The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-02-23
STATE LEGISLATURES
WORK AS REVIEWED
Total of Bills on Last Day for
Introduction of Measures
Reaches 71O.


Against Emergency cIause-MiIi.
tary Training Endorsed-New Coal
Mining and Banking codes-state
to Buy Powder.
Olympia.-While many of the i'm.
portant measures to be threshed out
at this session are we'll advanced in
legislative processes, yet the large
number Of bills introduced will neces.
state a steady grind by both houses
II the usual Jam is to be avoided dur.
Ing the closing days of the session.
Last Friday, the 40th day of the
6O-day session, and the last day for
the Introduction of bills without con-
sent OF a two-thirds majority of both
houses, witnessed the introduction Of
flood of new bills. The senate re-
ceived 66 and the house 10, making
. total Of 10 bills introduced this
session, 321 in the senate and 329
In the house, a considerable increase
over the session of 1915, when q
total OF 6S4 bills appeared.
New senate bills provide for op-
tional voting of second choice instead
OF compulsory voting, as now requir.
ed; make farm-loan bonds legal in
vestments for trust funds; authorize
joint county ferries; appropriate s5,-
900 for the appointment of a state
welfare commissioner at $500 salary;
make a felony of advocating sabotage
and other forms of terrorism; extends
public service regulation over inter.
urban lines, and gives a husband
right to sue for damages for the death
Of his wife.
Short Ballot to Be Amended
The new house bills are designed to
amend the constitution In order to es-
tabllsh a short-ballot system whereby
only the governor, lieutenant-gover.
nor and state auditor will be elected,
and another establishes commission
government for counties.
The house list of new bills also in
cludes an appropriation of $4,000 for
state enforcement of the bone-dry law !;
a proposal to increase the lieutenant
governors salary from $1,000 to $4,000
annually; to eliminate $3.50 charge
for installation of telephones, as fixed
by the public service commission, and
limit any monthly telephone charge to
S25; and to create the county of Mora
out of adjoining sections of Clallam
and Jefferson.
First Aid Bill Passed BY House
First aid bill, an important piece
OF constructive legislation, passed the
house by a vote of SO to 8. The
overwhelming majority given the bill
is taken generally to indicate that 1t
will be adopted by the senate and wi''
settle a vexing problem that has been
before every legislature since 1911,
and that has been taken up twice by
initiative.
The present bill provides for equal
contributions of funds from employer
and employee. Deduction from the
employees pay will range from y cent
to III cents per day. depending upon
the hazard of the occupation. Two
plans of operation are provided. The
employer, with the consent Of ma
jority OF his workmen, may contract
with a physician or hospital for the
care of injured workmen, the contract
to be subject to the approval of the
governor. Those not adopting this
method pay fees into the state fund.
sone-Dry Bill Passes Senate
Bone-dry restrictions on intoxicat-
ing liquor In this state, as Incorporate
ed in the Halsey bill, which passed
the house, resisted every effort to
amend or delay in the senate and fin
ally passed by vote of SO to 3 with
three senators absent No attempt
was made to attach an emergency
clause which leaves the bill open to
referendum by petition. That 1t will
De Tcl6TTcu " tlic 1910 NANN'iSA " ~
frequently declared in the course OF
debate.
By many, the Halsey bill is consid-
cred the most drastic prohibition act
ever passed in this country. Liquor
is absolutely taboo, except for the one
purpose-sacrament Ministers OF
the gospel of any denomination may
ship in intoxicating liquor, but under
the most guarded conditions.
"Bootlegging" and "jointist" are
two slang words defined in the act
and given official recognition and per
sons convicted of being either will
have to go to the penitentiary There
is no alternative for the court and the
sentence must be between one and
five years.
Under the bone-dry law 1t is even a
violation to have liquor in ones pos
session, as the act defines this to be
prima facie evidence of violation
and the punishment for this is severe
Lister Vetoss Bill With Emergency
Governor Lister registered his first
veto of the 1917 session in disapprov'
-. n