The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-02-03
LOCAL OPTION LAW
UP IN SENATE
MEMBERS JOIN ~
INTRODUCING NEW
MEASURES.
New Bill Provides for Fewer Units
and if Bill Becomes a Law oniy
Eirst-cIass Cities and Whole Coun-
ties, Except Such Cities, Can Deal
With Liquor Question.

OLYMPIA. Jan. 2S.-The Anti-Saloon
Leagues local option bill, providing TOT
a county unit save for cities OF the
first class, which are to be separate
units was introduced in the senate yes
terday by twenty-five senators. AS q
majority of the senate is pledged TO
the bill, it will pass that branch OF the
legislature whenever the promoters OF
the measure desire. The senators who
signed their names to the bill are:
Introducers of Bill.
J. A. Falconer. Snohomish; F. G.
Jackson, King; Emmerson Hammer,
Skagit; D. H. Cox, Walla Walla; u. 5.
Troy, Jefferson; ]. w. Bryan, Kitsap;
Ed Brown, Whatcom; C. E. Myers, Lin
coin; John A. Whalley, King; J. u.
Bassett, Adams; H. o. Fishback.
Lewis; John E. Chappell, Skamania;
W. H. Paulhamus, Pierce; H. M. White,
Whatcom; John R. Stevenson, Asotln;
10. c.. Davis, Grant; Joseph Arrasmith,
Whitman; Oliver Hall, Whitman; A.
w. Anderson, Stevens; B. A. Bowen,
King; Ralph Metcalf, Pierce; H. A.
Espy, Pacific.
Has Been Hanging Fire.
The plan of the "drys" in the senate
to force the local option fight has been
known for days, and the Introduction
of the bill occasioned little surprise
Although twenty-five senators stand
sponsors for the bill, it is asserted by
the drys that they have at least twen-
ty-five senators on their side, and pos
sibly twenty-six.
Yesterday morning, when the bill
was introduced and referred to the ju-
dietary committee. Senator Falconer
said:
Doesn't Fear LogroIling.
1--WE are not starting out in an an
tagonistic spirit. It has been charged
that the local option bill was traded on
two years ago. l don't believe that and
don't believe that this measure will
affect any other legislation before the
legislature If this bill goes to the
judiciary committee and is not reported
out for two weeks, there will be ample
time to get the decks cleared"
Il would infer from the long string
of names attached to the bill that no
senator desired to put his name on the
measure alone" said Senator George
U. Piper "This bill will start the log
rolling again, and we may expect a
repetition of the flood of laws which
were passed two years ago."
House Is Divided.
The house is nearly equally divided
on the question of the county unit. A
resolution has been passed in that
branch of the legislature establishing
rule that any liquor legislation shall
be referred to the committee on rules
without debate Fifty-three represen-
tatives voted for that resolution, while
the opposition mustered forty-two.
Whether the "wets" or the "drys" are
in control of the house, neither side
will say. The indications are, however,
that those who favor trying out the
present law little longer hold the
balance of power.
The new local option bill proposes
several amendments to the bill passed
two years ago. The most important
amendment is making the counties the
unit. The exception of first class
cities, making them separate units, was
a compromise to gain support from
Legislators from the large cities.
Election Every Two Years.
The bill provides that special cleo
ton may be held in any unit in No
vember, 1912, and that every two years
thereafter the question of licensing the
sale of liquor will be submitted to the
voters.
Giving away" intoxicating liquor,
under the terms of the bill, does not
include giving liquor to a guest in a
private living apartment unless the
apartment has become a public resort.
The bill also puts the ban on NEAR
beer" or any substitute or imitation of
intoxicating beverages which contain
alcohol. In units when the saloons
are voted out, the bill provides that
the bars must be dismantled within
ten days. A person is entitled under
the bill to bring liquor into dry terri
tory for his own use.
Vote on Judicial Pension Bill.
Senate bill SO. by Rosenhaupt, which
provides for the retirement of supreme
court judges on half pay when they
have served eighteen years, was lost
yesterday. owing to the slim attend
ance at the morning session. Although
the bill received a majority OF the
votes cast, it lacked four votes Of hav-
ing a majority of the senate, as re-
quired by the constitution. Senator
Rosenhaupt changed his vote to the
negative in order to move a reconsider
alton Monday.
The bill affects only one of the pres
ent supreme court judges, Judge r. Q.
Dunbar