The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-02-11

OLYMPIA. Feb. 9.-With almost
half of the 18th session of the Wash
Ipgtou legislature gone, the record
q, laws enacted includes only five
hills signed by the governor, four
Of which carry appropriations.
One appropriates $4,000 to de-
fray general legislative expenses;
one appropriates $4,000 for legisla-
tive printing!; third appropriates
sl6l7 for the insurance commission
er's office and another azseal for the
same office, while the fifth continues
appropriation for the .Alaska-Y ukon-
Pacific Exposition.
The senate has passed Is senate
bills and the house has passed ~
house bills. The senate has received
?21 new bills and the house 203.
The two main issues of the ses-
sion, local option and anti-racetrack
gambling, however, are well along
and by taking them up early in the
session the legislature has made
more actual progress than is appar-
ent On the face of things.
The anti-racetrack gambling bill
has passed both houses, but the
emergency feature is still unsettled.
The local option issue last week con-
sumed two days and one night of
the house sessions, but did not reach
final passage Efforts will be made
to dispose Of it in both houses this
week
The house seems certain to pass
the McMaster local option bill with
out material change, but there are
no sincere predictions that the meas
ure will get through the senate in
its present form.
Unique Provisions in Code.
With the anti-racetrack and local
option bills out of the way, interest
Is likely to settle on the new crimi-
nal code. The code commission has
submitted draft of the proposed
code to the senate judiciary commit
tee, which is likely to eliminate
many provisions and perhaps add q
number. .:--.
The commissions suggestions COW
er wide range. comparison with
existing statutes reveals that of the
$50 sections of the code as submit
ted by the commission, 1870 are Who'll
ly new, while large number OF old
sections are broadened in scope.
The new code has provision
which is unique in the United States.
Under the operation of the proposed
law, insanity, idiocy, imbecility and
criminal propensity at the time of
the commission of the crime, cannot
be made a defense. There is no
other state which has such a provis-
lon in its criminal code. It is de-
signed to prohibit the common plea
OF insanity as an excuse for murder
and other crimes.
The effect Of the proposed law Is
to take from the jury the power to
consider insanity as plea for the
defense. The court may appoint q
~SAuu1oSlOu VI dllCAlSI0 ~ SAoAAAAS
the defendant and il the defendant
is found insane the trial will not
proceed. If, on the other hand, the
court decides that the defendant is
not insane Or was not insane at the
tine Of the commission of the crimes
rhe trial will go ON and the defend
ant is barred from making any fur
Their plea on that ground.
Muzzling the Press.
Several of the drastic features of
the Graves bill, which was defeated
IN the legislature two years ago, are
contained in the new code. Under
'ne section relating to prohibited
publications, the new code makes it
mlsdemeanor for any newspaper,
magazine or any printed publication
10 give circumstantial account of
the commission or attempted COM
mission Of any criminal homicide.
According to the opinion of we'll
informed lawyers, the provisions OF
me proposed law are 80 restrictive
mat newspapers are absolutely pro-
hiblted from giving accounts of any
crimes or attempted crimes where
murder or homicide is q factor until
me person accused is tried.
Under that provision no account
could have been given of the killing
Vi the town marshal of Kent by des-
peradoes few months ago. Ne ac-
count OF a train robbery where MUIR
der was committed or attempted
could be printed.
nay Sends Message.
acting Governor M. e. Hay trans
united to the senate Thursday q mes
sage In which it is proposed to es-
anlish new reform school In the
irrigation section OF the state. trans
,er the feeble-minded section of the
@eoical Lake institution to the Old
soldiers Home at Orting. move the
VIZ soldiers to the site Of the new