Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-01-25
sf'a5hia9loa Standard
The G.st Of Legislation.

Lee y. Johnson, Oh tbe lower HOust,
ha, introduced local option bill.
Senator Blair has prepared q bill TO
make Memorial Day State holiday.
Senator Piles has introduced bill
establishing a ward at the State Peni-
Tertiary for the cIiminally insane.
Representative Fancher, OF Spokane,
has introduced bill 10 legalize the
void normal school warrants issued in
$50.
Senator Ruth has introduced bill
authorizing the construction OF q
Governors mansion to cost 1000,
the expense to be paid from the capitol
fund.
Representative G. W. Hamilton, Of
Benton county, has introduced bill
to substitute the electric chair for the
hancman's moose in administering
the capital penalty.
The number oi bills introduced the
first two weeks of the Legislature ap-
prOxirate 200, about twO-thirds OF
which originated in the House and the
remainder in the Senate. Many are
at course trivial in Importance and
will fail to pass.
Representative Carlyon introduced
q bill last Friday for investment OF
public funds, aud Senator Ruth one
for the same object, referring specifi-
cally to the permanent funds OF
Normal schools, and penal and re-
furmatory institutions.
1t is said that Tacoma is the cat
under the meal that has devised the
scheme for removing the Soldiers
Home from Orting to the heights near
the city. 1t is probable that the Park
may again become . trump card if
the deal is consummated.
Senator Graves has introduced .
bill requiring that Superior Judges be
compelled, in civil actions, to give
their instructions to the jury in writ
ing, before the arguments Of counsel,
AMI another providing that juries
shall fix the penalties in murder trials.
The first bill signed by the Governor
was S. B. No. 8. appropriating $4,000
for per diem and mileage of the Legis-
lature. The second bill approved was
H. B. No. ], sppropriating $4,000
from the revolving fund to purchase
jute and for operation of the jute mill.
Many OF the legislators are looking
askance at the Direct Primary Bill"
It seems to have come too we'll sup.
ported not TO contain some possible
"Degro in the woodpile," and to sug-
gest if it may not be we'll, as Hanna
would express it, to LET we'll enough
alone"
The committee of investiga ton of
food supplies for the Penitentisry rec.
ommend . better breed of cattle and
swine, and an extension of farm oper.
ations, and to that end tho applics.
ton of sewerage and fertilizers for i'm.
provement of the land available,
which is not of the best quality.
Metcslf OF Pierce 10 author of a bill
exempting from prosecution, persons,
who turn States evidence in bribery
or gambling trials, and another giving
Prosecuting Attorneys power to com
pei evidence preliminary to filing Grim.
inal information. The last would
make Grand Juries necessary only in
rare cases.
An important change TO be recon-.
mended by the State Convention of
County Treasurers 10 to amend the
revenue law, making personal taxes
collected Immediately on assessment.
They now remain on the roll year,
and in the interim much property a..
sessed is removed from tho county
and State and the tax levy lost.
The Governors committee recon-.
mends that the salary OF Fish
Commissioner be raised to g..
500, and superintendent of hatch.
cries, receive $1,000 each; that the
Offices of Game Warden and Fish
Wardens be combined, and State Ii.
cences issued to sportsmen upon rec.
ommendation of committee appointed
by the Governor.
Piper's bill (No. $50 in the Senate
Tuesday provides for an appropriation
of $4,000 for construction Of A. Y. P.
buildings, that will after the big fair
be suitable for permanent University
buildings. This seems to be an at.
tempt to float larger appropriation by
pair of life.preservers instead Of al.
lowing the Yukon Fair and the Uni.
versity 10 pull for the shore separately.
The State Department Commando,
Of the Soldiers Home, ct Ortiug, G. B.
Dowing is at the State capital 10 urge
the removal of that institution from
its present location to some other
site and pass . 4" cottage bill" which il
intended to be the means Of allowing
the veterans wives to live with them
at public expense. The plan does not
seem to meet with very much support.
A King county representative ha.
introduced bill for an act making il
legal to place lien upon tombstonee
and remove them from the grave
when the purchaser does not pay fol
them. The same principle would
justify an amendment for seizure oil
the casket Tor rather coffin, the kind
OF receptacle the poor are buried in,
when the debtors pound Of flesh il
not forthcoming.
An ingenious method Of avoiding the
issue presented in school matters,
at San Francisco, is provided in the
bill OF Representative Hutchinson,
that the admission Of any child whose
father is not q citizen, or has no,
taken out his papers, to become such
shall be based upon payment OF q
tuition fee of from S. to SIS per
month. The payment of . fee of any
kind is just what the Jap wishes "a
avoid, and the establishm emit of the
status OF citizenship is just what he
cannot present.
Senator Paulhsmus. chairman oil
the Senate Railroad Committee has
asked for an accounting OF the Rail.
way Commission appropriation which
amounts to an impeachment OF Com
missioner Faircbild's stewardship az
member OF that body, and Hutchison oil
the House, has made . demand that
the Attorney General sue McMillip,
resigned. for money received as Rail.
road Commissioner. II is said that