The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-01-19
WHAT WASHINCTON'S
SOLONS ARE DOING
Indications Point to Business
Like Session and Economy
in Appropriations.

Olympia, Wash-The 18th legisla.
ture of the state of Washington is IN
full swing and from present indica-
tons will prove to be conservative
and business-like session. Many OF
the insurgent members are pledged
by post-election promises to strict
economy in appropriating public funds
for all branches of the state admins
tration.
In the house alone the reform party
has reduced expenses for clerical hire
$40 day by substituting typewriting
for penmanship in enrolling legisla-
tive bills and in keeping the journal.
The expense to the state in 1909 was
$3.50 a day for clerical hire during
every one of the 60 days of the SEES
sion.
According to the statement OF mem
bers Of both houses. fewer measures
will be proposed than at the last ses-
sion and the pressure of work on the
committees will be lessened. When
the legislature adjourned over Sunday
O. total of 100 bills had been intro
duced.
Some Lively Scraps in Senate.
From the opening day OF the SEES
sion the senate started proceedings
each morning with a lively VerDal
scrap. Seating assignments one day,
stamps another, have been the sub
tects. A vain attempt of some insurg-
ents and others who had opposed
the selection of President Paulhamus
to Dust him from the committee on
rules and to select that committee
by direct vote Of the body resulted
In O. victory for Paulhamus.
Mileage Troubles House.
In the house the report Of the com.
mittee on mileage stirred up little
trouble as it was found that the new
railroad commission map makes the
distance from Spokane to the Sound
and from Seattle to Tacoma little
less than two years ago. 1t clipped
off about 20 miles across the state
and three miles between Tacoma and
Seattle as the result of the Milwaukee
railroad. This made reduction for
the east side members and the North.
west members. They protested lit.
tie, but the committee report was
adopted. Representative Spedden o.
Stevens will get $4,000, while Cary
lon of Thurston receives 20 cents.
Would Bar the Lobbyist.
The senate's rules as adopted ban
any person who is not a representa-
tive, a state officer or representa-
tive Of the press from the floor Of
the senate unless the senate shall
grant permission by resolution.
The house committee on rules rec.
commended that all persons except
members. representatives of the press,
state officers and legislative employees
be kept out of the house from 9
o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock
at night, so as to prevent all lobbying
on the floor.
Recommendation Not Pleasing.
Governor Hays recommendation to
the legislature of adjustment Of all
the present commissions and the ap.
pointment of all state officials. except
governor and acknowledgement. by
the chief executive, is meeting with
considerable criticism and will hardly
get attention at this session. Instead
Of taking away from the voters more
choice in who shall govern them
there is a movement on foot to re-
store the election Of supreme judges
to the direct primary vote as the
other members Of the administration
are now elected.
Legislators are also devoting much
thought to the report of Governor
Hays commission, submitting a pro-
posed complete revision Of the insur.
ance code of the state. The commits.
sion's bill has been presented to the
general assembly and members OF
both houses are required to study the
intricate legal problems presented in
order intelligently to answer the
flood of letters they are receiving
from policy-holders and insurance
men who will be affected.
Liquor Question DoWned.
The house passed resolution de.
signed to prevent the reopening OF
the local option question. The vote
recorded indicates that the house is
not DESTROYS Of engaging in a fight