The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-02-14
LAWMAKERS BUSY FRAMING
AND INTRODUCING BILLS
Nothing of Importance Accomplished
Progressive Measures Opposed by
Republicans and Democrats

That the Legislature is giving very
little heed to the fact that it has a
Democratic Governor and that this
same democratic governor has made a
recommendation that economy be prac-
ticed and that some consideration be
given to the consolidation of the higher
institutions of learning, is becoming
more evident as the legislative session
proceeds. Last week, despite the fact
that it we'll knew Governor Listers at
titude on the matter of big appropri-
alton for the state normal at Cheney,
the house passed house bill No. 164,
appropriating the sum of 100000 for
a new administration building for this
institution and for furnishing and
equipping the same. The bill went
through without much trouble, just as
it most likely will do in the senate and
the matter will be put straight to the
governor. 1t is largely a matter of
conjecture just as to what he will do
with the bill when it confronts him,
but il ne consults his better judgment
as expressed on former occasions he
will veto it.
The temper of the house doesn't
seem to be to give the people what
they want. This was further evil
denced this week when it turned down
the proposed amendment to the con-
stitution, placing the judiciary in the
recall list. The measure was intro
duced by Cookery, Of Spokane and
Murphine of King, and was looked up
on by the standpat Republicans as
strictly progressive measure. For this
reason they fought it doubtless harder
than they would have under any other
circumstances, and they succeeded in
keeping it from getting the necessary
two-thirds vote, although it lacked but
five votes. Had all the progressives
and democrats been present, doubtless
it would have carried, although it is
said the measure would have met in
slant death in the senate. The house
worked harder over this bill than it has
on any yet brought before it. The
measure was ably defended by Cookery
of Spokane, and Brown of Kittitas,
while Chamberlin, Foster and Sims at
tackled it. During the remarks OF
Brown he took occasion to comment
on the vote of some of the members
of two years ago on submitting the in
itiative and referendum recall amend
ments to the people as pertains to
elective officials, and then when Sims
got up to answer, the latter stated that
he wished to explain his vote of two
years previous. He stated that his
crowd needed some votes on certain
measures and they traded in order to
get certain legislation through. Now
the people of the state know how some
legislative measures are put through.
Sam Sumner of this county was bit
terly opposed to placing the Judiciary
on the recall list, the amendment lost
by a vote of So to 40.
With total up to this time OF over
500 bills introduced in both branches
it looks very much as though the total
would reach 1900 or better. II the
people of the state can figure out just
how they expect to get any desirable
and needed legislation out OF such
iumbled up mess then they are even
wiser than those on the ground and
supposed to be in a position to judge
OF affairs.
Two measures that received more
than ordinary attention from the senate
this week and didn't get any distance
were the anti-treating bill and the pro-
posed new game code, which places
the matter under state game com
mission and a state game warden.
These two bills will likely receive final
disposition during the coming week
since they are to come up for passage
early in the week.
The senate did pass one Dill this
week, No. 200, making the legal rate
of interest 10 per cent.
Hughes bill, No. Is, having passed
the house, goes to the senate for i'm
mediate action. 1t provides that white
aliens may own real property in the
and the, hill