Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-02
HOUSE HAS CAPITOL
BILL FOR PASSAGE
TION LATE THURSDAY-EX.
l'ECTED TO PASS.

The capitol building bill, in which
Olympia is greatly interested, was
scheduled to go before the house late
Thursday afternoon or early in the
evening for final passage, and little
doubt was held that it would be
passed by a substantial majority.
This opinion was strengthened by
the fact that when it went through
the house on second reading, both the
Republican and Democratic floor
leaders spoke for its adoption and
only one member of the body talked
or worked in opposition to it. The
general need of capitol improvements
to provide more room for the state
has become so apparent
to members of the legislature during
their stay here, that legislation to
remedy the condition has had fairly
clear sailing.
The bill passed through second
reading Tuesday with but little pro-
test, and with Mark Reed and e. L.
respectively Republican
and Democratic floor leaders, and the
local delegation, Representatives
Morrison and Aspinwall, urging its
adoption. Under its terms about ST.
100000 is made available for the
payment of debts already incurred,
to $450.000, and for the
Of the temple of Justice
which has stood unfinished
during five years, as well as for the
requirement of the high school prop
erty and the site of the first gover-
nor's mansion, II the capitol commits
sion desires.
"T'he Sanest Proposal"
This is the sanest proposal for
capitol construction
have seen," Representative
Farnsworth asserted, land I have
stood on the floor Of this legislature
watching the Olympia lobby. which
is dandy. putting over legislation,
constitutional and unconstitutional,
that was in local interest, II not In
state interest. ] think now we can
trust the membership of the commits
sion.''
Representative Hastings, Of King,
showed tendency to attack the dis
position of the bond issue author
ICED under the BILL. which is to bo
sold to the trust funds of the indus
trial insurance commission for In
vestment, while Representative Cor
ham, of Snohomish, was frankly
framing amendments designed ITO
prevent anybody from going ahead
with capitol construction on the hill
up there"
Mr.. Reed, who is also a member
Of the capitol commission, explained
the provision in the bill which al
lows levy of one-half mill on the
assessed vauation Of the state, to
build up capitol funds, and also the
one authorizing the capitol commits
sion to depart from the plans pre-
viously adopted.
1T will cost $4,000. 900 to COM
plete the project that has been
he said. This is the heart
of the bill. We feel the law should
be changed SO the construction work
can be brought within the limits Of
the land grant.
What is needed is completion Of
that eyesore, the temple of justice.
and we believe that It can be done
more cheaply than past provisions
indicate. We ask some power and
to acquire land. II neces-
sary, and the Olympia high school
building, but as member Of the
let me say that / am not
30 sure about the necessity.
No More Than Rentals.
Remember. that this capitol
building project would have been Of
necessity financed by direct taxation.
were it not for the states possession
Of a special grant of land, which has
an appraised valuation today of $5.-
100000. What has been spent to
date is no more than the state would
have been obliged to pay in rentals.
All the levy we propose will be paid
back to the state"
During the discussion Mr.. Reed
said that, in spite Of the two &d-
verse decisions of the supreme court,
the commission could have sold $2,-