The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1917-02-08


detail as a compromise between the
adherents of universal registration
and eastern Washington farmers, who
demand repeal of country registra-
ton.
No Referendum on Bone Dry Bill.
Efforts to take a referendum pro-
vision on Halsey's bone dry liquor
bill were defeated in the house by
practically a two to one vote.
Under debate for nearly five hours
In the house the bone dry law pre-
pared by the Anti-Saloon league and
introduced by Representative Halsey
OF Asotin county as house bill 4, with
stood every attempt to make its
terms less drastic and an amendment
proposing a referendum clause, which
would refer the bill to the voters at
the 1918 general election offered by
Westfall of Spokane, secured only "a
votes. with 81 opposed. A proposal
to retain the present permit system.
while applying rigid restrictions to
other operations, although champion
ed by Representative Mark E. Reed,
majority leader, gained only IS votes,
while II were against it.
The only amendments adopted
make the law more drastic than its
original draft Without serious de-
bate the house adopted a long series
Of amendments, offered by Represen-
tative Halsey. writing into the bill
provisions requiring alcohol to be dis
pensed for chemical and mechanical
purposes only under an elaborate per-
init system. Committee amendments
making minor clerical and legal cor
rections were adopted.
To Speed Election Count.
A double set of election officials.
one to receive the ballots and one to
count, are provided for in a bill in
troduced in the senate by Senator
Jones. The plan of having one set
.of judges and clerks count ballots
while the other is receiving is in
vogue in several states.
The purpose of the plan Is to have
the vote counted soon after the polls
cost no more for two sets of officials
working 10 hours than for a single
set working 20 hours.
Extra Juror Measure.
The senate passed a bill prepared
by the attorney generals office which
authorizes the court in it's discretion
to swear in Is or IA jurors. the extra
jurors to hear testimony and be call
ed upon only IL any of the original
IL is incapacitated by illness or 9th
erwise The measure is designed to
prevent delays in the l. W. w. MUIR
der trials at Everett. Delays and
enormous expense to California in
Ruef and Mcnamara trials were cited
when deaths of jurors compelled re
trials.
House Passes Bills to End Tax Board
Unanimously and without debate
the state tax commission, creating the
office of state tax commissioner, and
reforming the state board of equali-
zation. Later Majority Leader Reed
gave notice that he would move for
a reconsideration of the vote whereby
The bill reforming the equalizing
board was passed.
These bills were introduced follow
ing recommendations made by Gov
ernor Lister in his message to the
legislature.
Labor Threatens Referendum.
Repetition of previous legislative
fights on the proposed first-aid
amendment to the industrial insur-
,nce law is forecast in notice served
IN the legislature that a referendum
will be invoked by the state fedora
ton of labor if the Reed-McCoy bill
passes in its present form. Division
IF the cost of first aid between EN-
ployer and employe is the main OBJ
lection of the federation, the latter
maintaining that the industry should
bear the entire cost
Legislative Brevities.
In the house Christensen OF King
introduced a bill to allow cities or
towns to operate telephone systems.
The senate passed senate bill II,
A measure which permits the CONVEX
sion of building and loan associations
into mutual savings banks.
A one-chamber legislature of Is
members who shall meet annually is
/ proposed in a bill by Senator Corn
we'll. which was introduced In the
/ senate.
A bill asking an appropriation OF
| SO. 900 for Mrs. Julia Olson, wife of
the industrial commissioner, murder
ed, was introduced in the house by
Representative ]. w. Summers.
The fight scheduled on the state
senate rules committee was called
off. Neither side, ii appeared, had