The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-03-20
YORK Of STATES
SOLONS REVIEWED

o,r,n0io..-In point of real accom-
-,''smsnts. the 18th session oil 'he
Washington legislature was , one o. s,a the
".s, successful sessions since state
s hood according to those VINO %. nave nav,
. sSs up the actual results as 'neS
appear from the 1877 bills s pu, 'nr0%%'
~, nth houses and sent to Governor Its
II s for approval or veto ,, =.
V, r.o sssslou also will go down IN
,,.,orv as one of the most unusual
.s. a political standpoint and one
:, Tho most stormy. 1t is declared
n ,sat only one session-that OF lso9-
hos come anywhere near parallellhs
the 18th in the matter Of contention
,over important problems and parma
.n,orv struggles on questions III
vhich there were political issues
fhe contention which marked every
,,v tho two houses were in session
uss attributed to the presence for
,ho first time Of three political par
Nos each STRONGLY represented and
zach contending for certain political
nolices and campaign pledges.
In spite of the many conflicts the
session has resulted in heavy list
Of additions to the state laws
Appropriations Are LARGE
Counting bond issues and paper
concentrations the Thirteenth session
,nent more money than any two other
.essIons combined. In summing up
tho the financial work 1T has been
found that the two houses put through
bills providing for the expenditure OF
07,2l2O55. OF this amount SS,O0V'oOO
was bond issues and money coming
from funds raised in other ways than
from direct taxation.
The main items of expenditure were
s25O,OOO for roads, $4,000 900 in
bonds for the building OF new build
ings on the capitol site in Olympia,
100000 from the industrial insur-
auce fund and 1924, 466 for the main
tenance and operation of the various
Institutions and departments OF the
state government.
Some Of the more important appro-
pfiations were: State arterial high
ways, $2,25OO 600; permanent or county
highways, 100000; for the expense
Of the legislative session, 100000; for
the state prison, s150,O00; for state
fish hatcheries, $4,000; Lewis and
Skagit bridges, $57,S49; general bud
get Of expenses for the state depart
nents and institutions, 1921 ,466;
Cheney Normal school, $4,000; for
the purchase of university grounds;
sl0O0; for the carrying cut of the
states part Of the general abolition Of
grade crossings within the state, S25,.
700; purchase Lewiston-Clarksto
bridge, 100000; erection North Yaki-
ma armory, $4,000; investigation of
feasibility Of Palouse reclamation pro-
1ect, 10000; investigation feasibility
Of Quincy Valley reclamation project,
100000; Southwestern Washington
lalr' $4,000; 100000 for Panama-Pa-
cific exposition.
Important Measures Passed.
The principal accomplishments Of
me present legislature have been pass
ase Of the logged-off lands act; the
minimum wage law for women; the
ied lght abatement law; the mothers
pension law and teachers retirement
iuno' the last named item with a pro-
''so tnat 1t must be referred to the
peOpie Tor final adoption; mapping of
complete system of state highways;
comprehensive laws carrying into eff
iect the initiative, referendum and re-
A'' provisions of the constitution; the
hoy agricultural commission consoli-
'A''on Dill; and the adjustment of
~p'al punishment as the penalty for
murder.
Tue important measures killed or
'.'ins to receive consideration, in.
''uue the presidential preference pri.
la'y Dill; recall of judges; amend
-en' OF the constitution by initiative:
'''' aid amendments to the work.
'u' compensation act; the Oregon
.'au VI electing United States sena-
w. non-partisan election laws; the
s ,'' code; the fish code; the consoli.
49,, A' lhe blue sky law, and
u'a'tlns Of new constitution bv q
institutional convention.
,'s'.'at've Reapportionment Fails.
.ee'Siatlve reapportionment the
w. question which dealocked the legisIa.
~ lure In 1911, was knocked in the head
~. y Tue senate, when a final 11tb-hour
s"p. 70 put through a reapportion.
a usa' bill failed. The COW county dele.
sa'0ns standing as a unit revolted
~s.'nst the measure.
4, -, political battle royal which had
~ 'ne semblance of an old-time, cross.
turner's debate was a feature Of f. the
a .sa |. hours. First republican told
s r. ne 81, Grand Old Party. Then a demo-.
r%s narkened back to the davs If
, saonas Jefferson. Then Ren n'~ ~
~, Ma's Kingery, the only socialist s1' in
list century. forward into the
A...0 following 10 q IA