The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-02-09
LEGISLATURE PASSES
UN|MPORTANT BILLS
Proposal Made to Regulate
State Banks and Provide a
Guarantee Fund.

Iaturo SOuS, IuC 1OSOAo VI laws en-
acted includes only a few unimport.
ant measures. The fourth week of
the session. while busy one, saw
lust three bills actually passed up to
the governor for approval. There is
a. food of measures on their way be-
tween the two houses and another
week will doubtless see the govern
or's secretary's desk piled with meas
ures awaiting executive action before
becoming laws.
Up to the present there have been
introduced in the Senate 1877 bills and
in the House 283 bills. While the
House has a larger mass of legisla.
tive matters before it, it has made
a better record than the Senate, hav-
ing passed "a House bills and 10 Sen
ate bills. The Senate has passed rs
Senate bills and only one House bill.
The only bills that have been
signed by Governor Hay are four Sen
ate bills and one House bill. The
House bill provides for the appropria-
ton of $4,000 to pay for the printing
expenses OF the legislature. The Sen
ate bills that have been signed by the
Governor are; No. /, appropriating
$4,000 to pay the current expenses
of the legislature; No. 4. providing
that districts and counties may en-
gage in the operation and construc-
ton of harbors and waterways for
purposes of commerce and naviga-
ton: No. S. adopting Remington &
Ballinger's Annotated Codes to the
year 1908; No. 80, providing for the
recall for cities.
To all appearances there is not the
best OF feeling between members of
the Senate and House of the Wash
ington legislature. In reviewing the
progress of last week, one body seems
disposed to undo what the other has
done. Almost every bill that has
passed the Senate has been side
tracked in the House, and vice versa.
The only bill passed by both bodies
Is the Metcalf Senate bill giving rec
ignition to Pierce's Annotated Codes.
In view OF the situation some of the
more conservative members of the
legislature express satisfaction, say.
ing many of the bills of a freakish
and radical nature will never get past
the third reading.
Regulation of State Banks Proposed.
Rigid regulation of state banks and
the creation Of a guaranty banking
fund to safeguard deposits are fea-
lures Of a bill that has been intro
duced in the House. 1t is declared
by those opposed to the bill that it
is as stringent as the Oklahoma bank
ing law, while supporters of the
measure take the position that it will
not affect the banking business in the
state save that it will serve to pro-
tect the banks against questionable
banking schemes and at the same
time provide better protection to de-
positors.
The feature that is opposed strenu-
ously by bankers Is the guaranty fund
provision. The bill provides that
every state bank shall be subject to
assessment for the purpose of Great
ing this fund. 1t provides that every
corporation engaged in the banking
business under provisions of the act
shall flle with the state banking
board verified statement showing
the average daily deposits in it's bank
for the preceding six months, ex :lu-
sive Of public money otherwise se-
cured.
Commission Plan for Cities.
According to bill that passed the
Senate, cities in Washington having
population of not less than $500 and
not more than 10000 will have the
privilege OF trying the commission
plan of municipal government.
The bill Is fathered by Allen Of
Yakima, who declares it is virtually
copy Of the laws under which cities
Of the East have adopted the commits
sion plan. The purpose of the pro-
posed law Is to give cities of the Sec
ond, third and fourth class an equal
right with cities OF the first class to
consider this form of city govern
ment.
The bill provides that the commits
sion shall consist of mayor and two
commissioners who shall serve for
three years. The right is given to
any city. which shall have operated
more than six years under the provi-
sions of the act. to adopt the plan Of
: 4yy A.