Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-12
Az AMBITIOUS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

En1merate them one by constitutional
convention, preferential presidential primary
non partisan elections, re-apportlonnent on the
basis of uni-cameral legislature, absolute PROM
bition, and extension of the budget systcm-and
the Importance and ambitious character OF the
legislative program proposed by Governor Lister
to the assembly which started its deliberations
this week. stand forth in greater prominence 1t
is a program, of course, which will demand and
should receive the most careful attention of every
legislator from the standpoint of the greatest good
for the entire state; and it is program, too that
if enacted will place the state of Washington IN
he forefront as truly democratic in its govern
mental machinery, seeking to give to its citizens
the fullest privilege of exercising their constitu-
tional right and duty of governing themselves.
When the governor says constitutional con
vention is necessary, repeating his recommends
ton of two years ago, he speaks fact that is well
recognized by all wideawake thinkers. The state
Of Washington has outgrown its original constitu-
tion-there is and can be no dispute about that.
The obvious thing to do, then, is to revamp it to
suit modern conditions, and constitutional con-
vention is the only agency which accomplish
this result.
The governors statement that the people Of
this state desire preferential presidential pri-
mary is likewise an accepted fact. His assertion
that recent elections clearly indicate that the
spirit of partisanship, in connection with the
lection of public officials, is rapidly disappearing"
and that 1.-THE people will be better served if it is
entirely eliminated in the selection Of state,
county and city officials, is forward step which
undoubtedly should be taken and undoubtedly
will be, if not at this session, within very few
years at least. It is reform as inevitable the
direct election of United States senator's.
Absolute prohibition is a further change which
the majority of the people Of this state undoubt-
eddy want and which the present legislature will
most likely assure. The value of the budget sys-
tenn Of departmental estimates and appropriations
II so well recognized and approved that the gov
ernor's proposal that the present experiment be
nlly extended so as to make it really worth while,
i the statement of an advance in the machinery Of
our state government which all agree should be
taken.
But the most important of all his recommends
lions along governmental lines, to our mind, is
that one in which he proposes legislative re-
superintendent which would abolish the b-cameral
legislature consisting of the house and senate and
twenty-five members, Ave elected from each Of the
Ave congressional districts Of the state. It is per-
haps the most radical of all his recommendations,
evolutionary in upsettng it does the traditions
C6 the legislative branch of our national govern
nents as well q our state, but it is sorely and
sadly needed reform as every one who has ever
watched legislative session knows
We have advocated a reform Of this character
for the past four years. during which we have
seen it endorsed by many newspapers Of the state,
by the State Grange, the State Federation Of
Labor, by numerous public speakers and various
f0rwardlooking organizations. Likewise has it
been proposed by the governors Of other states,
BY close students Of governmental affairs and
problems by leaders Of public thought in all parts
of the nation. For all who know conditions as
they are and seek methods of improvement realize
that a compact body of twenty-five legislators of
nigh capability, giving greater attention and
study to legislative conditions and necessities will
work more efficiently, more effectively and more
satisfactorily for the advancement of the states
interests, and the cost will not be as great as
under the present system.
We repeat that the governor has proposed to
the present legislature most ambitious program
but we submit, too, that it is composed solely of
essentials, of reforms that should be made now
and will be made, if not now, within very short
time
LISTER AND THE CAPITOL SITUATION.
The editor OF this newspaper has endeavored
for the past four years to convince certain of our
local politicians that they not only wronged the