Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-02-12
Legislative Notes.

The senate has passed a till tC
increase the Supreme Court 10y
authorizing two additional Judges.
Their" is economy for you.
Tn" Hanson anti track bill has
passed both branches Of the Lc@i>la-
turr. without an emergency CLAUSE,
COY Hay has signed the bill and il
goes INTO effect June llth.
4
The legislature has agreed to in
definitely postpone any plan for
restraint of JdpS visiting the A-Y.-
i. fair without giving a bond for re-
turn To their own country at the
close OF the fair.
The Senate. Tuesday, passed a bill
/ requiring that the charges to the
jury in civil action shall bt read be-
fore argument by counsel, reduced
Il writing and taken to the Jury
room when they retire for delibera-
tlun.
Spokane wants to get her spoon
into the sugar bowl fora State appro-
priatiun to pay the expenses of enter
tanning the National Irrigation con
GrrsS to be held in that city some
months hence. What audacity, Sc
attic or Tacoma. it is safe to say,
would pay for the privilege of acting
as entertainer.
Senator Booth, of King county, has
made an attempt to secure hereafter
unplcdgcd law makers. As the Dill
passed the Senate, it provides that
any candidate for the Legislature,
for Supervisor, School Director, or
for any legislative body who signs
any pledge that he vote for or against
any particular bill or measure, that
may hc brought before such body, be
disqualified from holding the office to
which he may he elected. 1t is fur
Their provided that any person who
accepts or Receives an annual retainer
10 look after or protect the interests
of any person, company or corpora
ton shall bc disqualified from holding
any Legislative office in the State of
Washington.
y code containing 450 sections, of
which practically 1870 arc entirely new
provisions, taking in entirely new
acts under the heading of misdemca-
nOrS and subject to the criminal law,
is rather Il large order for three men
to fill in less than three months.
Such is the code to be presented to
the Legislature for its approval and
adoption, and for this work, by the
time the bill is out of committee, but
u few days will be allowed for conSid-
Grafton and amendment The time
is entirely too short for such import
ant work, containing such radical
and IN some cases startling changes
and innovations, and it would be wise
to take more time for it and give the
people of the State an opportunity to
fully examine and understand it.
4 4 4
The present Legislature is unique
in many respects. 1t is decidedly
radical and constructs a catch-vote
plank in the Republican platform for
local option regarding the liquor traf-
tic. as instructions to pass a bill that
will virtually amount to prohibition.
1t was the feeling aroused on this sub
Ject that led tOa tist-fght in the House,
Monday evening. after adjournment,
between Macarthur a member, and
10 Smith, anewSpapercorrcs
Smith was seated at the press table,
taking notes from Il petition protest
in. against the enactment of local
option law. The petition was filed
several days ago by Macarthur on be-
half OF liquor interests in Sopkane.
Macarthur walked to where Smith
was seated. stating that he desired
to have square deal. Smith
reply was short, whcreupon Nc
Arthur reached for the paper upon
which Smith was taking notes. For
this he received Il blow which sent him
staggering, and Smith. taking the
petition walked over to the Senate
chambr.' to complete his labors. In
Il few moments he returned to the
House and the fight was renewed Nc
Arthur dealing him Il blow in the face
which left black eye.
The local option bill chung fire"
several weeks, despite efforts of the
prohibitionists to force it to n vote
while abnormal conditions prevailed,
at many stated intervals. Tuesday if
was planned by the radicals to keep
the House in session until the bill re-
ceived final action, but when the first
preliminary notes that floated from
the rotunda to the representatives
hall while the Training School Girls
orchestra were tuning up for their
promised concert in the capitol. a
stampede ensucd which caused an i'm
mediate suspension of all business.
The McMasterS bill past the House.
Wednesday by vote of 56 to 81, after
vigorous contest, lasting couple of
hours. 1t is more of a prohibition
measure than Il bill to leave liuuor.
selling to Il vote of the people. The
attention of the fanatics was called to
this fact, hut it seemed that they
were literally ohliviouS to results
that may happen. Mr.. Carlyon voted
against the bill. declaring that is
was a prohibition measure and the
people of his county believed it to
be unreasonable. > 1t is hoped the
Senate will amend it so as to au-
thorlzed really Il fair expression of the
popular will on this important mat
ter.