Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1917-03-16
Fifteenth Session W as in Many
Respects Superior To
Predecessors
FOR NEW CONSTITUTION
Passed Many Worthy Laws,
Killed Some Unworthy
Spent Much Money

The usual sigh Of relief given by the
state at the adjournment of it's legis-
lature may not be so profound as at
past sessions, yet it was given eX-
preston, and one wonders how long
this antequated system of law-making
will be permitted to exist. On the
whole the fifteenth session has proved
somewhat better than any of its pre-
decessors and was probably as good
as may be secured under the present
method.
legislative Results
Stated in brief, the results of the
session are:
Submitted to voters for decision at
general election 1918 question of call
ing constitutional convention in 1920.
Provided machinery for this work.
Approved fish code amendments and
ratified pact with Oregon relative to
fishing laws.
Accepted general outline plan of
commission survey Of higher educa-
tional institutions, provided for separ-
alton departments and for joint meet
ings to prevent duplication courses.
Raised higher educational millage tax
from los mills to 1.5S mills.
Validated military reserve act which
enables Pierce county to establish fed
Grad army post at American Lake.
Recent supreme court decision held
legislative act valid.
Provided money for state roads; re-
vised highway laws; agreed to accept
federal post road law money; pro-
vided system applying auto license
money to road work.
Appropriated approximately $12,-
100000 for state government for next
two years. This includes $4,O0O,00O
out of industrial insurance commission
fund raised by assessments Of en-
ployers and $1,000,000 for first aid
work to be raised by joint assessments
OF employers and workers.
Passed bone.dry law; bank code;
guarantee bank deposits law; water
code; irrigation code; first aid law;
amendments to industrial insurance
commission law; extra Juror law;
"criminal syndicalism" law; expected
to stamp out I. w. w. riots; act re-
vising statutes on military affairs;
70 mol Y,oiro nndo, omnn6-
ments to game code; act preventing
mutilation of Identification marks on
automobiles; new capitol law, giving
commission right to change plans and
providing s1000,000 to complete tenn
p'e cf justice and for new buildings;
law establishing single moral stand
ard for both sexes; law reducing rate
delinquent tax interest from Is per
cent to IL per cent.
The legislature failed to pass sew
eral proposed amendments to constl'
tuition; act extending private way OF
necessity law for private corporations
to acquire power sites; bill to abolish
state bureau of inspection; bill to
provide $4,000 for inspection state
auditors office; bill to permit public
officials to hire own experts for ex
animation of own records.
Passed bill providing assessed val
uation and actual valuation synony
nous to determining constitutional
limit of Indebtedness of municipal
corporations and bonding limit; Dill
requiring counties and all cities OF
less than 100000 together with other
municipal corporations to follow bud
get law.
Passed bill putting jitneys and auto
stage lines under public service com
mission, but it was vetoed by govern
or Failed to pass bill limiting liabil
ity of jitney bonds of $1,000 for small
cars and $4,000 for large cars; seven
passenger dividing line to meet objec
tions of present law held by supreme
court to mean that s2,5OO jitney bond
is for each passenger, not for car ca
pacity.
Increased fixed tax levies for high
or educational institutions from 1.0s
mills to 1.5S mills; military from o:
mills to .O3 mills, and made half-mil
tax levy for new capitol building pur
noses. Total increase fixed by levies
1.O4 mills. Killed bill for fourth state
normal school at Centralia. Provided
for new armories at Walla Walla AM
Aberdeen and established one at EV
erett. but made clear not one to b
built until funds available.
Killed bills providing bi-weekly pa!
davs for railroads; state boiler inspec
tors; permit candy makers to emplo!
girls nine hours day during rush sea
son before Christmas; state powde
plant: state cement plant; elective
public service commission; stat
printing plant; publication school tex
books by state.