The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-12-03

discussing possible legislative action
Members of the legislature are con-
stantly dropping into Seattle, astensi-
bly, on private business, but in reality
to get support for some pet measure.
Seattle seems to be the common meet
ing ground for the outside members
of the house and senate, and scarcely
a day passes that does not See some
important conferences at one of the
leading hotels.
The senatorship and the speakership
seems to be generally regarded as al
ready settled here and conferences are
devoted almost exclusively to the
consideration of proposed legislation.
AT the present time it seems that
the local option bill and the anti-race'
track bill, probably going hand in
hand in hand as twin sisters of re-
form, will occupy the center of the
stage for the greater part of the ses-
sion, but these two measures will not
be- the whole show by any means. par
ticularly as an old friend Mr. Direct
Primary, and our democratic friend,
the guarantee of bank deposits, both
promise to make appearance.
Discussing proposed legislation. a
we'll known member of the lower
house recently said:
Il am preparing for the purpose OF
Introduction a bill covering the guar
anteeing of bank deposits. very me-
cessary law in my judgment, to be
enacted by the next session of our le-
giSlature
zone of the very important meas
ures will be local option, which l hope
to see passed. I am very much in ia
vor of a bill to close up the gambling
at The Meadows; not only. that, but |
think the bill should cover prizefight-
ing as well. l do not wish to convey
the impression that 1 am not a lover
of a good horse but I feel that at The
Meadows the horses are not a consid-
Grafton. AS to prizefighting, I think
it is one of the lowest of public amuse-
ments. and should be stopped for all
time to come, so far as our state is
concerned.
II am in favor of enacting such
laws as will protect the manufacturer
against the prevailing ambulance
chaser. In other words, too many of
our sO-called lawyers put in their en-
tire time trying to place our manufac-
turing plants in the hands of receivers
by urging every employe to file large
claim for damages, regardless of the
merits of the injuries. In other words,
I hope to see a law passed that will
not permit a lawyer to divide the hon.
est judgment given to worthy en-
ploye who has been injured. Both
the injured and the employer of labor
suffer more than their share of the
loss and the lawyer-toO often of very
little ability-receives the lions share.
81 would like to see some amend
ments to the direct primary law,
chief among which is that all voters
be registered, and at the time of re-
gistration each voter should designate
the party with which he desires to af-
filiate. On primary day the judges
should look over the list and hand Mr..
Voter the ticket called for in his de-
claration. and compel him to vote as
he is registered. In this way we will
keep the republicans out of the demo-
cratic primaries and vice versa.
"The voters who register as inde
pendent, and do not desire to be
cassed with either party, are not en-
titled to take part in the primaries Of
either party. In other words, the re-
publican party is entitled to name its
own candidates. All of the parties the
same way, and the man who has no
party should confine himself to voting
for his choice on election day, and not
undertake to designate who shall be
the party candidates at primary time.
'T think that the second choice is
very desirable and should be retained.
I am heartily in favor of the senatorial
pledge as it permits the people to
name the senator, rather than the
members of the legislature. The
electing Of a United States senator at
the next session of the legislature will
be one of the most unimportant hap
penings. If it were not for the sena-
torial pledge all other legislation
would be secondary. AS it now is, the
time of the members will be taken up
in looking after matters that are for
the good of the, state instead of quar-
reling about who should be United
States senator.
'Tn my judgment, the most import
ant legislation during the coming
session will be to guard carefully the
appropriations to be made. Two
wears ago, the legislature found every
institution in the state overcrowded
and short of funds. Our state has
been growing very fast, much faster
than the state institutions. Therefore,
our insane asylums, penitentiary, re-
form schools and all educational insti-
tutions were overcrowded and re-
quired help.
I'm it's wisdom the last session of
the legislature took the bull by the
horns and made sufficient appropria-
tions to cover every single one of
these requirements. 1t is now unne-
cessarv to repeat. Therefore, the ap-
nropriations should be made solely for
the purpose of maintenance, and l
hope to see the appropriation commit
tees of the house and senate cut every
aprropriation to the lowest possible
point as our people have been taxed
to death.
"This should particularly apply to