Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-06
HON. J. D. BASSETT
Writes Entertainingly of Doings
of the Tenth Legislature.

Sii'a'N h'eNh P4NANA s'Neh'S- NO'''
to talk over the legislative events so
far but as that is impossible l gladly
accede to your request to report TO my
the proceedings of the
first tire weeks of the legislative
session.
In the first place the weather has
helped to make us feel at home, as
much of the time we have enjoyed
typical eastern Washington winter.
Sleighs have ;ppeared on the streets
of Olympia at three different times
since we have been here, an almost
unheard state OF affairs; the mercury
has several times fallen dangerously
near zero and the we. ther between the
cold waves has been bright and clear,
like Eastern Washington, instead of
the usual Puget Sound rains.
Personally, have also enjoyed the
pleasant task of plenty of work, which
is always specific against home-sick
ness. Until the session commenced |
did not fully appreciate the increased
opportunity and responsibility which
falls to the second year members.
The EDUCATION of one session, even to
those who were privates then, is worth
a great deal. The older members nat
urally receive the best committee
places and are expected to take the
lead in guarding legislation.
The most important bills so far
passed are those relating to the Yukon
Exposition. This was problem which
confronted us from the first and seemed
hard of solution. The amount asked
fora million dollars-was very large in
view OF the unusual calls from state
institutions for increased appropria-
tons; but the occasion and the con-
ditions were very exceptional. The
preparations for this Worlds Fair, the
first ever held in Washington, are well
; under way, and on grand scale; the
fair itself will be held on the grounds
of the State University and the money
asked from the state will be mostly
expended in buildings and improve
ments on the university grounds, which
will remain the property of the univer-
sity when the fair is over and will
supply, in connection with other build
ings erected during fair time for other
purposes, all the needs of the Univer-
, sity for years to come. Proper
as the expenditure seemed, /, for
one, could not bring myself to vote so
large sum to be raised by taxation.
The present plan, to which was at
, first opposed, but which having been
given especial opportunities to investi-
gate as member of the committee
; having the appropriation in charge, |
finally fully approved as the best solu-
tion of the question, to give the pro-
ceeds of certain lands owned by the
state on the shores of Lake Washing
ton and Lake Union, in payment of the
amount appropriated. These lands are
all under water and include that portion
of the lake adjoining the shores which
is less than thirty-two feet in depth.
The lands remaining unsold are about
fifteen miles in length. They have
been partially in the market for several
5 years but have sold very slowly and at
4 nowhere near the amount required to
D meet the appropriation. The terms of
! the bill have been drawn very carefully
: the University Buildings are to be
e built first, no liability is to fall upon
n the state, and the surplus, if any, is to
be returned to the state; the proceeds
e of the sale of the land are to be ac-
copied by the exposition as full pay
ment of all their requests and all the
, many buildings and improvements on
}, the fair ground are to be given to the
=. University at the close, if of any use
to them.
!, There is considerable legal contrO-
versy whether, under present laws, the
whole, or only one-fourth, of the pro-
;, ceeds of the sales of these lands would
, go into the state treasury; the boom
: prices now prevailing in Seattle make
this an exceedingly good time to sell,
anu IL uotS UOt seem " iuc pOsSfDic
e that the Exposition people, even with
S the well-known generosity of Seattle to
r help them, can realize the amount re-
t quired from the sale of the lands. The
S measures were hurried through at the
: last more than l sanctioned, but the
reason, which satisfied the majority,
Y was that the Exposition has agents with
e congress and with every legislature in
e the country at an expense of $500 day,
t unable to do anything until the appro-
t priation is made by Washington. TAX
: ing everything into consideration, con-
slider the action of the legislature in this
matter very wise.
have, of course, paid especial at
; tention to legislation which concerns
our own people. The sack question is
among the first in Importance. This
had more sides to it than | expected.
Bills have been introduced putting in