The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-06-09
GOV, HAY RECOMMENDS
MANY RADICAL REFORMS
Gov. Hay Favors Recall of Public Officials and Direct
Legislation Billie Also Recommends Changes in
the Constitution Making Many Officials Appointive
Would Appoint Supreme Court Judges.

Governor NJ. E. Hay yesterday de-
clared himself i'm favor of sweeping
reforms i'm the government Of the
state of Washington. In a letter to
the state grange in session at Pull
man, he sounded a political warning
that will be heard throughout the
state.
81 am in favor of the recall over
our public officials. Rest assured
that I will be with you to the very
limit i'm this.
''Should the legislature pass a di-
rect legislation bill, shall certainly
approve the bill, though am unable
to see where it will do the good its
many advocates claim.
81 am i'm favor of changing the
constitution and nominating by di-
rect vote only United States senators,
congressman, governor and lieuten-
ant governor, state legislative and
county tickets. The balance of state
officials and the supreme court
judges should be appointed by the
governor.
Il am in favor of states controll-
ing the public service corporations
and in the limitation of the issue of
bonds indiscriminately as they have
done in the past. We are now pay
ing dividends on too much water.
~ am in favor of the county unit,
absolutely, with the possible eXcep-
ton of eliminating cities of the first
class from the unit
These are some of the pithy state
ments made in letter written to
the state grange by the governor of
the state of Washington and read
yesterday in session of the grange at
Pullman. 1t is the first utterance
he has made on many important SUBJ
je2s He has made firm stand on
many of the most important ques-
tons now before the people.
He SHES, only, at the women suf-
frage question. That he dismissed
with the words: Concerning equal
suffrage, this is a matter that is now
before the people and will be decided
by them at the coming election"
The governors letter is as follows:
fn iclo
ton, I have not been able to give
this matted the study that l should
desire before taking a stand either
for or against. I am unable to see
where it will do the good that its
many advocates claim, but l can see
where it might be used to advantage
should occasion require it. However
should the legislature in its wisdom
pass a bill submitting constitution
the people, 1 shall certainly approve
the bill
81 am very much in favor of recall
over our public officials, and you
may rest assured that / will be with
You to the very limit on this. j be-
iieye the recall will be of more bene-
fit and will come nearer reaching
what you people are after than will
direct legislation.
Appoint Judges
II believe that you are aware that
I a3 in favor of changing the con-
stitution and nominating by direct
vote only United States senators,
congressman, governor and lieuten-
ant governor, state legislative ana
county tickets. The balance of the
state officers, believe, should be ap-
pointed by the governor, including
the supreme court judges. This is
too great a question to take up and
discuss in so short a letter as | am
compelled to limit this. Two years
ago l would not have favored a con-
stitutional amendment of this kind.
but my experience in state affairs
has warranted me, DelleVe, In tax
ing the stand l do.
This is a question I would be very
much pleased to have the grange
take up and discuss, not at this meet
ing, but, say, at your next conven-
ton in 1911. If it is possible for
me to do so, I will be with you at
that time if you so desire.
Limit Bond Issues.
II am in favor of the state con-
trolling the limiting of bond issues
of public service corporations, and
believe it unwise to allow our pub
lie service corporations to issue bonds
Unfortunately as they have been
doing in the past. From this very
evil comes the argument by the Of
fiS1sls of the public service corpor-
ations in favor of keeping their rates
SO high, claiming that they are en-
titled to earn a reasonable profit up