Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-02-16
LEGISLATURE COSTS
MORE EACH SESSION
PRESENT BODY NOW FACES
DEFICIT OR EARLY AID.
JOURNMENT.


Legislative expenses in the state of
Washington are keeping pace with
the high cost Of living, judging from
the records of the last four sessions,
covering a period of eight years, and
the end is not yet in sight.
In 1911 there was appropriated for
legislative expenses total of $685.
500, of which $4,000 was for ex-
penses, payment of salaries, etc, and
$1O,5OO for legislative printing. OF
this sum the entire $4,000 was used
up for expenses and $10,487.02 for
printing, making a total cost for the
session of $S5,487.92.
Two years later the legislature
decided that $4,000 for salaries and
expenses and $4,000 for printing
would be sufficient for the 60-day
period. One hundred and one thou
sand, three hundred and forty-one
dollars and twenty-four cents was
needed.
1915 Cost Higher.
Then in 1915 the session attempt
ed to hold itself down to the amount
appropriated for the previous session
and started of with an appropriation
OF $4,000, with $4,000 for print
ing, but found a deficit staring it in
the face and appropriated late in the
session an additional $4,000. A
total Of $106,194.48 was used during
this session.
When. the present session Of the
legislature convened, in order to be
the safe side 100000 was appro-
priated for legislative expenses and
$4,000 for printing, and with the
session a little over half completed,
the leaders are facing q deficit and
the embarrassing position of having
to make an additional appropriation
II there Is to be money enough to
carry the session through. 1t now
faces an alternative Of swallowing its
pride and asking for more money, or
adjourning earlier than the 60-day
constitutional period.
Expenses this year have climbed
rapidly skyward. and the war can not
be blamed in this instance. When
the session adjourned last Saturday
1t had expended all told $59,3S7.67,
of which sum $5,735 went for mile
age. With a number of small out
standing bills not yet in for the week,
1t is safe to say that up to that time
more than $4,000 has been spent
out Of the 100000 fund, and this
with weekly expense of approx
mately $4,000 and better. and four
weeks yet to 60. including the pres
ent. indicates the imperative need for
more money.
Employees Most Costly Item.
The house and senate are spending
weekly for salaries for employees more
than the members are receiving.
Each member receives IS daily seven
days q week or $500 for the session.
with mileage. The employees, more
in number, receive more money. For
instance. the house membership pay.
roll is $3.430 weekly, while the en-
ployes Of the house have a payroll Of
$3,12S. In the senate the members
receive $1.470 weekly and the em-
ployes $1.S6s. making q total salary
expense weekly of Ss.ssS, approx
mately $4,000 a week, to say moth
ing of the incidental expenses which
will run several hundred dollars
weekly.
1t is either question Of pruning
the expenses or an early adjourn
ment.
To increase the embarrassment of
the members the senate during its
debate last Friday on an appropria-
tion for the industrial insurance de-
partment found several of its men,
bers making a vigorous plea against
"dohcit" appropriations, yet here is
one which 1t must face or quit busi-
ness. Senator Walter Davis Of
Pierce county injected this angle into
the debate when he asked Senator
Nichols, who had made stirring ap-
peal against such dencit appropria-
tions, what he intended to do when
more money was asked by the legisla-
ture. Nichols replied. "Well cross
that bridge when we arrive at it,"
The rules committee of the senate
has already been called into consul
tation over the prospective deficit,
and will probably take some action
during the next few days.
A baby boy was born last Saturday
to Mr.. and Mrs. Walter House.