The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-03-06
LEGISLATIVE DOING
OVER IN OLYMPIA

VI bubihCbc IAouo0StCu' hS oSooAOA
also will establish new record for
the amount OF important legislation
put through.
Both houses have passed 81 bills,
all OF which have gone to Governor
Lister for approval or veto. So far
the governor has vetoed two bills and
parts OF a third. He has signed about
~. Both houses have concurred in
70 memorials and resolutions.
Some Important Bills Passed.
Included in the list Of important
measures which have passed one or
the other of the houses up to this time
are the Vancouver-Po bridge ap-
preparation bill, the mothers pension
bill, the bill creating a system OF state
arterial highways, u bill for a pension
for the wives and families of convicts.
a bill creating u state department Of
agriculture and others.
Action on the MISUNDERSTANDING
bridge was taken when the house pass
ed a 100000 appropriation by vote OF
81 to 80. The passage Of the bill
marked distinct victory for the dele
CATION from Southwest Washington
headed by Representative Mccoy and
Senator French, both Of Vancouver.
There seems to be no doubt about the
success of the measure In the senate.
One of the NEST important bills
passed during the past week was the
measure introduced by Senator Troy
of Jefferson county, providing for the
establishment Of a state department Of
agriculture to take up administration
Of all questions relating to agriculture
in the state. The department will take
over the work now done by about 10
state departments including the state
food and dairy commissioner. the. oil
inspector, the state horticultural in
spector and all his county deputies.
and others. There was but little oppo-
sition in the senate and none has de-
veloped 40 yet In the house.
Road Legislation Uncertain
Road legislation stands In a bad
tangle because of the clash between
the house and senate and Governor
Lister on the bill passed by the two
houses providing 100000 annual in.
crease in the tax levy for the state
highway fund. The house control
wants the bill to 20 through 40 orig
inally passed. but Governor Lister de-
mands that 100000 year be whack-
ed off the increase provided in the
bill. All manner Of compromises have
been offered, but the governor has re-
fused to concede anything. 1t 10 like
ly that II attempts to get together fail.
the house control will muster its force
and try to pass the 100000 bill over
the head Of the governor.
Two roads committee bills will be
introduced in each house this week.
as the result Of the conference held
between Chairman Ralph d. Nichols
of the senate roads committee, L. d.
McArdls Of the house roads committee
and democratic leaders.
The first Of these is the bill appro-
priating the money to be raised by the
1h.mill 1918 highway levy and the l.
mill levy for the succeeding year. the
total amount apportioned being 3D.
s64,l41 for the different arterial or
primary or trunk roads.
Another bill provides that per cent
Of all money raised Is to be expended
by the highway commission for the
maintenance and repair Of state high
ways. This sum IL to be set aside by
the treasurer and spent under the d.
recticn of the state highway commits
sion.
Convicts' Families Aided
Following an eloquent plea by Lieu
tenant-Governor Hart the senate pass
ed by unanimous vote bill creating
fund for the maintenance Of the indig-
ent wives and families Of inmates Of
state penal and reformatory institu-
tons.
The bill provides that the state will
set aside for the fund not more than
II cents a day for each prisoner en-
ployed at labor for the state or on any
of it's institutions, Quarries or high
ways, the II cents to be paid by the
state. The fund, the bill provides,
shall be open for contributions from
individuals or associations. The des-
tituts wife of any convict in the peni-
Tertiary Of Washington, the bill pro-
vides. may make application through
the prosecuting attorney of the county
in which she resides to the state board
of control, for a monthly allowance
for the support of herself and any
chilli or children under the age Of is.
vetoes Cut OF Million
In slashing nearly 100000 from
the budget of expenses for state insti-
buttons and departments prepared by
the legislature, Governor Lister wiped