The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1909-03-05
Frown on Labor Bills.


Dor bills, will be able to run the
gamut of opposition here. Employ
ers' liability bills, eight-hour bills
for the benefit of women in laun-
dries and restaurants, safety laws
Tor regulation of railroads and fac
tories, strict regulation of mines, all
this character of legislation is being
sidetracked
At the same time labor's friends
will likely be able to kill a bill in
trOduced by Senator Graves giving
employers the right to contract with
workmen as to the amount of dam
ages to be recovered in case of death
or injury The bill provides that
a workman should be paid no less
than $4,000 in case Of death by &C
cident, and that $500 should be the
limit in case Of injury. This was
the first contract law ever presented
to the Washington legislature, and
1t has aroused considerable opposi-
ton.
Keep State Credit Good.
In spite of attacks by House men,
bers and the claim that it was gi-
gantic steal from the state, the SEN
ate bill providing for the issuance
Of 200 in state bonds to take
up illegal normal school warrants
issued in 1895, passed the house.
The original principal of the war
rants was about 100000, but the
interest has practically doubled tie
obligation Of the state, which is a
moral and not a legal one.
The passage of the bill is the Gull
mination Of numerous attempts
made in previous legislatures to Sc
cure appropriations to pay off these
warrants.
Senate Passes Fruit Bill.
A bill providing for state rogula-
ton of horticulture and sale of fruit
passed the senate after much Wrang-
ling. 1t provides for the appoint
ment Of a state commissioner at
$4,000, who will have the authority
to name deputies in IS districts at
$500 each, and who will have su-
pervision of horticulture, eradica-
ton of pests, inspection of fruits,
etc.
Kennewick was decided upon as
the place where the commissioner
shall have his office.
To Protect Travellers.
The act Endorsed by the CONNER
cial Travellers and the Hotelkeepers'
lodging houses, has passed both
brancL IS of the legislature. The act
requires fire escapes on hotels of
more than two stories, and the keep
ing of ropes in rooms Of hotels Of
less than three stories. 1t requires
the bedding to be of the present
standard size, and fixes numerous
sanitary regulations. An attempt in
the house to increase the size Of
sheets to nine feet failed.
COMPROMISE Local Tax Bill.
The senate passed a bill prOvid-
ing for assessing railroad terminal
property in the county where 1t is
found. Under the terms of the bill,
all wharves, docks, sheds, elevators,
station houses, depots, roundhouses,
machine shops and other buildings,
together with the land upon which
they stand, shall be taxed in the
county in which they are located.
Power plants and buildings are
not included in the items that may
be taxed where found.
Capital to Remain in Olympia.
A bill providing for the erection
of a milliOn-dOllar statehOuse, the
sale Of the federal land grant made
for the purpose of giving the state
funds to erect such structure and
for a commission to superintend the
expenditure passed the house The
favorable action of the senate and
the governor is anticipated. SO far
as known there is no serious OppOS1-
ton to the bill
Can Fix Telegraph Tolls.
The senate gave it's approval to
the bill greatly enlarging the scope
of the railway commissions power.
Under the terms of the bill the COM
mission is given as broad railroad
rate-making and rate-enforcing pow
ers as the legislature has the power
to delegate.
House Passes Several Bills.
The house approved a senate bill
which increases the number OF
iudges from seven to nine, and di-
vides the court into two divisions;
also a senate bill which permits the
large counties of the state to be d1-
vided into two or more judicial dis
tricts and allows superior judges to
hold court in places other than the
county seats.
The house passed a bill which re-
,uires that every place where drugs
are sold shall be deemed to be
pharmacy, and must be under the
suneryision of a licensed pharmacist.
The new military code bill, which
nlaces the Washington \ . Onal
Guard under the same rules and reg
nlation. as the United States army,
lot; Of oil