Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1921-02-11

sion Tor TOUR WcGkS, WNEN the ltSlblu'
turc adjourned over Sunday the only
achievement Of general interest to the
state at large was enactment OF the
civil administrative code, This i'm.
portunt measure was placed in the
hands of the governor for signature
last week.
Aside from the administrative code
practically no important piece of legIs.
lation has received attention of both
houses. In fact, most of the big con.
structive measures likely to be acted
upon at this session are in course Of
preparation, or in the hands of the
various committees,
Among the more important measures
still awaiting final action are: The
budget, common school code, road
bills, revenue and taxation measures,
farm marketing, blue sky law, and an
Inheritance tax.
One commcndahc feature of the
present session is the fact that so far
fewer bills have been introduced than
during the same period of previous scs-
sions Both houses thus lar have kept
their calendars reasonably clear and
in the house particularly there has
been less oratory than usual.
School Code Arouses Interest.
The proposed school administrative
code seems to have aroused more pub
lie interest than any other piece of
legislation introduced at this session.
A rather unusual proceeding in con-
nection with the hearings on this
measure was adoption by both houses
of joint resolution providing for a
joint session of house and senate We'd
nesday evening for the purpose Of
hearing proponents OF the measure
discuss its merits. This is said to be
the first time both houses of Wash.
ington legislature assembled in joint
session to listen to arguments for or
against measure.
That the opposition developing
against the proposed school code is
formidable is evidenced by the volume
of protests being filed with members
from taxpayers in the rural districts,
urging that control of the schools as
comprehended in the present system
of eecting directors and administer
Ing their school affairs be left undis
turbed
Speaker Would Cut Tax levies.
One of the main topics among legis
lators is the matter of taxation. Last
week Speaker Cute suggested a hori-
zontal cut of all tax levies, and the
proposition of the speaker met with
favor among members of both houses
The plan proposed by Guie would
result, it is claimed, in reduction
of total revenues from taxation of
more than 100000 annually If i:
is found imperative to extend further
the policy OF retrenchment Cute sug-
gested reduction of the one mill in
the general fund levy. The plan sug
gested the suspension of the entire
reclamation fund levy, although 1t is
likely that provision would be made
to complete work already started.
Leaders in the house are understood
to favor the general plan proposed by
the speaker by which the total levy
would be reduced approximately 16
per cent.
Hearings on Tax Bills Held.
The joint revenue and taxation com
mittee will hold public hearings this
week to consider the proposed bill to
provide for the levying of an excise
tax on gross sales of merchants and
other vendors of personal property and
on certain kinds and classes Of in.
come, a measure upon which Senator
Rockwell and former United States
Senator George Turner colaborated.
Senator Turner declared his plan
would result in relief for the over.
burdoned taxpayer and yield revenues
announcing to S25,OO0OOO annually.
The Turner measure proposes an eX.
else tax of l per cent on all gross
sales
ing in Washington, but it is sweep
ing the state like Il fire. King
county is going over the top dur
ing the next few weeks. A chal-
lenge is out to every farmer, man
or woman. 1t means a service
for everyone. f."