The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-02-11
FEW BILLS PASS
in LEGISLATURE

the state at large was dccohPii0hSu
during the fourth week OF the present
ses~ion of the legislature, but this
week the session promises to see the
real legislative grind started by both
houses. During the first 20 days Or
ganization and the preliminary phases
Of the liquor question absorbed gen.
eral attention. During the past week
the development of the patronage
fight with Governor Lister made par
tisan politics the issue to the exciu-
sion of other business. Now that mas
been cleared out of the way In the
house and that body is showing a dis
position to do some hard work.
The house organization is continu-
ing to exercise its influence to discour-
age the introduction Of useless piiis'
with the result that only 1OS have
been introduced. At the same time IN
the last session the house had 5S'
hills introduced. More than half the
members of the house have introduced
no measures whatever
Senate Bills Numerous.
The senate ia running true to form
with its usual large bill productloh'
With less than half the membershlp
NJ the house more than twice the num-
her of bills have been introduced. Inc
senate has gone farther than the house
In tho work of actual legislation, how
ever. having started its regular cal
endar two days earlier.
The senate has had less partisan
politics than the house to interfere
with legislative work. Now that the
McArdle bills shearing the governors
powers and prerogatives are over from
the house, the senate may have to pay
attention to partisan questions.
One House Legislature Scheme
A plan for a unicameral. state legis-
iature of Is members, to replace the
present two houses with total OF 10y
members is proposed In Dill pre-
nared by Representative Robe. OF Sno-
homish county. progressive.
The proposed 15-man legislature
would be In session continually, under
the Robe plan, each member would
draw $4,000 annually, and would serve
for six years. The plan Is TO eject
three members from each congressioh-
al district. and to elect one memper
from each district every two years.
The salary roll Of the proposed iegis-
,ature would be 10000 for two years
and with other expenses this wouid
make the new plan cost about $lo0'ooo
biennially. about the expense OF the
139-member legislature now proVldeu
to meet so days every two years.
Another AntI.Prohibitlon Bill Likely.
King Alcohol promises again to take
the position of headliner on the Dill 10
be presented to the 14th Washington
legislature. Word from Seattle Is that
a third anti-prohibition measure Is De-
ing prepared for early introduction,
and that a final effort will be made to
obtain a vote of the legislature to set
a special election before the prohipi-
tton law adopted last November can
hecome effective, next January !.
While, on its face, the special elec'
.,op plan would seem barred by the
action taken by the Legislature TWO
weeks ago, the liquor men see loop
holes of escape from this conclusion
Ono lies in the language of the joint
anti-special election resolution. which
declares against submission OF initia-
tive measure No 18 or any other meas
ire "in connection herewith at spe-
cia, election. The measure to be pro-
posed. 1t is said, will be introduced as
an entirely new and separate DILL ana
not as an alternate for No. 18 or In any
wav 'in connection herewith"
According to a member of the SEN
ate. the plan proposed will be for the
present session of the legislature to
lew a heavy excise tax upon all malt
and spirituous liquor manufactured or
sold in the state, tax sufficlehtiy
high to raise, before next November
money to meet all expenses OF spe-
Val election.
While the liquor issue has not raised
,ts head above the surface Tor TWO
weeks, subterranean rumblings nave
testified to the fact that it Is by no
means dead. Nobody, apparently, Is
much in favor of initiative No. Is,
which is the only liquor measure sure
of going before the people. but which
"a loosely drawn and open to attack
from various sources.
Freak Bills Appear.
The legislature until last week has
heen remarkably free from freak bills
but a series of measures Of this KIND
have made their appearance.
"JJnlawful metallic deception" fs
made a crime under the terms OF 5
3. No. 17S, introduced by Senator Pal
msr. of King, under which the sale
of a rim vessel represented as alumni
um for instance. would authorize the