Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-02
STATE LAWMAKERS
WORK AS REVIEWED
Local Option Question Before
Senate; State institutions
May Ee Investigated.

Olympia .--Perhaps the most I'M |
portant event of the third weeks SEES
sion of the Legislature was the inioc. !
ton of the local option question into !
the Senate proceedings. The liquor |
question was brought squarely before !
that body in the shape of a bill pro !
viding for amendment of the present |
local option law. The bill bore the !
signatures of % senators who con-
stltuted majority of the upper |
House. The fact that % senators are |
pledged to its passage makes it prac-
tically certain that it will go through |
of the first class from the county |
unit. 1t provides, however, that a
county or city which didn't vote on |
the local option last November may
have a special election before Novem-
Der, 1912, the first chance given under
the old local option law
To obtain the special election pc
tition must be placed with the names
of 80 per cent of the registered vot j
ers If this percentage is obtained
an election must be held within 60 |
days.
Cities which have a vote on local |
option at such a special election can |
not vote again until 1914 and there !
after votes may be held biennlally on
the question.
Opposition Expected in House.
Since the House early in the ses-
sion voted not to consider any legis-
lation bearing on the liquor question
this session, but to refer such meas
ures to the committee on public NOR
ais without debate to be retained in
committee, it is expected that confu-
sion will follow when the Senate OPP
tion bill reaches that body. Workers
for the measure declared that they
nave majority of the House members
pledged to support the bill while OPP
posing interests maintain that no |
..Quor legislation will be considered .
IN the House at TINS session.
A Few Minor Bills Passed.
During the week few bills of i'm
portance passed up to the governor
for signature, although there are
scores of measures on their way be-
tween the two houses and will be |
passed up to the governor before an
other week end Among the bills ratl-
fed by both Houses We're these:
Appropriating $4,000 for emergency
printing, appropriating $4,000 for |
legislative expenses, providing for the !
recall of officials in cities of the first
class, public deficiency appropria- |
ton for eXtradition of prisoners and !
for rewards for captures of criminals; |
appropriates $4,000
The Senate has introduced 1872 bills
and the House 1856 measures which
the members would like to see made
into laws.
State Institutions May Be investigated
Before this session of the legisla-
ture finishes it's labors it is probable
that there will be a thorough investi-
cation of the management of several
of the institutions under charge OF the
board OF control as we'll as the pro-
posed investigation of the national
guard affairs and the public lands de-
partment The resolution to sift the
charges against the guard has already
passed the House, which this winter
is proving to be the most conservative
and cautious branch of the lawmak-
ers The Senate has its Ratchet out
for any and every one of the appointed
officers and some of the elected ones.
A legislative committee appointed by
the legislature of 1909 to investigate
public officers brought in some ugly
charges against the manner in which
the public lands are being disposed
of and the methods employed by sew
eral of the states cruisers, which, it
is charged in the report has the sane
ton of Land Commissioner Ross. The
probing of these findings will be taken
up by the Senate probably this week
or as soon as some private investi-
cations are completed which were un.
dertaken by members OF the commit
tee on public lands.
House Insists On Economy.
Again serving notice on the Senate
thai it would not indorse deficiency
appropriation bills or bills whic
called for unnecessary expenditures
OF the states money, the House voted
down a Senate appropriation commit
Tee bill appropriatng $500 10 pay ior
printing, postage and clerk hire .r
Pie various state offices The House
was practically unanimous in 'ts ac
ton. The bill was turned down ny
viva voce yote and only few of the
members raised their voices in