The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-01-19
Organization of Legislature.

Very much depends upon the organi
zation of a legislature, and here is where
very little if any progress has been made
in this state in the past ten years. I'm
mediately following the November cleo
tions and oftentimes long before candi
dates with previous experience who
aspire to leadership, get busy and the
one who can make the most promises of
committee chairmanships or other sought
after places to asprants, who in turn
get busy in their behalf, becomes the
leader, dictator, director, autocrat, ear
or whatever role he sees fit to assume
during the entire session. He with the
aid of few whom he has especially
favored can shape the destinies of all
important legislation. The only other
power which they of necessity consider
is the veto power of the governor.
Members with previous experience and
desire to represent their or other peo
pie or corporations personal interests,
like such procedure because it gives them
better opportunities; new members
without experience fall for it, because
they know not of the evils of the sys-
TEN or how to counteract them. If they
knew they would have little or no op-
portunity to organize their forces until
after the deal was made
Under the rules adopted by the 1911
session (these rules have changed but
very little in the last twelve years. the
speaker of the house and president of
the senate are elected Immediately upon
the convening of the legislature and be-
| fore any of the members have an OPP
portunity through acquaintance to Judge
of their ability to fill the position. when
elected they appoint all standing and
other committees. The house rules do
not require confirmation of committee
appointments while senate rules require
confirmation within twenty-fo hours
after appointment, again giving no op-
portunity for acquaintance or possibility
of Judging of fitness for position, No
provision is made for removal or change
If committees are unfair or unsatisfac-
tory in any way. Each chairman of a
committee is little ear if he desires
to be, can call meetings publicly or sec
reilly or not at all as he desires and the
people have no redress Twenty-four
hours notice and a two-thirds vote is
necessary to change any rule after adop-
| tion.
Committee on Rules and Order
| Rule 2 of the house says "The com
mittee on rules and order shall have
charge of the daily calendar of the house
and direct the clerk the order in which
the business shall be transacted" The
senate rule is the same but has proviso
that a majority of the senate may take
any bill from the rules committee and
put it ON the daily calendar or other
wise advance it, In the house the rules
committee is supreme in power unless
overriden by two-thirds vote During
the last session the house rules COM
mittee composed of Speaker Taylor and
Representatives Dickson, Megler, Car
lyon, Beach, MeNeely, Miller q. Az
Sims, Stevens CIV. E) and Todd used
their power most arbitrarily during the
last of the session. They repeatedly re
fused to put popular peoples legislation
on the daily calendar, giving preference
to petty personal bills meeting their ap-
proval, with the result that many of