The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-02-25
LEGISLATORS
MAKE l8 LAWS


the better for the state, then the pres
ent session may be considered a sue
cess, for during the first six weeks of
the session but IS bills have passed
both houses, six of which have been
signed by the governor and two have
become laws by passage over his veto
Measures passed by both houses
are Senate bills Nos. 1, appropriating
$4,000 for legislative expenses; 9, ap-
propriating $4,000 for legislative
printing; "a, relating to drainage dis
tricts; 40, allowing sale of destroyed
county property; So, reappropriating
$4,000 for Cheney normal school; 9S,
1egalizing overdrafts in state funds;
10S, allowing court review of cancella-
tion of insurance agents licenses; 153,
providing for reversion of national
guard property. House bills, Nos. 80,
allowing purchasers of state oyster
lands to perfect titles; 45, revising
Pierce county precinct lines; SO, abol
ishing state tax commission; 81, re-
organizing board of equalization; SO,
allowing abbreviation of code refer
ences; IS, authorizing town support of
libraries; &c, allowing cities to accept
lands outside their borders; rs, prohib-
iting Juggling of city funds; 119, uni
versal four-year registration law.
OF these senate bills, /, 2, 40 and 55
and house bills 80 and 50 have been
signed by the governor and house bills
54 and So vetoed and repassed over
the veto. In addition the senate has
passed 62 senate bills and killed four
and the house has passed 81 house
bills and killed II.
There have been 3S5 bills introduced
by the senate and 261 by the house.
Republican Rule Proves Supreme.
Against all predictions that the re-
publican majority in both houses of
the Washington legislature would
prove unwieldy and lack cohesiveness
on account of it's size, the organiza-
ton thus far has proved the strongest
in charge at any session in recent
years and to date has taken practically
every trick in the political game with
the democratic governor.
AS in past sessions, the house thus
far has proved the stronger body.
The organization will receive it's Sc
verest test in the coming three weeks.
While reported defections in republi-
can ranks have not developed yet, the
close of the session promises to see
the usual flood of bills left to the gov
ernors mercy, and several legislators
already are reported as nervous in re-
gard to the fate of pet measures.
Apprehension is Growing.
This feeling of apprehensiveness has
grown since Governor Lister served
notice that he would veto the boxing
BILL" word to this effect being deliver
ed shortly after Senator Wray, it's au-
thor, had voted to pass the McArdle
bills over the governors Veto Friends
of the governor say, however, there
facts, Senator Wray having asked the
governor to express an opinion before
the bill, already passed by the senate,
came up in the house, and the COVER
nor sending the letter upon learning
that the bill was due to go on the
house calendar the following day.
During the week rush work will be
the order and some of the most i'm
portant measures on the republican
program will be up for passage, so
that they may be sent to the governor
early and repassed over his veto If he
should disapprove them. After this
week there will be little chance for
repassage of bills sent to the execu-
tive. if they are held by him for the
full five days allowed by the constitu-
tion.
Vote to Abolish Tax Commission.
Abolition of the Washington state
tax commission finally was accom-
plished, insofar as the legislature is
concerned, when both houses agreed
to a complete revision of the McArdle
hill. which has been held in the senate
rules committee, pending the outcome
of the fight over the other members
of the McArdle trio.
The tax commission bill, as passed
bv the house originally, provided for
transfer of the commissions duties to
Land Commissioner Savidge, repub-
lcan elective official. AS revised and
passed by both houses the measure
qives inheritance tax, liquor license
and other collection work to Secretary
of state Howell, republican, and
masses the railroad valuation and sim
liar work to the public service commits
sion. appointed by Governor Lister.
Defeating a bla uket primary ballot
amendment offered by Metcalf of
Pierce. and striking out the anti-sec-
ond-choice voting sections, the senate
passed the Whitney election bill, in
dorsed by the state republican com