Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-01-29
Legislative Notes.

Legislative Notes.
\ bill has passed both houses CIV
ING Pierce county an additional Su-
perior Judge.
Booth has introduced a bill for
protection of minority stockholders
of corporations.
The Woman Suffrage bill is to come
up in the House to-day. 1t asks for
constitutional amendment.
Anderson of Skagit. has introduced
Il bill asking an appropriation OF
So. 900 for purchasing farm in his
county for the harmless insane.
4 4 4
The Senate yesterday sent the race
track bill to the Judiciary committee
by whom probably a substitute will
be recommended from the code.
Representative Sayre of Pierce has
introduced bill making it unlawful
to hunt large game with dogs, and
providing a fine of from 800 to $500
for violating its provisions.
The Senate bill for an additional
Superior Judge for King county,
after an effort to have King and
kitsap placed in the same Judicial
district, which was voted down,
passed.
Local option has created more
spirited discussion in the Legisla-
ture than any other measure. There
seems to be very generally defined
sentiment for local option among the
members. differing only in a radical
measure that means prohibition, and
a so-called reasonable enactment,
which its opponents say is a subter
fuge to defeat the objects of free
expression at the polls.
\ \
All attempts to delay Hanson's
anti-racetrack bill in the House,
Wednesday, were futile. Motions
to make it special order for the
next day, and for February 18th, be-
ing voted down, it was placed on its
final passage and carried by prac-
tically unanimous vote, % voting
for and none against it. The en-
ereency clause carried by 81 votes,
two members having left the hall be-
fore the vote was taken.
+ 4 4
What the press call the " Newspa-
per Gag Bill, which bObs up ABBOTT
every session, has this early made it's
appearance. 1t was framed by Sena-
tor Graves of Spokane These bills
are generally submitted by or through
the party bosses, and seem aimed at
legitimate objects of restraint, but
close examination generally discloscs
little joker" somewhere. The
acts of public men should always be
open to fair criticism, as the surest
safeguard of economic and honest
government. Every bill on this sub
ject should be carefully considered.
A bill will be introduced in the
present session of the legislature
to prevent the burning of slash
ings during the period of the
Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition
next summer. The object of the pro-
posed legislation is to keep the atmos-
phere clear during the time people
from all parts of the globe will visit
the Northwest. The proposed law
has been endorsed by the manage
ment of the exposition. and it is
pointed out that it will not be hard
ship on farmers and others clearing
land, rs the debris can be piled up
and burned the following summer.
1t is desirable that the thousands of
visitors to this State during the ex-
position should receive the best i'm
preston possible, and the beautiful
scenery is one of the most attractive
features. With a clear atmosphere
the scenic beauties of the country
will be at their best during the en-
tire time of the exposition.
4 + 4
An exceedingly creditable measure
was dc.eated in the Senate Tuesday.
by vote of % to II. which was res
olution for investigation of the official
conduct of State officers. and a subse-
quent rice roce vote eXpunged all ref
erence to the matter from the rec
Ords. Why this extreme sensitive
ness? There must have been some
necessity for the inquiry. 1t really
looks as If some other officers, than
Root stand on slippery ground that
will not bare the glare of the search
light. If there is nothing to expose,
what possible harm could there be
in investigation? Now, that we
think of it, didn the &. O. p. prom
Use to do just what Mr. Polson's reso-
luton intended to do-tO investigate
and report? Was Root completely
unaarthpd until n committao ,,o+ ~