The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1909-03-19
WASHINGTON
LEGISLATURE.
Last Week of Session Finds
Both Houses Swamped
With Bills.
MAY HOLD NIGHT SESSIONS
Both Houses Of Legislature Finally
Agree on the Local Option COntrO.
versy-Several Amendments to the
Primary Election Law Passed by
Senate-COmmittee From Each
House Appointed to Confer on
Criminal Code-Other Measures.

oIt ulpld, MATCH S.--Il tue Oh
locker were a lumberman he might
eptly say there is Jam" in the
Legislative stream. Both houses Are
badly congested with business, and
the closing days will be strenuous
for the solons. 1t seems to be a hab-
it with Legislators to fritter away
much valuable time during the early
part of the session with useless dis
cussion of unimportant bills, while
the money and other important
measures are held back for commit
tee tinkering and then rushed
through during the closing hours
with little consideration.
1t will take persistent work on the
part of both houses to handle the
great amount of business awaiting
action. Night sessions will be in Or
der, and it is hoped by that means
to clear up all the really important
business. Committee recommended
tons will count for more than ora
tory during the last days. AS mos.
of the members have INDUCED in
vocal gymnastics to their hearts con-
tent during the session they are in
the mood to allow measures to go tc
a final vote without incessant talk
ing.
Settle Local Option Question.
After pending in the legislature
for Y1U tho antira fn 6aUc ond in
terfering materially with other leg
islation, the local option issue was
settled when the senate cOncurred in
the house amendments to the senate
bill. Tie amendments consist of
new bill, retaining only the enact
ing clause of the senate bill, which
materially differs from the measure
originally passed by the upper
branch of the legislature. AS finally
adopted, it provides that each mu-
nicipal corporation shall be a sepa.
rate unit and that the country dis
tricts in each county outside incuI-
porated cities shall be single unit.
4 vote on the liquor question may
be had at preliminary special cleo
of the voters, but subsequent voting
must be at general elections. The
bill permits individuals to bring into
dry territory for private use spirit
uous liquor in quantities not to ex-
coed one gallon and malt liquors not
to exceed one case, in unbrOkCn
packages. Liquor may be nanufac-
tured in dry territory and delivered
therein to individuals. Cumulative
penalties for violations Of the act are
provided.
Close friends of Acting Governor
Hay believe that despite his threats
to veto any save the Falconer-Mc-
Master bill and call a special ses-
sion, that he will either sign the
without his signature.
Would Amend Primary.
The bill amending the primary
election law was passed by the SEN
ate The bill provides that candl-
dates for justice of the supreme
court shall be nominated by party
conventions lISlSdu VI Wy uiLSCL pm
mary. Primary election day will be
the last Tuesday in June instead of
the second Tuesday of September, as
provided for in the present law.
A plan was devised whereby can
didates may have their names ap-
pear on the official ballot at the head
of the list as often as in any other
ho% a.
order in which the names appear
shall be changed as many times as
there are candidates for one Office.
Ii there are six candidates for one
office six sets of ballots will be print
et. IN which the order is SO changed
that there will De no advantage tc
any one candidate. That is to say,
the printer after printing one set of
ballots, will take the line of type
from the head OF the list and place
it at the bottom and print the next
lot. This will be repeated as many
times as there are candidates for
the Office. When the various sets Of
ballots are printed they are thor
oughly mixed and sent out.
The provision of the direct pri-
mary relating to advertisements in
the newspapers was somewhat modl-
fed. The bill provides that persons
other than candidates may cause to
be printed, at advertising rates, any
article advocating the election or the
defeat of any candidate. 1t is pro-
vided, however, that it shall be
plainly stated that the article is a
paid advertisement and that it shall
state who pays for it. In the event
that an article derogatory to any
candidate is printed, the candidate
may use the same amount OF space
to reply, and may pay the regular
rates for so doing