then he became
holder and it was necessary for the
moneyless lobbyist to send him away.
Last Tuesday night after certain
railroad official was asleep an emissary
from the solid Seven" was sent to the
railroads. The official was dragged
from his bed and the emissary stated
bluntly:
Blunt Demand Turned Down.
81 hear there is money here and l
want to be taken care Of" He Is
member of the senate who has received
favors from the lines in the past, but
the blunt proposal was turned down.
Somehow the solid Seven" could
not understand that there was no rail-
road money here and no matter what