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

Legislature having finished its 90 days
lying, according to some, is now lying
in another sense Of the term suggest
i've Of monuments, winged cherubs and
other signs Of post mortuary char
acter, having departed this life at
1920 actual time, though II o'clock
legislative time, the 18th inst. But
though dead, barring the remote posi-
bility of an extra session. 1t is doubt
full though we may think Of monuments,
that any enduring ones will be erected
to its memory, as the general impress
sion seems TO be to forget it. They
even go so far as to say that they be-
heve many Of the members desire it
to be forgotten.
Long before this will appear in type
the news of the closing days Of the
Legislature will be scattered broad cast
the length and breadth of the state
therefore about all the writer can do is
to sum up the general results and he
will have to be excused if, it being his
last effort, he should in so doing en-
croach upon the editorial department.
At any rate the editor has the last
guess and every well regulated editor
is provided with a yawning waste bas-
ket.
After all is said and done, it might
have been worse, and when time
enough for soreness of certain parties
to have worn off has elapsed, the leg
islature may range fairly well with at
least some of its predecessors. What
makes me think it has been reasonably
impartial is the fact that l have noticed
that members OF the Royal Arch and
of the Anti-Saloon League are wing
with one another in heaping vituper-
alton and abuse on its devoted head.
After long and determined fight in
which all the resources of parliament
tary tactics were brought to bear, a
fight which rouses our admiration,
whether or not it has our sympathy,
the anti-investigators were forced to
lie down and be good when within the
last few minutes OF the session the
senate voted to recede from its amend
ment on the house resolution for in
vestigation of state Offices. AS the
resolution was only introduced in the
house on the last day OF the session it
may almost be said to have been rail-
roaded through. Whether or not Gov
ernor Hay actually declared his in
tention of calling an extra session If
the regular one failed to provide for
an investigation, it is certain that some
thing changed the alignment on the
question in the closing hours. 1t is a
peculiar fact that while many of the
half hearted investigators were siren
uous in their declarations against the
drag net resolution, that the was kind tina
went through, all efforts to confine it
to the Office for which it was really in
tended, and against which special
charges are claimed to have been made,
being without avail. The resolution
provides for a committee Of two sena-
tors and three representatives. It's
report must be in by July IL, 1909.
Senators Allen and Fishback and Rep
resentatives Taylor, McMaster and
Hubbell comprise the committee. 1t
will meet in this city on March 30th.
The general sentiment seems to be that
the committee is fair one and COM
posed of capable men.
The Associated Press dispatches as
to the love feast held during the clos
ing hours, when all the bitterness OF
the session is forgotten, and kissing
and making up is the special order OF
business, is very pleasing reading; it
would be nice if it were founded on
facts. but fail to see it that way.
None OF the osculatory exercises came
under my observation and if anyone
fell on an enemy's neck, he landed as
close to the solar picks as possible.
This legislature not only prayed
lead US not into temptation" but it
provided methods Of prevention in the
anti-pledge bill which makes it mis-
demeanor to circulate pledge for the
signature of legislative candidates.
Pledges do not seem to have weighed
.,o... bao1,;Ixy IN the c0nSciences OF the