Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-07-24
CHECK ON BILLS
PROCEEDS SLOWLY
ElGHT-HOUR LAW ASSURED OF
VOTE-"SEtEN SISTERS
REPORTED DOUBTFUL

Secretary of State Howell's big
force of checkers are still working
away checking the signatures on the
Socialist eight-hour and ''seven sis
ters" initiative bills, with the pros
poets that the count on the former
Will be completed the latter part of
this week and on the latter some time
next week. The eight-hour bill is re-
ported to be assured of a place on
the ballot this fall, along with the
statewide prohibition measure, but
there seems to be considerable doubt
as to whether the "seven sisters" will
have sufficient bonafide signatures
when the count is completed.
The joint legislative committee Of
the State Federation of Labor, the
Farmers Unions and the State
Grange has already directed the pre-
paration of recall proceedings against
Secretary Howell, according to dis
patch from Spokane, charging mall
feasance in Office in connection with
handling of the initiative measures,
and it is known that the committee,
which is backing the "seven sisters"
proposes to exert all the opportunities
the Initiative law affords them In the
courts. to conpel the placing OF these
bills on the ballot, in case the secre-
tary Of state declares they have in
sufficient signatures to permit them
going to vote.
Farmers Oppose Bill.
The Farmers Unions of Walla
Walla., Columbia and GARFIELD coun-
ties this week filed an argument op-
posing the eight-hour bill, in which
1t is declared that the farmer cannot
harvest his crops without great loss
II he is compelled to work his men
only eight hours day during the
harvest season and adds that the
scarcity OF labor at such times makes
it impossible for the farmer to work
two crews day, eight hours each.
"How can farmer feed his crew
when cook can work but eight
hours day. six days IN the week?"
the argument asks. "And when Sum
day comes and the entire crew and
the cook. having worked the maxi
mum six days per week and are there
by disqualified from lifting a hand
on Sunday, how are they to be fed?
Who will feed and water the live
stock, milk the cows and do the
thousand and one other chores re-
quired on a farm ON Sunday?"
May Petition Legislature.
Since the report has been general
ly circulated that the odds seem to
be against the "seven sisters or at
the best will be very close, the sug-
gestion has been made that the pro-
moters, after their rejection, will re-
sumo the circulation of petitions be-
fore the next legislature meets and
submit them to that body under that
feature of the law which permits the
submission of measures In this way
and requires that the legislature must
consider them ahead of other meas
ures. If the legislature does not pass
the measures as presented, 1t can
prepare substitute measures and all
automatically go on the ballot at the
next election, giving the voters the
to decide which of the
two measures in each case they pre-
fer.
Because the legislatures engross-
ing clerk made mistake and left the
little word land" out of the sentence
in the copy of the initiative law sent
to the state printer, making quite a
difference in meaning between the
printed law and the official copy in
the secretary of states Office. Miss
Lucy Case of the Joint Legislative
committee may win the suit she filed
against Secretary of State Howell this
week to compel the latter to include
in the pamphlet to be circulated to
the voters this fall the arguments
she submitted in behalf of the "seven
sisters" He refused to accept them
for she rendered only $51.75 per page
where he had ruled deposit of $500
a page would be required.
Miss Case contends that $51.75 a
page is sufficient under the sentence
in the printed law which says the de-
posit must be made ''to cover the in
creased cost of the paper for the
Continued on page 81