The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-07-05
HUTCHINSON
EXPLAINS HIS
HARD FIGHT
WANTED WHOLE STATE 6Usl-
NESS INVESTIGATED AND RE-
PORT SUBMITTED THIS YEAR
ALSO REPEAL OF APPRO-
PRiATlONS.

Senator R. A. Hutchinson is
back from the special session at
Olympia, feeling the finest in his
life, for he had the finest fight
of his life. He says he is not lined
up either Hay or anti-Hay, but he
is for any faction that will repeal
what he considers the steal appro-
priations of the last regular ses-
sion and for what he considers an
honest investigation.
Senator Hutchinson's statement
of his position differs materially
from the reports sent out from
Olympia while the special session
was at work. He says he found
the progressives, as the governors
party was called, adverse to repeal
ing the appropriations, which in
clude the Wenatchee bridge pur-
chase of $4,000, Stuck river i'm
provement of $4,000. southwest
fair. state fair and Columbia river.
Hutchinson went to Olympia for
the express purpose of fighting
these appropriations. When he
found the progressives were not
with him on that he went to the
obstructionists, as the anti-Hay fac
ton was called, and proposed to
vote with them if they would sup
port the repeats and agree not to
try to repeal local option, anti
cigaret and similar legislation.
They agreed and Hutchinson join
ed them on these issues, regard
less of the fact that Ruth was the
obstructionist leader and Hutchin
son had moved reorganization of
the senate for the purpose of elect
ing Senator Rosenhaupt of this
city president instead of Ruth, and
voted for Rosenhaupt.
The Shotgun Resolution
Senator Hutchinson explains his
famous shotgun resolution thus:
The progressives wanted the pres
ent investigation commission con-
tinued until April 10, 1910. Hutch
inson moved that three committees
be appointed, one of which would
be the present committee, to in
vestigate state offices, and the 9TH
er two to investigate state educa-
tional, penal and charitable insti-
buttons. all three committees to re-
port November Is, 1909. and the
special session to be continued to
that time. BY this means Hutchin-
inson says he figured that he could
have the governor political
enemies in state offices and his
political friends in state institu
lions all investigated together, and
the whole thing cleaned up on both
sides.
Senator Hutchinson says that
the progressives assured President
Ruth that they would assent to the
shotgun resolution if Ruth would
give them the four votes necessary
to abolish Schively's office and
would promise not to appoint
Hutchinson on either of the pro-
posed committees. Ruth rejected
this.
The objection to abolishing
Schively's office, according to
Hutchinson, is that event the Of
flee were abolished Schively would
continue to draw salary until his
term would ordinarily end. under
the constitutional provision that no
officers salary shall be increased
or diminished for the time he is
elected
1t was over the shot gun resolu-
ton that Hutchinson had his hard
est fight. When the progressives
accused him Of trying to apply the
whitewash Hutchinson told Falcon
er and others that they were ours
if they said so, and announced that
he stood there personally RESPONSE
BILE for what he said.
Big Cost for Little Work
The special session reconvenes
August IL to take UP the impeach-
ment trial of Schively. On Hutch
inson's motion witnesses will re-
ceive the usual fees for giving tes-
timony in court, with actual ex'
penses only. The legislators will
draw no pay nor extra mileage
consequent upon temporary adj
journment.
The session so far has cost the
state an appropriation of $4,000
and the net result besides the
Schiveiy arraignment is the pas
sage of the game bird bill and the
Duwamish river improvement.