The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-02-17
NEWS FROM STATE CAPITAL
A Grist of interesting Reading from the
State Capital by the Special Writer
for The Echo


State Capital by the Special Writer
for The Echo
In Chelan county there were granted
in the year 1910 twelve divorces. In
King county in the same time there
were granted 1901 divorces; in Spo
kan, 400; in Pierce, 293; in Yakima,
143; in Snohomish, lis, and in other
counties varying numbers ranging from
100 downward. In King county the
ratio OF divorces to population was ap-
proximately one divorce to every 245
people, while throughout the state the
ratio was one divorce to 800 population.
In the year 1910 there were in the
entire state 2418 criminal cases, of
which 29 were in Chelan county. In
the same time the civil actions tried
numbered 1926; in Chelan county
ITO. Of the 5,091 probate cases acted
upon in the year 81 were in Chelan
county. The convictions in criminal
cases in the entire state numbered
1899; in Chelan county, 13. In only
three counties were there juvenile
cases, there being 438 in King, % in
Snohomish and E in Adams counties.
All of the figures quoted, except as to
population, are taken from the reports
of county clerks throughout the state to
the state bureau of inspection covering
the year 1910.
A bill introduced in the house re-
peals the law passed twelve years ago,
which exempts fruit trees from taxa
ton. Under the letter of the law at
present $3000-acre fruit land is exempt
from taxation when it is proved fruit
trees are responsible for the high value
of the land 1t is said in some coun-
ties the law is ignored by assessors; in
others the assessors hold to it. The
bill proposes to prevent further dissen-
sion on the question.
An increase in the marriage license
fee to So is provided by bill intro
duced in the house by the Thurston
county delegation.
Notwithstanding but eleven bills have
been enacted at the present session,
Governor Hay expresses satisfaction
with the attitude OF the present legisla-
ture, and calls attention to the fact
that in a similar time the last legisla-
ture enacted but nine measures which
became laws.
When legal holiday falls on Sunday
the Monday following shall be observed
as legal holiday, according to the
provisions of bill Just passed by the
legislature. This bill was favored by
the banking institutions of the state.
It is probable the question of the
abolition of capital punishment will not
come up again in the present session,
as both houses Of the legislature have
killed bills relating to the subject. For
the next two years, at least, persons
convicted of capital ofense must suf-
fer the death penalty as heretofore.
That all the money needed to prop
erlv conduct the affairs of the state de-
partments will be allowed is declared
bv a semi-official statement given out
by members of the Legislature. This
follows the declaration of the state Off
cials that, unless sufficient money IS
allowed to run their departments by the
appropriations committee, they would
issue a letter to the public explaining
why they are unable TO do business.
Before the end of the present session
there will be received reports on the
state training school at Chehalis, the
fisheries department, the rock crushing
plants at Fidalgo and Meskill, on the
state soldiers homes at Orting and Port
Orchard, and on the construction OF
the new armory at Bellingham.
No action has been taken on the big
measures pending in the legislature,
tho the session is more than half over.
These are the employees compensation
act. the new insurance code, the pub
lie utilities bill, the matter of good
roads, the settling of appropriations,
a., ...- II di~ac+ LEGISLATION