The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-03-05
DOINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE
Legislature Spends Another Week of Val
liable Time Doing Little

made. Its condition might rather be
ascribed to heavy going, for il has Ger,
tainly been an obstacle race. Bitter.
ness engendered over the local option
and similar measures, the disproportion
between the amount of appropriations
asked and the largest possible amount
available, conflicting local interests and
so on being some Of the hurdles, bitches
and stone walls which have been en-
countered. 1t is not too early to make
safe guess, that Notwithstanding no
time was wasted at this session on the
senatorial election, this Legislature is
due to establish a minimum record for
the amount OF business transacted.
Monday was a holiday and silence
brooded over the capitol-the voices
of statesmen were heard not in the
chambers and corridors thereof.
Tuesday was the legislative dead
line in the house and bills flowed in in
a steady stream, for the night cometh
when it taketh a two-thirds majority to
get bill on file.
1t is up to you, Mr.. Voter, the SEN
ate having passed the equal suffrage
amendment of the house and the same
having received the signature Of Gov
ernor Hay. That the suffragists will
go out and make a whirlwind cam
paign goes without saying. The direct
primary law will have considerable
bearing on the subject, for under it
candidates have to come across" with
their views on matters political. The
Perkins press is already on record
against the amendment and the P.-I.
is expected to fall in line, for Perkins
and Wilson seem to have established a
communicative interest. This may be
an advantage though, for the voters Of
the state seem to be slightly restive
under the dictation of the big dailies.
If the capitol bill which has passed
the house becomes a law the land
grant will be put on the market and
sold to pay the three-quarter million
indebtedness against the fund and COM
plete the capitol on the big foundation
up the hill. But little opposition was
brought against the bill, mainly on the
ground that the land would increase in
value faster than the interest on the
debt would accumulate. 1t was also
held by some that the bill was for the
purpose Of getting around the present
provision of the land laws, which en-
couraged the purchase Of state lands
for use rather than speculation.
Senator Hutchinson says that Sena-
tor Ruth is even stingy with the use of
the truth, claiming he has violated the
promise of a place on the senate COM
mittee on rules for Senator Hutchinson
in consequence OF the latters with
drawal from the race for president Of
the senate. Senator Ruth replies, the
business of the senate will now pro-
ceed."
One more proposition for an investi-
CATION, Senator Hutchinson's resolu-
ton has gone glimmering. This last
one was aimed entirely at the insurance
commissioner office, but it was held
that until the new administration took
Office the secretary of state was respon-
sible for that department, and Nichols
instead OF Schively the proper party to
investigate.
The work already done by the ap-
preparation committee indicates that
the estimates for the various institute:
will just about be cut in two; for one
lucky institution that gets more thar
half some less fortunate one was cut
enough to make up the average.
A determined effort is on to mate
rally reduce the cost Of the state print
ing Office. The opinion seems genera
among members Of the Legislature thai
much unnecessary work is done there
and that many documents printed nevel
see the light Of day, OF at the least arr
printed in much more excessive guam
titles than the demand for then