The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1915-02-25

the present Second-choice provisions
will be retained, as it is proposed to
consider this phase of the election
question in another bill 1t was held
that the question of second-choice vot-
ing IS extraneous to the Whitney bill
and therefore that it should be con.
sidered separately.
During the time amendments were
in order, Nichols of King led a sue
cessful fight to strike the section
which would permit candidates for of
flee to advertise their candidacy in
newspapers.
Briefly summed up, the Whitney act
which now goes to the house, provides
shall be held in May in general elec-
ton years for the nomination of pre-
cinct committeeman; that candidates
| for precinct committeeman must sign
| a declaration supporting the platform
of the party to which they claim allie
| glance, that the regular county and
state conventions must be held by po-
litical parties for the purpose of draft
ing platform to which proxies would
be forbidden; that candidates for of
flee must subscribe to the party plat
form in general" way.
Pass Bills Over Governors Veto.
Governor Listers vetoes of the Nc
Ardle bills were overridden by the
senate and the land board bill, No. "a,
became law by vote of 80 to 10.
The bills were passed by the house
over the governors veto.
The bills were both filed with the
secretary of state. The one that will
take effect Immediately rearranges the
land board, making the board consist
of the land commissioner, secretary of
state and state treasurer. The equali-
zation board bill, No. 55, will take eff
feet in 80 days. 1t specifies that the
board shall! be made up of the state
auditor, the land commissioner and a
member of the public service commits
sion to be designated by the governor
Two Bills, Repeal Prohibition Law.
Two bills were introduced in the
legislature to provide for a referen-
dunn election next November to repeal
the prohibition law, which will take
effect January 1, 1916, unless repealed.
The leading features of the bills are
that they would repeal the prohibition
law and would raise funds to pay for
the special election. They are evi-
IDENTIFY designed to meet the objection
raised to the cost of holding a special
election.
The bills create the office of excise
commissioner, who would collect the
special tax on the liquor business and
who would license the business of
manufacturing, bottling and dealing in
malt or fermented liquors containing
alcohol. But on exports of articles
made in this state no stamp tax would
be paid. Wholesale dealers would not
be permitted to retail liquor on the
premises.
The referendum bill would author,
ize city councils or commissioners, lin
accord with the local option law or
any other laws of the state or any
charter or ordinances" to license re-
tailers. But the retail business for
drinking on the premises is limited to
hotels and restaurants. The bill says
there shall be no bar and that the bev-
erages shall be served in the dining
rooms.
Constitutional Convention Dropped.
Governor Listers plan of a consti-
tutional convention will not be acted
upon at this session of the legislature,
under tacit agreement of leaders. Op-
position of Speaker Conner and of
King county republican leaders has in
fluenced the senate constitutional re-
vision committee, which originally ia
vored the proposal, to abandon the
plan of bringing the measure before
the senate. While it is possible that
the constitutional convention bill may
receive the necessary two-thirds vote
in that body, it could not be passed by
the house. Senators who favor the
plan agree, and accordingly it is un-
likely that the measure will even be
introduced.
Bill to Abolish Direct Initiative.
Among the bills introduced in the
house was one that would abolish the
direct initiative by the people but
would leave a clause providing for
initiative petitions to the legislature.
The bill proposes an amendment to
the constitution to be voted on in No
vember, 1916. 1t raises the percentage
of signers required on initiative petit
tions from 10 to Is per cent.
Under the provisions of the act the
people could initiate a bill to the leg
islature and that body would either
have to pass it or refer it to the peo-
pie at the next election, or a special
election could be called.
AS predicted earlier in the season,
bill reached the house which would
abolish the offices of labor commits
sioner and mill and mine inspector.
The duties would be transferred to
the industrial insurance commission,