The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-01-26
STATE LEGISLATURES
WORK AS REVIEWED
Bills Paving the Way for Con-
stitutionaI Convention
Are Passed.

No Short Ballot or Legislative Appor-
tlonment Expeeted-Fisht on Be-
tween State Observation-Disclosures
tIsan Ballot, Public Service, Farm
Loan Board and Eminent Domain
Bill lntrodueed-Highway Budget
Large.
Olympia.-The only accomplishment
Of the state legislature during the
second week of the session which is
Of general interest to the state at
large was the passage of bills which
pave the way for a constitutional con-
vention to revise the state constitu-
ton, and both houses assembled for
the third week Of the session with
practically all the big constructive
measures yet to receive attention.
The measures for a constitutional
convention passed the house by a
large majority, only 10 votes being
registered in the negative and the
senate followed the action of the
house with only six dissenting votes.
It is thus assured that the people
of the state will have an opportunity
to vote in November 1918 on whether
OF not they want convention called
to change the entire constitution. The
bills provide for the publication of the
question of calling convention in the
initiative and referendum pamphlet
and for the counting and canvassing
of the vote thereon in the same man
ner as for election of state officers
and the submission of the question
for a vote in 1913. The question in
1918 to pass, must have majority of
all the voters voting at the election.
It was claimed by those who opposed
the plan that the expense Of a con-
vention will be between 100000 and
100000.
As the plans for a constitutional
revision include a short ballot provi-
sion it is likely no effort will be made
to pass q short ballot law at this
session. Legislative apportionment is
very apt to get no attention at this
session for the same reason.
Hlqher Education Demands Attention.
The struggle between the Washing
ton State College and the State
University is likely to attract the most
attention during this week.
The state university interests are
on the ground and have the temper
airy advantage, but there is a strong
feeling that nothing should be done
to permit the university to rob the
state college of anything it needs and
ought to have as the farmers school.
Legislators from the cow" counties
and some from King county favor con-
tinuing both institutions along their
present lines, regardless of the recon-
mendations in the educational survey
as to appropriations and restrictions.
The legislators are working in the
greatest harmony.
Public hearings on the higher educa-
ton bills were arranged for by the
senate educational institution COM
mittees to which the heads of the uni
yersity and college were invited and
given an opportunity to be heard.
Both the house and senate commit
tees are delving into the survey report
nightly at regular meetings at which
the report is read aloud and the mass
of information contained in it is being
digested as thoroughly as possible.
Important Measures Are introduced.
OF the new measures introduced in
TO the legislature the past week, those
attracting the most attention now are
the non-partisan blanket ballot bill
of Representative Nelson, of King;
that Of Representative Christensen, OF
King, making members of the pub
lie service commission elective, rails
ing salaries and extending scope OF
the commission; that of Hastings and
Zednick, of King, declaring Saturday
afternoons legal half holiday in all
cities and counties; and the senate
bills by Iverson of Kitsap, providing
for a state farm loan board; Brown, OF
Whatcom and Iverson for a state
powder plant, and by Wray, of King
relating to the exercise of the right
of eminent domain by cities and towns.
The public service commission bill
provides for two, four and six-year
terms to start with, filings for the o.
flee to be non-partisan like the su'
preme court judges. The commission
ers are TO be subject to removal in
same manner as judges of courts OF
record. salary to be $4,000 year, an
increase of $1,000. The bill provides
a salary Of $4,000 for the secretary
of the commission, commission attor-
ney $4,000; rate expert clerk, $4,000;
engineer, $4,000; inspector Of saftey
appliances, $4,000; expert accountant
$4,000, stenographer to report hear
ings at $4,000, and such other clerks