The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-02-08

LEGISLATURE
OLYMPIA. Feb. s.-Haif OF tho
1918 Legislative session In over. aud
that In about all that can be said
for the four weeks that have pass.
ed.
Beyond a few clashes Of purely
political nature and OF no import
anee TO tho state generally. tho SEES.
sion thus far has been uproariously
quiet Tho reason is quite appar.
ent
While a majority OF the ieginla-
ture would have greatly desired 10
have gone toy-riding over labor.
direct Legislation and social justice
laws. and 10 have annihilnted
everything from tho mothers pen
sion and women's cighthour law 10
tho right of cities To call their
shirts their own. they have en-.
Ono IL tho uncertainty OF what
Governor Lister would do. and q
veto by tho governor needs u two
thirds vote in both houses. and the
senate. at least. isn't to be depend.
ed on for the required two-thirds.
Tho other and moro important
obstacle II the referendum power OF
tho people. by which 9 per cent OF
OF the voters IN the state can block
any legislation until November.
1918. whom a vote by the citizens
can be had directly on such laws.
II 10 the rsssreodum power
OF the people thsa h2s forced
the proponents Of senate bill
No 40 20 discard II In the past
week and 20 build their hopes
on q substitute measure.
The substitute may pass.
though Its fate 10 beset by
many doubts.
Il liant fooIIno many people.
and II 10 substantially az OBJ
nosIous a. senate bill No. 80
In the attempt TO strip eitles
from control Of public utilities.
The substitute bill eliminates
few OF the rankest portions
OF senate bill No 10. GUT
SINGS The SAME coRPoR-
ALTON REFRAIN IN THE
GENERAL TEXT.
Two events OF the week fur.
nished interesting gossip for poll.
ticiAns
Tho public. generally. Is unaffeet.
ed.
One In the confirmation By tho
senate Of Charles A. Reynolds as
chairman OF tho public service com
mission The other In the passage
OF tho MoArdie tar and land com.
mission bills and tho rejection Of
the Reeves BIN. favored by Cover.
nor Lister.
Reynolds appointment had bern
withheld from confirmation when
II frs, came 10 the senate.
Why this was done has not been
satisfactorily explained. except that
Il was political move OF some
kind.
II wasn't seriously supposed that
n majority Of the senate could
really be obtained 10 block the ap-
pointment. but on the request OF
some senators confirmation was de-.
liayed.
Evidently finding that the poli,i.
cal advantage sought was not forth
coming. the senators decided final
lly TO confirm Reynolds Tho same
result will soon DO noted with the
confirmation OF L. ". Darwin. fish
commissioners, which was also held
lup without specific cause
As to the McArile bills. they
were simply a test OF strength be-.
tween tho house organization and
the governor.
In the house. tho organization
won. OF course.
The result r. doubtful IN the son
ate. and even II the senate passes
the McArtle bills. there II stlll a.
long road for them to travel. Gov.
erncr Lister will undoubtedly veto
them. and then they win require
a twothirds vote.
Tho house may produce the
necessary strength but tho senate
probably will not.
As TO the real merits between the
McArile bills and the Reeves bi'is.
which are favored by the governor.
the decision "a practically n draw.
Both sets. OF bills seek TO ac-
complish tiA adjustment of the
state tar commission.
The only difference In that the
governor. who first proposed the
removal OF the commission. aeeks
to have tho duties performed by
one commissioner appointed by
him. while the McArdle bills would
assign those duties TO a deputy APP
pointed by tho land commissioner.
who happens to be a republican.
| Senator Bethel took his coat off
TO fight the ten-round fighting bill
Lieut.. Gov. Hart said Il was out OF
order Bethel put his coat on
again. made his speech. To which
the other senators paid no attcn
ton, for they walked out to the
cloak room en- snasse. and the
measure passed the senate by al
vote Of % to is.
II win probably pass tho house
by an even bigger majority, but the
governors veto IN still to be met.
|
Despite the republicans platform
pledge, there seems little chance
there will be enough strength
mustered TO pnss the law to com
pei voters to register their party
La flii Ainnn Thin unnflnn n Ia nj