Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-26

big lsgue before the Legislature.
The farming interests had their first
inning before the legislature last week.
the first big feature being the passage
by the senate OF Senator McMillon's
bill creating q revolving fund Of $780,
900 tp aid farmers in the drought DIS
tricts In buying seed wheat. This
measure has the support of Director
e. L. French Of the department of agri
culture, who also Joined the Legislature
In asking congress to appropriate
funds to be loaned to Washington
farmers to buy seed wheat, Another
bill designed to aid agricultural inter.
ests provides for the further protection
of seeds. The joint dairy and live.
stock committee has reported out a
bill prohibiting either the manufacture
or sale of condensed milk or butter
substitutes in which vegetable fats are
used.
The legislature is inquiring into the
workings Of the administrative code.
Under authority of q house resolution
the state auditors office is making a
careful check of the cost of all code
departments between April l, 1921,
when the law became effective, and
December 81, 1922. Auditor G. w.
Clausen estimated twenty days time
will be required for the work and a
report therefore is expected about the
second week in February. Auditor
Clausen stated it would be impossible
to go through the records and deter.
mine the cost of administering all the
numerous boards, commissions and OF.
flee subdivisions now consolidated in
the code offices during the short time
the legislature will be in session, but
he promised to give an approximate
estimate. While this work is going on
subcommittee of the appropriations
committee also are investigating the
code as well us other state offices to
pass ON their requirements for the
coming two years.
Tax Bills Affect Code.
One of the new tax bills being pre-.
pared also affects the administrative
code. This is measure proposed by
the State Federation of Taxpayers AS
sociations and provides for the crea-
tion of department to control assess
ments and. obtain equality in valua-
lions throughout the state. 1t is pro-
posed to transfer the division of bank
ing to the department of efficiency and
do away with the division of munich
palities which inspects and supervises
counties, cities and other taxing units
of the state. In the appropriations
committees, too, there has been gen.
eral discussion of salaries paid by the
state, especially to code department Of
ficials.
A bill restricting the sale of mar
cotics and seeking to eliminate all
dope peddlers" is being whipped into
shape in the house. Amendments
made in committee impose far more
severe restrictions on physicians and
druggists than were suggested in the
original bill.
New dental and pharmacist codes
appeared during the past week. The
dentists are still working under the
law of 1888, some features of which
have been attacked and taken to the
supreme court of the United States
for decision.
Senator Davis has new bill for
bidding the sale Of firearms except
upon permits issued by chiefs Of police
or sheriffs.
Bill Aimed at ku kIux Khan.
A new bill, frankly aimed at the Ku
Klux Khan, has been presented by
Representative Mckinney. The meas.
ure forbids gatherings Of persons wear
ing hoods or masks and makes 1t the
duty of peace officers to arrest persons
violating the law. Opposition to this
measure includes members who point
out the fact that ever since 1909 this
state has had law which makes it a
gross misdemeanor for people to con-
gregate wearing masks or DISCUSSES.
Preliminary steps to do away with
the laws delays are being taken in
the senate where legislation suggested
by Superior Court Judge w. M. French
of Kitsap county is being drafted.
Judge French used the recent prolong-
ed trial of group Of Spokane men to
emphasize his contention that speedy
justice now is impossible. He sug-
gests a committee of leading lawyers
be named, to serve without expense,
and draft changes in the code Of pro.
Cedure.