The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-02-03

voters to decide the question. There
is no doubt but that the people want
this opportunity to declare themselves
on the saloon problem. IT is there
fore up to the legislators to pass a
law and give them the opportunity
they desire.
Recently at a caucus of several of
the state senators IL was decided to
pass nothing but local option meas
ure applying to towns other than of
the first. second and third classes,
which is about equal to no local op-
ton law at all. 1t is said that Cam
eron was one of the members of that
caucus. On Tuesday the senate pass
ed resolution referring the local
option bill to the judiciary commit
tee. Cameron. voted for that resolu-
ton.
Senator Poison introduced a bill
Tuesday calling for a sweeping inves-
| tigation of the state supreme court
only recently under fire, and also for
an investigation of the insurance de-
partment. He was promptly squelch-
ed and the measure voted down.
Cameron voted against the investi-
cation.
In connection with this proposed
investigation one of the state papers
editorially has the following to say,
which pretty nearly fits the case:
'If there has been malfeasance in
state office, it is within the power of
the legislature to investigate it. More
over. it is the duty of the legislature
to investigate it and clarity the at
mosphere which has been for some
time clouded with rumors and charg-
es. The legislature could devote its
time to no higher purpose than see
ing that the laws of the state are not
violated by those whose special duty
it is TO execute them. The sudden
end Of the Poison resolution intro
duced in the senate yesterday is sur
Drising. Perhaps the resolution was
not worded exactly as il should have
been. Perhaps the language should
have been modified. 1t was within
The power of the senate to make any
changes il deemed necessary. The ac-
ton of the senate should probably
not he taken as a final decision not
TO investigate any state office in con-
have been repeatedly made.
"If state officials have abused their
offices, the people are entitled to
know the facts. If the rumors and
charges are false. then the state Off
Gals whose names have been on the
! public tongue should be indicated
/ and the circulation of rumors and
charges stopped 1t is detrimental
to the public service to have such ru-
mor@ and charges afoat
''f the constitution and the laws
/ Of The state have been violated, it is
! the duty of the legislature TO make
/ the Facts known to the public and
punish, as far as it may. the wrong
doors. In like manner, if there have
! been no violations, the Legislature
should make the fact known to the
public. both for the sake of officials
| innocent of any wrong and also for
the sake of the public service. the eff
! ficiency of which is seriously ham
pered by the existence of rumors and
charges.
"A state of public distrust in re-
gard to any public office is to be de-
plored. Where such distrust exists,
| the legislature SHOulu ascertain INC
reasons and do whatever is within
/ its power to restore confidence.
More important even than the
enactment of new laws is respect for
and obedience to the laws we already
have. and particularly important is
it that men in public places, whose
function it is to make, construe and
execute the laws, should comply with
those laws in spirit and letter,
Charges affecting the Office of in
surance commissioner have been ~1e-
Deate1ly made. The legislature should
ascertain the facts and make them
known Some time ago the insurance
commissioner demanded in an in
terview in the public press that leg
istatv investigation be made. The
legislature should not deny or dis
appoint him, for by so doing it would
disappoint a large number of people
in the state of Washington who fear
that all has not been wei! in that
ouice.
Rumors affecting in5uriously 9th
er offices have been going about. The
resolution of Senator Poison opens
! the way TO clarity the atmosphere by