The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-01-27
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
INVESTIGATIONS
ONE COMMITTEE DIRECTED TO
LOOK INTO ROCK QUARRY
METHODS.
The Other inquiries as to Fitness Of
M. F. Backus for University Re-
gency-Memorials to Congress- Voice
Desires Of Senators on Various Mat
tiers.

Desires Of Senators on Various Mat
tiers.
Olympia, Jan. 21.-The Legislature
has started two investigating commit
| tees-One to make a report on the
| states rock Quarries at Deception
Pass and at Meskill, and the other tc
inquire into the objections made to M
F. Backus, of Seattle, as d regent OF
the university.
The committee which will investi
gate the rock quarries consists of Sen
ators H. o. Fishback and Arvid Ryd
strom and Representatives James Nc
Nicely, ]. E. Leonard and George E.
Dickson. The committee will spend
one day at Deception Pass, where the
state has spent large amount OF
money in building rock crushing
plant. Whether the state is likely to
get full value for it's money and
whether the states quarries will ever
be important enough to be controlled
by separate department, as recon-
mended by Gov. M. E. Hay, will be
phases of the inquiry. The commit.
tee will also inquire into the method
by which the contract for the rock
crushing plant was let.
| Will Examine Records.
The senate committee which is
charged with the task of inquiring into
the fitness of M. F. Backus to serve as
regent of the university consists OF
Senators F.. j. Allen, Ralph Metcalf
and D. S. Troy. The committee will
examine the records of the Metropolis
tan Building Company, which holds a
lease on the old university campus, to
ascertain the date when Mr.. Backus
transferred his interests in the com
pany. The committee will report to
the senate Monday
In the senate Senator r. A. Hutch
inson introduced joint memorial ask
ing the federal department of state and
congress to enter into treaty with
Japan which will have a tendency tc
open the doors of the country to coolie
labor. The memorial was referred to
committee
For Alaska Territory.
The house joint memorial asking
congress to give territorial govern
ment to Alaska passed the senate.
The senate committee on state
school and tide lands decided upon two
bills changing the procedure in the
land department which will be pro
posed today. One bill provides fol-
an immediate cruise of all the states
lands, and the other requires the land
commissioner to deposit Immediately
upon receipt the money received in his
Office.
For State Control of Fisheries.
The house today passed the joint
memorial protesting to congress
against the control of Washington
fisheries by the federal government OF
a joint control of any part of them by
the United States and Canada as pro
posed by treaty convention held in
April, 1908. Under the terms of the
memorial the legislature of Washing
ton reaffirms it's title to all public
fisheries within it's limits and insists
that it has the exclusive right by vir
tue of it's sovereignty to regulate the
fisheries without federal interference
| It was indicated in the discussion
which lasted two hours, that the legis
lators are opposed to the Pinchot idea
of federal control of state property
at least when it is sought to be ap
piled to the fisheries.
Fish Commissioners Views.
John L. Riseland, state fish commits
sioner, was called before the house tt
explain his position on the measure
Mr. Riseland said he was opposed tt
/ federal control of the states fisheries
because as citizen he did not believe
it would be to the best interests of the
state, giving in support of such posi-
ton that the seat of the federal gov
eminent was too far from this state tt
give the fisheries the attention they
demanded. He illustrated this BY
referring to the condition of the Alas
kan fisheries, now under the control o.
the federal government. The vote OF
final passage of the resolution was 81
years, 6 nays, and 10 absent or no,
voting.
4 House joint memorial No. 2, relatinf
to the immigration into this country O.
aliens, was passed, as was house bill
No. 2, by Wray, relating to garnish
ments in justice courts.
i House bill No. Is, to repeal the ac1
Of 1909. compelling judges Of the su
perior courts to wear gowns, was de
feated on third reading by vote q
Sc yeas, so nays, and 10 absentees.
/ Case Heads Federation.
Olympia, Jan. 21.-Charles r. Case