The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-03-14
THE LEGISLATURE
ENDS ITS SESSION
Olympia, March 3.

!
week end. That body of politician.
may be credited with the passage
of few good laws, a greater mum
Der of bad ones. the waste of much
time and great deal of the peo.
pies money.
The taXpaying kickers viii have
more cause to growl in the future
not altogether about what the
Legislature has done as about what
IL didn't do.
The privileged class is satisfied
with the work of their representa-
tives. having been benefited by
what their representatives didn't
do. The big business fellows care
little about how high their taxes
are if they are permitted to exploit
everything in sight at the expense
of the whole people.
The people pay so little atten-
tiou to their political duties that il
may be said they deserve the worst
and they are getting IT,
The vase earners have gotten
more than they had reason to eX-
pect, considering the lack of in
terest they take in their political
affairs.
The amendments to the Indus
trial Insurance Act are entitled TO
be clsssed as progressive legisla-
ton. The fact that these amend
ments were favored by both EN-
ployers and employees gave hope
from the start that they would be
passed.
Many virtuous bills. already pass
I ed by one OF the two houses. were
killed by the Rules Committeeman.
They can simply prevent considera-
ton by failing TO put particular
measures on the calendar.
Dozens Of states have already
abandoned this unfair system. and
have adopted rules that permit bills
to come out on the calendar in the
! order that they are reported for
consideration by the various stand
ing committees.
Sincere apostles Of economy, who
wanted the armory pork barrel ap-
preparations for Everett, Walla
Walls and Aberdeen revoked. Will
have to do some fast work TO block
this extravaganza.
Lamping, Of King, tried TO find
out if the Fairchild bill. revoking
the armory pork barrel bills, would
be reported out by the Appropria-
tions Committee. Chairman Smith,
of the Appropriations Committee,
would only say that the commit
tee has acted In reply to another
query he declared that the action
was unanimous
This means that every member
/ of the Appropriations Committee is
party TO the agreement to pre-
vent revocation of the pork appro-
priations, and tied hand and foot
by you help me and I'll help
/ you" agreement.
The Senate has finally passed
( the amended Renick bill which
/ provides for four-year terms for
county officials, instead of two
year terms as at present The bill,
however, does not legislate present
officeholders into four-year term,
as originally drafted.
The way was passed for Seattle
/ to purchase the Renton car line.
and Tacoma to extend her many
car tracks TO Camp Lewis, by the
/ Cute bill, passed by the House Sat
urday night. 1t permits municipal
tiles to operate car lines ] 5 miles
/ beyond city limits.
The bill permitting municipali-
ties to sell surplus power outside
city limits, has been carefully kept
off the House calendar since that
body refused to accept the report
of the packed Utility Committee to
indefinitely postpone the bill.
There is little hope for the Mar
keting bill. When it came from
the Senate the speaker referred it
TO a committee known to be hos
/ tile TO it.
The House has passed the La
Dor Agency Regulation bill, putting
all agencies under the eye of the
State Labor Commissioner. 1t lin
its the fee to SO for obtaining po-
sitions for school teachers. Charges
of extortion on the part of these
agencies have been frequent.
If the Senate follows the lead of
the House, an Industrial Code Com
mission representing the State will
l. II