Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-03-15
OF Washington LEGISLATURE
PASSES into HISTORY.
All Antagonists Join in Gsiety at
Closing Hour, After Deciding to
Put lnve Stigating Probe into the
Office of State insurance Com.
missioner.


The 18th legislature adjourned at
1920 o'clock yesterday morning af-
ter one of the most strenuous 60 days
session in the history of the state.
Because Of the grave cahrges filed
against certain state officers, the
close was not as hilarious as on for
mer occasions. At times, however,
it broke out, and for short periods
high carnival reigned. During the
evening intermissions were taken,
and the third house held full sway.
The last few days have been strenu-
GUS, both branches working day and
! night. Because of the condition of
the work, which was far behind that
of former years, hundeds of bills were
railroaded through, the result being
that in the number of bills passed
this legislature will equal II not sur
pass the 10th session.
Acting Governor M. E. Hay has
won his fight for general investiga-
tion of state departments. The SEN
ate. to the chagrin of the house,
which adopted a resolution that it
believed the senate would never pass,
approved the resolution late last
nlsnL With one minor amendment.
The resolution provides in substance
for what was suggested without avail
by Governor Hay to the state Off
GERS at the famous conference in his
office several weeks ago. The vote:
For-Anderson. Arrasmith, Bas-
sett, Blair, Booth, Brown, Bryan,
Cameron, Cotterill, Cox, Davis, Fall
coner, Fatland, Fishback, Hutchin-
son, McGregor, Metcalf, Myers, Mich
OILS, Paulhamus, Poison, Stevenson
%.
Against-Allen, Eastman, Hux-
table, Kline, Knickerbrocker, Meow
an, Minkler, Piper, Potts, Presby, Ro-
berts, RydstrOm, Smith, Smithson,
Stewart, Whitney, Williams Ruth
19.
Paired-Graves and Rosenahupt.
The resolution had not a vote to
spare. 1t was Immediately sent back
to the house, which quibbled for
| long time over the senate amendment
which applied only to the meeting
place of the committee. There were
bursts of oratory from Bell of Pierce
and Weir of King in opposing con-
currence in the senate amendment,
and the house, apparently in the hope
of filibustering the resolution to
death, refused to concur.
Again the house reckoned without
its host, for the senate promptly re-
ceded from it's amendement with but
a few dissenting votes.
In acting on the resolution pyro-
technics were left almost entirely to
the house. The senate was strictly
business. A call of the senate was
ordered and every member but Ros-
enhaupt, who had gone home, was
finally brought in attendance. Presi-
dent Ruth ruled the resolution out of
order on several grounds, and on ap-
peal the senate overruled him.
81 shall file charges with the leg
islative investigating commission
that President E. A. Bryan, Of the
state college at Pullman, has obain-
ed state appropriations upon false
pretenses," said Senator A. S. Ruth,
president of the senate in his wrath
at the success Of the Schiveley in
vestigation. He added:
Il shall make other charges and
shall insist the committee make a
thorough investigation of the state
college affairs.
The most notable work of the ses-
sion consisted in the passage of To-
cal option bill, an act submitting the
equal suffrage amendment to the vote
of the people; adoption of complete
criminal code and abolishing of race
track gambling. 1t exceeded all pre-
vious sessions in amount of money ap-
propriated, provisions being made for
the expenditure of approximately
$10,000,000. Part of this total will,
however, be made up by the disposal
of land resources and the issuance of
state bonds.
The session was remarkable for the
voluminous bills passed rather than
for the seriousness of the legislative
efforts. With the exception of the To-
cal option bill, the really important
measures were passed without pro-
tracted or serious controversy.