The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1911-03-18
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
ENDS IN DEADLOCK
Last Hours Marked by Bitter
Fight Over Good Roads;
One Bill Passed.

the 18th session of the Legislature
were marked by bitter fight between
the two houses over the question of
good roads, one of the most com.
plete deadlocks in the history of the
state. Under constitutional limita-
tion the session came to an end at
the legislative hour of midnight
March 8, and both houses had to re-
sort to the practice of turning back
the clock to prolong the session. The
delay in adjournment was due to the
deadlock in conference over the legis-
lative reapportionment bill and the.
good roads program bill. After striv-
ing eight hours to come to an agree.
ment, the two houses gave 1t up as a
hopeless task and brought the ses-
sion to an end.
Good Roads Movement Dead.
AS result of the deadlock the good
roads movement in this state is dead
and the highway department is in a
complicated situation. The defeat of
the more important of the road bills
means that there will be no new road
work undertaken by the state the
next two years. In the meantime,
however. control of road building in
the different counties of the state is
returned to the county authorities and
they will have an opportunity of dem
onstrating whether or not they can
make good pledges to keep up the
standard of highway construction.
The state highway department has
been left with no funds available ex-
cept to conduct the bare routine of
the office work The only important
road measure that did get through
was bill as substitute for the state
aid-road law. This bill, known as the
McNeely bill, has been signed by Gov
ernor Hay and is in effect Under its
provisions counties can carry on road
construction without the state partici.
pating in the work further than d.
recting the state highway commits.
sioner to determine the feasibility of
proposed roads.
There IS reappropriated, however,
the sum of s94.9l9.66 to complete con-
tracts now in force on state roads.
When these contracts are completed
work on state roads will cease, and
the highway commissioner will act
largely as a consulting engineer for
the county engineers of the state.
Different Road Plans.
The House program provided for
IL mill tax over the entire state for
the various state highways and an
additional IL mill tax, in western
Washington only, for building the Pa
cific highway. The Senate plan was
to extend this additional IL mill levy
to the entire state, making a full mill
levy, and concentrate practically all
work on state highway No. 7 from
Seattle through the Snoqualmie pass
to Yakima. Walla Walla and Spokane.
On the final test of strength the
House voted for the original House
plan, GA to 29, while 27 senators, q
majority Of IA, remained steadfast for
the full mill levy for the entire state.
No Reapportlonment.
While the greater part of the last
lap Of the session was devoted to the
road question, considerable time was
taken up in an attempt to adjust the
legislative reapportionment subject.
The Cow counties" controlled the
situation in the House. but were in
the minority in the Senate. The Nc.
Ardle reapportionment bill was but.
feted about in conference committees
and was finally returned to the House
with the compliments of the Senate.
The House refused to concur in the
Senate amendments and this bill went
to the shelf with no record of a
change in the present reapportion.
ment.
Governor Opposed Extra Session.
In the closing hours of the session
It was discovered that the bill provid.
ing for a constitutional amendment
under which the people could amend
the constitution through the initiative
had not been acted on by the Senate
and an effort was made to put 1t
vote, but this failed and the bill was
allowed to die. This bill was distinct
from the initiative and referendum on
legislative matters, which had already
passed both houses. There was some
talk Just before adjournment of ask
ing Governor M. e. Hay to call spe-
cial session to act on the matters lost
IN the deadlock, but when the gov
ernor was sounded 1t was found that
he was opposed to an extra session
and the subject was dropped.
1856 Bills Pass Both Houses.
The total number Of bills introduced