The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-01-18

reeentful over the rapid increase in
tax-exempt properties held by the big
Puget Sound cities. A third leeisls.
tive group opposes both the Davis and
Bone bills on the ground that neither
touches the obligation of the big cities
to share burden of state taxation for
1t is argued, only driblet of new tax
money would be received even under
the Davis bill.
State Senator E. B. Palmer of Seat.
tie late last week introduced new
legislative reapportionment bill which
contains some of the features of the
measure he proposed last session and
which he attempted to initiate last
year. Palmer's new bill calls for
constitutional amendment which would
concede to each county at least one
member of the house. To determine
whether additional members were to
be allowed, Palmer proposes to divide
the states population by So, thereby
establishing ratio. Any county hav.
ing one sixty-third or less of popula-
ton would be given one representative.
Other representatives would be allotted
for each additional ratio or threefifths
of a ratio. Under this scheme King
county would retain its seventeen
house members. The Palmer bill also
provides that the size Of the senate
shall be determined by the legislature
but shall be not less than one-third or
more than one-half the membership Of
the house. In the event the legislature
does not pass a reapportionment bill.
the governor and several other elective
officials would be authorized to pre-
pare reapportionment within 80 days.
Farm Bloc Organized.
Tentative organization of farm
bloc or 'scow counties group" has
been perfected. 1t grows out of joint
session Of the committees on dairy and
livestock which was attended by farm
er-members generally and most OF the
members of the legislature from the
smaller counties. A general discussion
of proposed farmer legislation followed
talk over bills to regulate or prohibit
the manufacture and sale OF substi.
tutes for butter and milk. While the
first conference of farmer members did
not result in an ironclad agreement Il
did take tangible form through the ap-
p0intment Of committee Of senator's
and representatives who are instructed
to report any bill that adversely at
fects the interests Of farmers and ru-
raj communities.
Highway Committee confers.
The state highway committee held
conference with leaders of the senate
and house roads and bridges commit
tees late last week and, probably some
time next week. will submit report
to the legislature recommending GER
tain additions and some eliminations
from the state highway system. These
changes will be urged. principally, to
make the state highway system con-
form with the roads approved by Sec
rotary of Agriculture Wallace as q part
Of the federal aid system. The high
way committee was authorized by
resolution of the last legislature to
make Investigations and recommend
changes.
All the vetoed bills that Governor
Hart disapproved after the adjourn
ment Of the last legislature now lie on
the table In the houses where they
originated. This action was taken to
avoid q parliamentary tangle. Under
the rules If the subject matter was
disposed of by sustaining the vetoes
new measures involving the same
question could not be brought In.