Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-05
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
LAWS WHICH JOINT COM.
MTTEE WILL ADVOCATE
AT PRESENT SESSION.
BY LUCY r. CASE.

We specifically favor that the fol-
lowing measures be passed by the
Legislature of the State of Washing
ton at the session of the legislature
to be held commencing January,
1917:
(a) A bill submitting to the peo-
pie constitutional amendment pro-
viding for the right of the people to
amend the constitution by the initia-
tive.
(b) A bill submitting a constitu-
tional amendment, prohibiting the
alienation of any of the water power
belonging to the State of Washing
ton in fee, and prohibiting the leas-
ing of any water power belonging to
the State of Washington for longer
period than fifty years.
(c) A bill submitting to the peo-
pie a constitutional amendment pro-
viding for the consolidation of city
and county governments in any coun-
ty which contains a city having a
population Of 100000 or more.
ID A bill submitting to the peg.
pie a constitutional amendment pro-
viding short ballot by the elm ila
ton of the election of all minor state
ami county officers.
(e) A bill submitting to the peo-
PIE constitutional amendment pro-
viding for the recall of judges as we'll
as other elective officers.
(f) A bill submitting to the peo-
pie a constitutional amendment pro-
viding for a tax on the unearned in
crement through the increase in land
value.
(g) A bill amending the indus
trial insurance act by providing ade-
quate first aid to the injured.
(h) A bill providing for the es-
Enlistment of state employment
agencies with power to relieve unem-
ployment and prevent the same as far
as possible.
() A bill strengthening the en-
forcement provisions of the prohibi-
ton law adopted in 1915.
I'd A bill providing for the print
ing Of arguments for or against ini-
tiative and referendum measures by
the state free of charge as guaran-
teed by the constitution.
(k) A bill providing that in the
nomination and election Of all state
and county officers, party designa-
ton be eliminated from the ballot.
(D A bill which will enable the
state to lend financial aid in order to
place prospective farmers on the va
cant agricultural lands of the state.
(m) A bill providing for the ap-
pointment Of q commission to draft
bills to submit to the 1919 session Of
the legislature providing for old age
insurance, sickness insurance and un-
employment insurance. and to sug-
vee. surh -'ho- iogtslattor ~ the
commission may deem advisable.
(n) A bill providing for an ade-
quate tax on fish products taken from
the waters within the Jurisdiction Of
the State of of Washington.
(o) A bill providing for direct
system of marketing 80 as to elm
mate as far as possible the charges
of the middlemen on staple food
products.
In addition to the foregoing. we
would favor the reformation by the
State Legislature Of its rules of pro-
cedure SO as to make the proceedings
of that body more democratic.
We condemn the use Of restrain
ing order or injunction in labor dis
putes, save where 1t can be clearly
shown after hearing represented by
both parties that the ordinary pro-
cesses of law will not avail to pro-
tect life or property, and hold that
in all contempt cases for violation OF
any injunctive order a trial by jury
should be had, except when jury Is
waived by the accused.
We favor such restrictions of the
power of the courts as shall leave to
the people the ultimate authority to
determine fundamental questions OF
social welfare and public policy. To
secure this end, we favor:
% That when an act, passed
under the police power of the state
is held unconstitutional, under the
state constitution, by the courts, the
people, after an ample interval for
elaboration, shall have an opportun-
ity to vote on the question whether
they desire the act to become law
notwithstanding such decision.
CD That every decision of the
highest appellate court of state de-
claring an act of the legislature un-
constitutional on the ground of its
violation of the federal constitution
shall be subject to the same review
by the supreme court of the United