The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-03-10
ANENT THE SECOND
CHOICE PROVISION
Is Stricken From the Direct
Primary Law.
Initiative and Referendum--P Pension
Law Is Unconstitutional, Accord
ing to Attorney GeneraI-- New
Grain Inspection Bill Passed by
Senate, Likewise Banking Bill.

Olympia, March 8.-One half of the
highway levy in Whitman county for t
years 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910, which
went to the state aid road fund, amounted
to $47, ,55S, while in all the counties the
levy for the period aggregated $1,178,-
$50. Ia the various counties there was
expended or is due on uncompleted con-
tracts for state aid road work $641, ,7S0
from the fund. In Whitman county
there has been expended or is due Sal
TOT, leaving $25,S51 due this county
from the aggregate levy for the benefit
of the state aid road fund, while to all
the counties there is due $550,136 Two
counties, however, Cowlitz and Klickitat,
have overdrawn and owe the fund a
total of $13,166 These figures were
compiled by the state bureau of inspec
tiOn, at the request of the chairman of
the roads committee in the senate.
The senate, by a vote of 30 to 2, has
passed the bill by Senator Arrasmith of
Whitman county providing for special
road districts.
Anent Second Choice Provision.
By a vote of 81 to Al. the house
passed the Conner bill striking the second
choice provision from the direct pri.
mary law. All of the four mem
bers from Whitman county voted
against the bill. Before passing the
measure the house amended it by replac
ing the supreme court judges in the
direct primary law and by providing
that election judges shall return to
county auditors in numerical order all
unused ballots.
Initiative and Referendum.
The bill applying the initiative and
referendum TO state affairs as it now
applies to municipal affairs has been
passed by both the house and senate |
In the senate there were seven votes
= against the measure and 80 for it. Ar
rasmith and Hall voted with the major
ity. The senate increased the percent |
age for initiative from eight to ten and
for invoking the referendum from five to |
six.
New Banking Bill.
The new banking bill has gone through |
the senate. This was introduced by
Stephens of Snohomish. 1t provides |
that with the attorney general for coun-
sci the state bank examiner shall act as
receiver for defunct banks. 1t also pro
vides that all state and local banks |
shall be subject to strict examination
and inspection.
Supreme Court Judge.
o. G. Ellis, democrat, of Tacoma, has
been named by Governor Hay as the
successor of Frank II. Rudkin who re-
signed from the supreme bench to accept
place on the federal bench in Eastern
Washington. o. G. Ellis was endorsed
by the Pierce County Bar Association
and the Pierce county delegation in the |
legislature. 1t was at their request that |
the appointment was made.
Released From Life Sentence.
William Stewart, an Englishman, who |
was sentenced at Everett six years ago
to serve life term for murder has been
pardoned at the request of the British |
government. The British government |
investigated the case and convinced the |
board of control and the attorney gen.
eral that the prisoner was innocent, and |
upon their recommendation he was par
doned. Stewart and two companions |
we're near Index, Stewart being drunk at
the time and later one OF them was
found dead. Stewart was convicted OF
killing him on circumstantial evidence. |
Now that he has secured his release he |
will make his home in Canada.
Pension Law Unconstitutional.
The attorney general has given an
opinion holding that if any of the com
mon school fund is diverted and placed |
in the teachers pension fund that the |
teachers pension law will be unconstitu. |
tional. He holds that the pensions will |
not benefit the common schools, and the |
constitution specifically provides that
no money out of the common school
fund shall be used except for the benefit
OF the common schools.
State Is Broke--but
Although the state is to all intents
and purposes "broke" at the present
time John G. Lewis, state treasurer, says
that there is no danger of having to
issue bonds. The general fund has
dropped to the 100000 mark, but
nevertheless there will be no need of
issuing bonds as money will soon be
gotten in from the insurance depare