The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-01-28
QUIET REICNS IN
OLYMPIA HALLS

$u.S'' AoiAouyB ana peace is
marking the sessions of the state
legislature at Olympia. Aside from
introducing a fair share of bills,
little has been accomplished thus far
Among the interesting measures
drawn up is the old favorite de-
signed to join Eastern Washington
and Northern Idaho, creating the
new state Of Lincoln.
From now on, developments may
be looked for, as votes on some of
the bills pending will be taken.
Whatcom county interests have ap-
peared but little directly in the
legislation introduced, though prac-
tically all the general bills
will affect this section.
Olympia.-The second week of the
legislative session slipped by with
nothing accomplished In the way OF
legislation. Not q bill was voted on
in either house during the week, an
unheard Of occurrence in q Washing
ton legislature. The last legislature
1t the close of the second week OF the
session had passed dozen or more
bills in each house and several meas
ures were In the hands of the COVER
nor.
The time Of the legislators appar-
emily was occupied with the liquor
question, political jockeying Of the
two houses.
How far the legislature is behind
the work Of previous sessions is indi-
Gated by the fact that the bills intro
duced at the close of the second week
total only 167, of which 110 are SEN
ate bills and ~ house bills. On the
same day of the last session 359 bills
had been introduccd-142 senate bills
and 2o7 house bills.
This comparison is not altogether
to the discredit Of the present legis-
lature. for the house has innovated
the plan of first submitting its i'm.
portant measures to committees. If
the bills are approved by the commit.
tee they are then introduced as COM
mittee measures. the expense Of print
Ing bills that would have no chance Of
favorable consideration thus being
saved.
Liquor Question Disposed Of.
But while the legislature made no
progress along legislative lines, It
positively disposed of liquor legisla-
ton, which otherwise would have been
. busy source of trouble, and it clean.
cd up most of the combinations Of
the gubernatorial appointments and
sent the governors vetoes to commit,
tees.
The liquor question has been wiped
off the map by passage of the Joint
resolution pledging the legislature to
call no special election.
Opinion Is divided outside the legis-
lature ~ to the policy Of the action
with respect to liquor legislation. The
vets are emphasizing the fact that the
two petitions bore an aggregate OF
nearly 100000 signatures and declare
with considerable heat that these pc.
titioners were not even given the cour.
tesy Of hearing"
OF course the action pleased the
drys and also was satisfactory to .
large number who were opposed to the
expense of the proposed special elec-
tion. Both democrats and republicans
are claiming the credit there be for
getting the matter out Of the way be.
fore 1t interfered with other legisla.
ton.
Recommendations Considered.
The legislature has shown a marked
disposition to give serious considera.
ton to the principal recommendations
of Governor Lister in his message.
The constitutional revision committee
IL holding up all proposed amend.
ments. with a probability that instead
Of submitting any of them the COVER
nor's plan Of q constitutional conven.
ton will be submitted to the voters
instead.
The Joint committees on education
are calling before them the presidents
Of the institutions Of higher education.
President Henry Landes. OF the Uni
versity Of Washington, already has
spoken strongly for the governors
plan of q critical survey OF the insti-
tutions to eliminate courses which are
conflicting, ~ opposed to the Zednick
plan of one board Of regents for all
institutions. President f. A. Bryan.
Of Washington state college, though
reported cherishing q gubernatorial
bee in opposition to Mr.. Lister. also
has ioined the executive in opposition
to the Zednick plan and 1t is alto
sether probable that the Joint commit
tees will recommend the survey. The
,ep,slature also 10 considering the
sharpstein bill to provide tuition fees
At the university. to provide needed
funds for new buildings.
This week will see lot OF bills
brought out to a vote for passage or
rejection. ;.
Sizing up the situation SO far. 1t
~ould seem that 1t is really to be .
conservative session. with few II any