Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-19
CHIEF EVENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE WEEK
HOUSE ADOPTS RESOLUTION FOR
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVEN.
TION-HARMONY WAVES.

Voters of the State of Washington
will decide at the next general state
election in November, 1918, whether
they want a constitutional .conSen-
ton, if the senate, as expected, con-
ours in the joint resolution adopted
by the house Thursday morning, sub
hitting the question to popular de-
cision. The convention, If author
lied, is to be held in 1920.
Adoption Of the resolution this
early in the session, much earlier
than measures of such Importance
have been acted upon in recent leg
islatures, is taken as an indication
that the senate will endorse the ac-
tion within short time and without
much argument. There was practic-
ally no argument on the resolution
and the two accompanying bills In
the house Thursday, and only 10
votes were registered against The
Whatcom county delegation voted
SOlldly against IL.
Comparatively short sessions were
the rule in both houses Thursday.
the days work being concluded when
the legislators journcyed to local
moving picture tbeater in the after
noon end witnessed the pictures of
the state institutions that have been
displayed in many parts of the state
important bills were introduced,
chief among them being a stringent
pure food law. a cold storage meas
ure and a bill prohibiting the posting
Of any general signs or political ad-
vcrtising along county roads. except
road signs authorized by county COM
missioners.
Week Moro Exciting.
Each day this week has provided
more or less excitement. Wednes-
day the senate INDUCED in quite
number of personal remarks and con-
siderable criticism of the former in
dustrial insurance commissioners.
during discussion Of the bill appro-
priating $1S.047 to make up the
deficit caused by the defalcations OF
]. F. Gillies, but ended the argument
by passing tie measure.
The session in the house Wednes-
day was devoid Of any spectacular
fireworks or oratorical outbursts. the
principal action being the advance
ment on the calendar Of the measures
calling a constitutional convention.
But Tuesday in both house and SEN
ate was more uproaripus, and the
calm and peace that had settled over
the session during its opening days
were rudely shattered.
The ball started rolling in the SEN
ate, when Senator Ed Brown, OF
Whatcom county. got mad at sena-
tor Howard D. Taylor. exploded with
a few remarks about the great
am" and announced his intention OF
resigning and going home II things
didn't change. This got Taylor's
"goat", and after the session the
former speaker of the house took
couple Of 'pokes" at Brown. and
Brown reached for his cane to reply.
when other senators separated them.
Over in the house Representative
Paul Houser started the fireworks
and the long-expected struggle to.
break down the house organization.
in q TRADE against the organization
because It opposed a resolution he
introduced. calling for supplying
each member with printed copy OF
the journal each morning. The
house leaders called 1t unnecessary
4xpense-and after Houser had said
his say, the membership did, too. by
voting down the resolution.
Some of tho Bills.
More bills have made their appear
ance this week. but. "the flood" is
not yet, though the number intro
duced to date is about equal to the
record of two and four years ago.
Among the important measures pre-
sented are bills offered BY Represen-
tative Fred Nielsen. of King. provid-
ing for a blanket primary and nom
partisan general elections: by sena-
tor Brown appropriating 100000
for a state powder factory. $25O,OOo
of which is to be used as revolving
or operating fund; by Senator lver-
son, a constitutional amendment au-
thorizing the state to issue farm
,oan bonds up to 2 per cent Of its
assessed property valuation, and by
Christianson, providing for the non
partisan election Of members OF the
public service commission.
Representative Reid has intro