Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-01-12
ECONOMY IS NOW
THE WATCHWORD
Many Measures Will Start
Lively Battle In Legislature
Convened Yesterday
FIGHT OVER UNIVERSITY
M Educational Institutions
May be Drawn Into Into 1t =
Road Appropriations

OLYMPIA, Jan. 11.-"Economy'
viii be the watchword of the 14tt
biennial session Of the legislature ol
Washington, which was called to or
der at noon today. The senate and
house are overwhelmingly republi
can. The progressive and democratic
parties representation is SO small
that it cannot be considered factol
In the session as partisan representa-
tives.
All three of the larger political par
ties in the state have adopted plat
forms pledging members to strict
economy in all public affairs. While
the democrats control the executive
departments of the state, including al
Of the state commissions, state in
stitutions and state boards, the res
of the administrative forces are il
the hands of the republican party
All estimates for appropriations fol
the coming biennium have been prun
ed by the heads of the various de
partments to what each considers alb
solutely necessary, but the leaders IL
both branches of the legislature de
clare that considerable more pruning
will be made. The coming session
has every indication of being one a
which the economy knives will pla.
IN important part.
While there is no heavy demant
for appropriations for buildings sucl
~ the Cheney normal bill, arount
which considerable action developed
1t the 1913 session, the institution
Sof higher education, the University o
Washington principally, are demand
ing large appropriations. This prom
ises to, force fight. Cheney tw,
years ago asked for 100000 and re
ceived it after Governor Lister hat
vetoed the bill once and it was pass
ed over his veto on a trade. Thil
year the university is asking for $500
900 in excess of it's annual levy O
Is mills. This sum is asked for new
buildings.
Fight Over University
The fight over the university ap
preparation demand will draw every
educational institution in the state in
to the controversy. The hackers o
the university are threatening to at
tack the state college in the demand
of the latter, en- the grounds that the
build up a second university, and tina
the primary purpose of the state col
lege. agricultural science, is being
lost sight of in the scramble for more
money.
This controversy Is already broad
ening In scope. Bills have been pre-
pared, modelled to a certain degree OF
the measures of the one introduced
two years ago, abolishing all boards
Of regents for the separate institu
tons and placing all under the super
vision and control Of one board. A
bill of this nature was summarily
dealt with two years ago, but at thai
time it was introduced outside Of th'
house control. This year the meas
ure is being fathered by member
of the house control and will be Civ
en- q chance for an open fight in com
mittee and on the floor of the house
Road Appropriations
Good road legislation will also de
Wand considerable attention. One o
the most important measures rela
tive to this character OF legislation II
a measure drafted at the instance O.
the secretary of state, revising thu
laws governing the licensing Of auto
mobiles. Secretary Howell has has
prepared a measure which will license
motor vehicles according to weight
horse power and business for which
such are used. It Is estimated tina
rect, taxes from this source $25c,OO(
= year.
That road appropriations will come
In for an attack is conceded. Ont
reason for this is based to certain
extent upon political grounds. Ths
present highway Office is composed
almost entirely of political appointeei
OF the democratic administration, ant
the republicans are assailing it OF
grounds Of inefiiciency and work &C
complained with appropriations made
by the last session. Whether or no
the levy fixed by the last session pro
viding 4 mill annually for state roads
constructed by the state highway de
partment and IN mills levy for per
mane4t Highways will be allowed t.
stand. rests almost entirely with thu
(Continuod on paSe -.