The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-01-29
LITTLE DOING IN LEGISLATURE
Short Sessions, -Four Days in the Week
Is the Rule

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in haste Monday morning before the
time was up, but those of a speculative
mind ask if that cures the adjourn.
ment; also, whether the adjournment
being unconstitutional would have any
effect on the balance OF the session.
Brown, of Whatcom, introduced the
usual resolution in the senate limiting
the session to 40 days. Of course nc
one took it very seriously and only five
voted for it. Ruth, Of Thurston, called
Brown down for going out after free
advertising, but did not neglect the
advertising a violent opposition to ii
would give him among his Olympia
constituents, who would have no objec-
ton to the legislature doing the con-
tinuous performance act.
Senator Allen has contributed to the
government by commission idea by a
bill providing for a state health officer
with 5-year term and S., 900 annual
salary. If the commission scheme
continues to develop we should be able
to dispense with the balance of the
state officers.
The Roberts bill carrying an appro-
priation of 100000 for home for
aged, blind and disabled will probably
go shipwrecked on the rocks Of econ
omy irrespective of its merits. The
proposed benefciaries are used to
economy and will probably raise no
objections.
The anti-race track gambling lobby
is here in force, headed by no less a
person than McElroy himself. Some
of the big dailies are almost frenzied in
their demands for the bill, but we shall
see what we shall see. If they cannot
defeat the bill outright, the racing
interests lobby will spar for a time,
failing which they will not put the un-
wary wise should a little Joker" be
allowed to creep into the bill.
Mr.. Billings, who recently died in
this city at the advanced age of 81
years, was for more than a quarter Of a
century sheriff Of this county, a record
seldom equalled in political history and
utterly impossible under the two-term
constitutional provision which discour-
ages the following of politics as life
business.
When bill is indefinitely postponed
in the senate it is a dead bill. The
rule following reconsideration on two
thirds vote having been itself reconsid-
cred and killed. This was not done
without opposition, some of the senat-
ors declaring the change paved the
way for gag" rule which consideration
failed to impress the majority.
An attempt to extend the rules
against lobbying on the floors of the
house to recesses Of that body failed, it
being the apparent opinion that even
lobbyists have some rights. Avery ex-
cellent measure may originate outside
of both branches Of the legislature and
be carried through by public sentiment,
lobbying a bill, which otherwise
never would have been thought Of.
Places for FIVE more of the faithful
were found in the house. The limit Of
employees having been raised for their
benefit. 1t was not done without
sharp skirmishing but the watch dogs
Of the treasury" were in a hopeless
minority.
The county treasurers' convention
was slimly attended but IS being in
attendance, but the legislature will be
the wiser by some recommendations
one of which provides that the salary
of the chief deputy shall be not less
than 90 per cent. Of the treasurer's. S.
The county commissioners now fix al
deputies salaries but the treasurer:
seem to resent their occasional but.
ting in" in the interest of economy.
Nineteen members of the senate
have signed caucus call for a sitting
of those who believe in fair local op
ton law. AS this lacks but three Of
majority, fairness" promises to be
leading feature Of local option legisla
ton which may run the gauntlet OF tn,
upper house.