The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-02-02
STATE LAWMAKERS
WORK AS REVIEWED
Local Option Question Before
Senate; State Institutions
May Be investigated.

Olympia.-Perhaps the most I'LL
portant event of the third weeks ses'
sion of the legislature was the injec-
ton of the local option question into
the Senate proceedings. The liquor
question was brought squarely before
that body in the shape OF bill pro-
yiding for amendment Of the present
local option law. The bill bore the
SIGNATURES of % senators who con-
stituted a majority OF the upper
House. The fact that % senators are
pledged to it's passage makes 1t prac-
tically certain that it will go through
the Senate. The bill exempts cities
of the first class from the county
unit. 1t provides. however, that
county or a 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-
ers. If this percentage Is obtained
an election must be held within 60
days.
Cities which have vote on local
option at such 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 tie 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 op-
ton bill reaches that body. Workers
for the measure declared that they
nave a majority of the House members
pledged to support the bill while op-
posing interests maintain that no
liquor legislation will be considered
in the House at this 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 were 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
TOR rewards for captures of criminals;
appropriates $4,000.
The Senate has introduced 122 bills
and the House 1876 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 well as the pro-
posed investigation of the nationa,
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 it's 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 nm
dertaken by members of the commit.
tee on public lands.
House insists On Economy.
Again serving notice on the Senate
that 1t would not indorse deficiency
appropriation bills or bills which
called for unnecessary expenditures
OF the states money. the House voted
down a Senate appropriation commit.
tee bin appropriating $1,000 to pay for
printing. postage and clerk hire In
the various state offices. The House
VnA nracficallv uuopimous IN "a