Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-27
Senate Measure Is Quickly
Killed When Brought up
In House
DECORSUM PREVAILs
Surpereme Judges Returned
to the Primary Law
Getting Downto Work

OLYMPIA, Feb. 26.-Local option,
so far as lne 18th session of the Wash
ington legislature is concerned, is dis
posed o: Quietly and unostenta-
| tiously, the house, by vote of so to
10, without debate or discussion of
any kind Indefinitely postponed S. b.
i2t, which amends the present local
option laws of the state, adding en-
forcement features and making the
! country, with the exception of first
class cities the unit
Then to spike down the lid of the
coffin securely Beach's motion to re-
consider the vote was laid on the
table, roll call showing the memtors
lined up 50 to 40. Speaker Taylor
announced that under the rules the
bill could not be reconsidered again
in the house and the ordinary routine
of the day was resumed.
Two years ago, fifty days were
spent in discussion of a temperance
bill; the spirit of members became in
.olerant; friendships were destroyed
and animosities created The debates
were long-drawn out and bitter, and
legislation in general was handled not
upon the merits of the measures sub
mitted, but upon a basis OF barter for
votes pro and con upon the temper
ance question. The interests of the
state were at standstill during the
50 days of acrimony; no matter of
moment could be or was given
thought, for to present to the house
measure meant to but make it the
subject of traffic for the men who
were cOntending for an against the
temperance bill.
At the short session Of the senate
Friday the Metcalf judgeship bill,
which replaced the judges of the su-
preme court subject to the provisions
of the primary law was passed.
Senator Bryan. of Kitsap, fought
the provision of the Metcalf bill, be-
cause in returning to the law of 1907
it provides that the primary election
is in fact practically the election
Of the judges, since only the number
Of places to be filled are placed in
the general election ballot. He argu-
% "a iyro n1n in
there be dozen candidates for two
positions, made possible the election
of Judge by majority of the voters.
He wished to have the law read as
does the present law governing the
election OF superior judges, whereby
twice as many names appear on the
places to be filled.
For the first time this session the
lawbreakers worked on Saturday. The
members are beginning to realize that
less than two weeks remain for the
completion Of the work before them
and they are now settling into the
sions will be in order this week
This session is remarkable for many
things, among them being the utter
lack of personal anomosity between
members who disagree on the big
suestions. Two years ago the "wets"
believed that the "drys' were not fit
persons with whom to associate, and
the "drys" had no doubts about the
"wets" all being fit candidates for
the penitentiary. Two years ago the
rival factions fresuently refused to
speak to each other and some of them
went for 60 days without getting ac-
quainted. In one instance now
wet" and dry" leader are rooming
together. So far there has been no
serious trouble reported between
them.