The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-09-25
FIVE GO ON
THE BALLOT
SUPREME COURT SUSTAINS
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
COURT SITS EN- BANG
FIRST AID VICTORY.

rive OIL Ine seven sisters lnltla-
tive measures will appear upon the
ballot at the coming election, the su-
preme court having handed down de-
cision reversing the action of Secre-
tary of State Howell and the superior
court of Thurston county, and sustain
/ ing the Joint Legislative Committee
pealed.
All seven of the measures went to
the secretary of state with apparently
enough names to place them upon the
ballot. When the secretary of state
got through with them, but three re-
mained, viz, No g. Blue Sky law; No
Is, Abolition of Paid Employment
Agencies; No. 9, First Aid bill. Ap-
peal was taken to the superior court
of Thurston county by both sides, the
lower court throwing out the Employ
ment Agency bill but allowing the
] Il
Sky law was not carried into court by
the top-Look-Listeners, those inter-
ested in securing its defeat apparent
ly not putting up the money to carry
their fight into court. The Fish
Bill" No. 10, was not appealed by
Gov. Teats and his associates, the
margin of names being so small that
counsel was convinced that there was
but slight chance to get through with
it because of errors or Implications
which would undoubtedly be found in
sufficient numbers to wipe out the
narrow margin of signatures. The
Stop-LoOk-Listeners appealed the First
Aid bill to the supreme court and the
Joint legislative forces likewise ap-
pealed the remainder of the bills
thrown out. The case was argued
September II before one department
of the supreme court, that body TAX
ing the case under advisement. The
court itself set an en- banc hearing
for the Friday following, and argu-
ment was renewed before eight Judges,
Judge Norris being in the East,
The final decision handed down last
Friday, places Nos. 7, s, 8, 10, 13 on
the ballot No being safe from the
time Secretary Howell finished count
ing No -, thrown out by the SUI
preme court, is the bill abOlishing the
state tax commission and providing
that there shall be BUT ONE VALU-
ALTON FOR THE PURPOSE OF
RATE MAKING AND TAXATION
| PURPOSES. The supreme court held
that neither Secretary Howell nor the
superior court could go behind the
sworn certification of names by proper
certifying officials named in the in
itiative act, save for the purpose of
discovering duplication of signatures.
The decision was rendered by JUS
The decision was rendered by Judge
Parker Judges Grow, Ellis, Mount and
Fullerton asserting. Judge Main dis
sented and Judges Gose and Chadwick
announced that they would file writ
ten opinions later.
Friends of the measure are at a loss
to understand the action of the SUI
preme court in throwing out No. 10,
and are eagerly awaiting the text of
the decision. On both the count of
the Joint Legislative Committee and
the county of the secretary of state,
No. u, thrown out by the supreme
court, had more signatures than No.
10, one of the bills going upon the
ballot. The count of Miss Case gave
No. 10 32624 signatures; No. 70, 32,-
CTS. Secretary Howell gave No. 10
31,015, No. -, 1924. Just what
guided the supreme court in throwing
out No. 12, and retaining No. TO- will
not be known until the decision is
made public.
The decision is distinctive victory
for the friends of the measures and
blow to the Stop-Look outfit
which had bent every effort to keep
the people from passing upon any of
the initiative measures An active
propaganda campaign will be carried
on from now until November for their
passage.
Friends of direct legislation owe
debt of gratitude to Gov. Teats, and
the legal counsel associated with him,
e. G. Mills and Malcolm Douglas, for
the legal fight they put up to defeat
the efforts of the reactionary forces to
thwart the will of the people. Mr.
Teats fought the case all the way
through the courts to a successful is
sue, giving his services without a
thought of financial recompense.