The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-02-16

and yet, in order to meet competition,
must keep their places Of business
open when others did so
May Abolish Fund Commission.
What may be regarded as the first
test of the Administrations strength
IN the, Senate resulted In victory for
it when Senator Pliny Aliens bill
abolishing the Office of commissioner
of public lands and providing for a
commission of three to be appointed
by the chief executive at salary of
$500 per month, carried by "a to II,
Ruth voting for it for the purpose OF
moving its reconsideration.
The main provision of the new
measure is for the appointment OF
two commissioners to act with Ross
until his present term of office ex-
pires, and then third commissioner
will be appointed by the governor.
Disagree Over Compensation Bill.
No subject has been more widely
discussed or has received more atten-
ton from the special committees of
the House and Senate than the en-
-pfoyers' compensation bill. The bill
drafted by special committee COM
posed of representatives of labor and
employers has had three public hear
ir1c apd Gill tho A;@oron+ ;,%ooon4~
have been unable to get together on
all the provisions. The employers de-
mand certain changes be made. They
particularly object to the first aid
fund provision, which they say will
cause an unnecessary and additional
expense in taking care of the injured.
They maintain that with this provi-
sion eliminated, both the employees
and the employers will be put on an
equitable basis in providing funds for
the care Of the injured workmen.
Recent developments indicate that
opposition Is being directed against
the bill from various sources. Lined
up against the measure are the hos
pital associations. physicians, many
OF the public service corporations and
the casualty insurance companies.
TO Purify Ballot.
For any person who, knowing that
he is not a qualified elector. attempts
to- vote. the penalty under the new
law will be felony, instead of mis-.
demeanor. The same is true OF any
election official who knowingly allows
such q person to vote. The election
official who by offers Of reward or
otherwise attempts to influence any
voter. is to,be deemed guilty of gross
misdemeanor. Any attempt on the
part OF election officials to learn be-
fore a ballot has been placed in the
ballot box for whom the vote is cast
shall be considered gross misde-
meanor instead of a misdemeanor.
i The principal clause of the bill is
that which covers the action of cleo
ton officials who tamper with the
ballots Or otherwise connive to make
fraudulent returns Of the vote cast
This Is increased from misdemeanor
punishable by fine, to felony.
Freak Bill Postponed.
One of the freak measures which
have already fallen by the wayside in
the we'll travelled road OF 'indehnite:
postponement" is one which would
have declared the state Legis-
lature paramount to the supreme
court and that body would have no
power to. declare any of the acts of
the law makers unconstitutional. This
would have very materially lightened
the labor Of the court, for at present
after every session a certain number
OF actions are brought to test the
constitutionality of the legislation en-.
acted, with the result that many of
the measures most bitterly fought
over are set at naught with one stroke
OF the judicial pen.
Committee Reports On State ouarriea
The joint committee of the House
and Senate reported the result of Its
investigation of the state quarries at
FidalSo and Meskill. The committee
found that the cost of crushed rock
at Fidalgo was. $1.421s per cubit yard,
and that it must be reduced to IS
cents to make it pay, because of the
freight rates.
= Better conditions were found at
: Meskill, where the. cost is now said
to be IS cents, and where, by the
installation Of proper machinery, 1t
may be reduced to 50 cents. An ap-
propriation of $4,000 for this purpose
was recommended. The report was
referred to the appropriation commit