The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-03-19

present session Of the senate of the
state Of Washington has been the most
inefficient, ineffective and incapable
in the history Of the state. I make no
charge OF corruption, but cannot
leave this senate without reiterating
what l took occasion to say several
weeks ago. As member of this SEN
ate, am ashamed of the record we
have made"
Spokane only expected ten or fifteen
thousand from the state to help enter
tain the irrigation congress, but her
representatives seeing that the bars
were down and every other fellow was
going after all he could get in the
scramble for loot, asked for $4,000
and got it. Two years ago the Column
bia river bridge was offered to the
state for $150,000 but our repre-
sentative, seeing the drift of things,
went after all there was in sight 1t
was the only way he could keep even.
If you had been there no doubt you
would have done just as he did.
In round numbers the appropriations
of the Eleventh Legislature amount
to ten million dollars. Some four
million more than was appropriated
two years ago, and five and half mil
lion more than was appropriated by
the memorable Ninth.
Excepting some half dozen bills
which may prove fairly wholesome the
balance of the bills passed might
properly come under the head Of
loot" One half of the time was
FILTERED away in wind jamming over
the local option bill. The appoint
ment of committee to investigate the
all but proven crookednesss of some
state officers was only secured after the
threat Of the acting governor to call a
special session, at which the members
would have to serve without pay.
In the last few hours Of the session
bills carrying millions of dollars were
rushed thru on the double quick be-
fore some inconsiderate member could
prick hole in the loot bubble or the
newspapers ventilate the graft. 1t was
in the last hours in a perfect riot of
loot, that Senator-Speaker Ruth secured
the passage OF his million dollar oyster
land steal. A pious graft that hung
fire in past legislatures.
The following is summing up of
the loot Legislature by the Post-Intelli
gencer staff correspondent on Saturday
last:
The eleventh session OF the Wash
ington legislature has gone down into
history as the most extravagant in the
annals Of the state. The omnibus ap-
preparation bills exceeded the general
appropriations made two years ago by
, $1,478,000 and state officers and in
situations received nearly everything
which they asked for. In addition
deficiency bills amounting to $141,-
34o.61 were gassed. Old state debts
which were refused by other legisla-
lures were paid during the present
session. Chief among these is 5000
900 for the payment of the Cheney and
Whatcom normal school warrants,
which were issued fourteen years ago.
To tell the story of the passing of
these appropriation bills is to recite
tale Of series Of combinations and
frame ups" that were begun when
the Legislature convened. Nearly
every member in the house traded his
vote to secure money for his district or
for appropriations which would affect
his constituents. All of the tie-ups
centered around the passing Of five
bills, consisting of the Wenatchee
bridge bill, 100000; the Columbia
river improvement bill, $4,000; the
Stuck river drift barrier bill, $4,000;
the appropriation Of 100000 for the
entertainment OF the National Irrigation
Congress at Spokane next summer and
the appropriation of $250,000 of Lake
Washington shore land funds for the
building OF a ship canal between Lake
Union and Puget Sound. 1t became
apparent early in the session that the
men behind these measure held the
balance OF power and to them hocked
the little fellows" who wanted small
appropriations for their districts.
The tie-up plan was aided by the
methods which were adopted soon
after the opening Of the session in the
house appropriations committee, where
it was agreed that all appropriations
bills should be held in committee until
the omnibus bill was reported and
passed. This was intended to prevent
trading but had the opposite effect. ,