Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-02-02
MARBLE BILLS
RAISE TEMPEST
CONTINUED from page u

join with the Democrats in deploring
the introduction, so early in the ses-
sion, Of patronage fight, feeling that
their constituents sent them to Olym-
pia as legislators, not as partisans.
However, the fight over the McArdle
bills may turn out 1t has resulted in
most thorough and unexpected pub
licity for them, and 1t is safe to say
that none of their provisions has es-
capped scrutiny on the part of legisla-
tors of either party. Comparing the
McArdle bills with those introduced
by Representative Frank Reeves,
Democrat, of Chelan county, these
features are most salient:
Governor Lister recommended in
his message to the legislature that
the present board of tax commission
ers, consisting of three members. be
abolished, and that tax commission
ar be appointed by the governor. Re-
duction in the number of tax COM
missioners necessitated a change in
the land board, of which the three
tax commissioners are now ex-ofi1cio
members; also change in the state
board of equalization, Of which the
three tax commissioners are men,
bers.
The impression has been created
that the governor, through these bills,
is endeavoring to get control of the
land board and the state board Of
equalization. This impression is false
because the governors appointees al
ready compose the entire tax commits
sion, majority Of the state land
board and majority of the state
board of equalization.
Three Bills introduced.
Three bills were introduced in the
House by Representative Reeves, car
rying out the governors recommends
ton.
Three bills were introduced in the
House by Representative McArdle ef-
fecting the tax commission, the state
board of land commissioners and the
state board of equalization.
The Reeves tax commission bill pro-
vides for the abolition of the present
tax commission, consisting of three
members appointed by the governor,
and the substitution of one commits
sioner to be appointed by the COVER
nor.
The McArdle bill provides for the
abolition of the present tax commits
sion and that the commissioner OF
public lands be ex-officio tax commits
sioner, taking control of the tax COM
mission out of the hands of the gov
ernor.
Land Boards
The present board Of land commits
sioners Is composed of the commits.
sioner of public lands, chairman, the
three tax commissioners, and the fire
WaTuous luo ldItoI AOu1 U0Aue oPPOAn-
tees Of the governor.
The Reeves bill covering the board
Of land commissioners provides that
the commissioner Of public lands, the
tax commissioner and the fire warden
compose the board of state land com.
missioners.
The McArdle bill covering the land
board provides that the commissioners
Of public lands, the secretary Of state
and the state treasurer shall consti-
tute the board, taking the control of
this board out of the hands of the
governor.
Board Of Equalization.
At present the state board Of equal
ization is composed of the state audi
tor, chairman, the commissioner OF
public lands and the three tax COM
missioners, the three last named be-
ing appointees of the governor. The
Reeves bill on the state board of
equalization provides that the board
be composed of the state auditor,
chairman, the givernor, the land COM
missioner, the tax commissioner and
one member of the public service COM
mission, designated by the governor.
The McArdle bill covering the state
board of equalization provides that 1t
shall be composed Of the state audi
tor, state treasurer and commission
er of public lands, taking control of
this board out of the hands of the
governor
From the foregoing comparison Of
the present law with the Reeves bills
ond tho Mc rd1o hills II will he seen