The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-13

le house and the senate
clock this afternoon to
nor Mead's message. The
favorable comment, be-
We in it's tone throughout.
d by the governor and he
option law. Other much
| and questions Of vital
1servation Of the state IS
lows:
evils that preys upon tho weak
ness Of man. Its provisions, how
ever, are not comprehensive
enough to include q form of gam
bling that has flourished and
grown to grave proportions In this
state. refer to racetrack gam
bling, book making and pool sell
Ing. Aside from the weighty con-
siderati0ns OF public morality,
there is . strong, unsentimental
business argument against the con-
tinuance Of this vicious traffic.
There ts NO more fruitful source
Of such crimes as forgery and en-
than racetrack gam
bling, those crimes which lead to
ruin, despair and sui
eide. The state Of Washington
can no longer afford to sanction
q practice Sc debasing. which each
year draws into the vortex Of
crime and ruin so many young
men who are lured by the appar-
emit opportunity to make large
gains on the hazard Of small sums.
Mining.
Legitimate mining In this state
has often suffered because Of the
failure to protect with wholesome
laws that industry from the oper-
atoms of INSCRIPTIONS promoters.
The unrestricted freedom with
which wildcat companies can be
and have been manipulated in the
districts of this state has
cast an odium upon the industry
in Washington which can be re-
only through the enact
ment of laws that will effectually
rid the state of this most unde-
sirable class of fraudulent opera
tors. Legislation should be enact
ed designed to protect the inno-
cent purchaser of stock as well
as the legitimate promoter from
the irresponsible manipulation.
Regulation OF Hotels and Theaters
Hotel and theater conflagra-
lions, involving the loss of human
life, should be prevented. Laws
should be enacted requiring inn
keepers and proprietors of thea
tiers in villages, towns and cities,
which are without municipal regu-
lations In the form of ordinances,
to subject their properties to in
spection of a competent officer.
Personal Injury Cases.
Remedial legislation is required
to prevent waste of time and USE
less expenditure in the adjudica-
ton of personal injury. Under
the existing system complete jus
tice is not promptly accorded per-
sons suffering injuries. Ordinar-
lily, the liability of the defendant
ia admitted and the only issue to
be determined is the amount OF
recovery. In many instances, un-
der the existing law, great por-
ton of the amount recovered does
not go to the beneficiary, but Il
applied to the expenses of the trial
and attorneys fees.
Tuberculosis.
The number of victims each
year, and radical measures for its
suppression ought to be adopted
without further delay.
Although the public mind may
be apathetic concerning the awful
devastation Of this disease, that
fact should not postpone the en-
actment Of measures that will
arm the state and municipal health
officers and boards to wage sue
cessful warfare against this arch
enemy Of the human race. Its
determination is possible. 1 earn
estly hope that this legislature
will respond to this and other APP
peals which will be made for the
OF practicable legisla-
ton upon this subject
Conservation Of Natural Resources
The great interest aroused in
the subject of conservation of our
natural resources, on account of
the energetic espousal of the poll
cy by the president of the United
States, will prompt the executives
of every state and territory in the
country to recommend to the var
ious legislative bodies that means
be devised for carrying on the
work. In the state of Washing
ton. the conservation Of our re-
sources does not necessarily
mean the restriction of any par
ticular industry, but rather the
prevention of waste. and such wise
methods in marketing the prod
uct that will conserve its repro
duction rather than destroy it.
Such conditions are demonstrably
possible with ultimately no de-
crease in the product. A rational
conservation would, I'm this I'm
stance, contemplate little more
than the prevention Of waste from
fire, and simple reforestation.
Reforestation.
1t is well known that the state
annually suffers great losses
through devastation by forest
fires, which are often either occa-
stoned or greatly aggravated by
unscientific and improper logging
methods: to these the state ought
not to be even a passive party. 1t
would seem but the part of wis
dom to provide by law that In all
logging operations. conducted up
on state lands, care should be
taken not to destroy young timber
unfit for commercfn1 n1,rno4oa and