Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-01-17
REFORM IS The WATCHWORD AT
The STATE CAPITAL.
State Legislature Is Organized Non.
day With Harmony In Abundance.
The "OId Guard" of the Senate is
DethrOned. Session Begins In
Economical Spirit.
Especial to the HERALD.l

Especial to the HERALD]
OLYMPIA, Jan. 15.-Twenty.six to fif-
teen was the vote which inaugurated the
"square deal" in the state senate.
("Square deal" the sponsors OF the new
call it; what Lieut-Gov. Coon
and the "old guard" call it would not be
permitted to pass through the mails.)
This movement, the aim OF the same
being to make the office OF lieutenant
governor still more OH the "honorary,"
has been the al-absorbing discussion OF
corridor and lobby.
Rule 6 was the bone of contention over
which some dignified senatorial growing
occurred. 1t is to the effect that the ap.
pointments of the president of the sen.
ate (Coon) must be confirmed by the
senate. The battle was not on the floor
Of the senate, mere man cannot give the
details. 1t occurred in executive session
of the "insurgent" caucus. AZ it re-
quired more than one session of the
same, the last nearly an all.night one, it
is evident the solid front presented was
the result Of no little work.
The "regulars" likewise did the caucus
act, the features of which were the cor.
diality of the invitations extended and
large per cent. of "regrets" received.
Failing to receive majority there was
no business to transact and no call to 20
into executive session.
The victorious senators declare for re.
form in legislative methods and economy
in conducting the affairs of the session.
No small item in the "new deal" or
"square deal" is doubtless due 10 the
opposition that developed to the candi-
dacy of Mr.. Coon in the election two
years ago; antagonism to Crocker is an.
other factor.
A tiny olive branch was extended the
lieutenant'governor in the unanimous
election Of his friend, J. Will Lysons, as
secretary of the senate. w. J. Laube is
reading clerk and Will Connor is ser.
geant-at-arms.
While grim visaged War, albeit amen
able to the rules of civilized warfare,
stalked abroad in the senate the Dove of
Peace found congenial abiding place in
the house.
Not only did ]. A. Falconer, of Everett,
receive the unanimous vote of the repub.
licans for speaker, but the democrats as
we'll, climbed into the band wagon with.
out even complimentary party vote, an
unusual, if not unprecedented, honor.
Contrary to the above procedure of the
senate in restricting the power of it's
presiding officer, it is conceded that
when the house said to Mr.. Falconer,
Gag, you're It," it meant every word of
it, and was handing him neither lemon
nor gold brick.
L. G. Meiggs, Of North Yakima, was
elected chief clerk, and Grant Cottrill. of
King, sergeant alarms, both elections
being unanimous.
The keynote of the house is also for re-
trenchment, and as in the senate the
usual number of employees cut in two at
one fell swoop. 1t remains to be seen if
either branch makes good in this line.
Liberal promises of patronage have pre-
sumably been made on the basis of
former number of employees, and the
difficulty OF redeeming even a workable
proportion may prove too great. Political
fences are entitled to some consideration.
Reform is gentleman and scholar,
but he cannot be permitted to run amuck.
In the house the matter Of employees was
left to a committee of eleven, chosen with
reference to location, as follows: Mr..
Speaker: Huxtable, Of Spokane; Mccoy,
Of Lewis; Fredenberg, Of King; Reid, of
Pierce; Lambert, of Whatcom; Hender-
son, of Walla Walla; Johnson, of Yaki-
ma; Davis, of Douglas; Kayser, Of Ska
mania, and Olson, of Kittitas. 1t is
tacitly understood that the decision of
this committee will be final. 1t is not
unlikely in view of the diminished pat.
ronage that finality may mark the future
political efforts OF some of its members.
Some idea of the disposition of the
members to 60 after a record is shown
by rumor of 40-day session. Candor
compels the confession that the rumor
proved to be homeless orphan, that it
met an early death, but it is something
to be able to chronicle the fact OF it's brief
existence.
1t is too early to get q line on probable
legislation. The pace set in the work of
organization indicates that all possible
issues, and perhaps some impossible
ones, will receive attention and con.
sideration. BIaE EDDY.