White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-01-22
SPECIAL SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
PASSES 229 BILLS OF $50 INTRODUCED

OLYMPIA.-In it's special session
60 days just ended, the state legisla-
ture passed 229 bills of the 586 intro
duced in both branches, and failed to
enact 357 which were before it for
consideration. OF 324 bills introduced
In the House, 1873 were passed, while
of 262 bills introduced in the Senate,
1O1 were approved by both houses.
Up to the last week Governor Hart
ley vetoed 16 bills. About half this
number were repassed over his veto.
Outstanding among them were the
two financial bills for the educational
iEluWutions, enacted into law few
days ago after the vetoes had once
been sustained in the House. They
were reconsidered and passed after
both branches had voted to amend the
joint rules to make this possible.
Among the bills passed were nearly
two score which repeal obsolete and
unconstitutional laws. A move was
started by the legislature last winter
to eliminate from the statutes laws of
this nature and also those which are
conflicting and contradictory. This
work will be continued and other re-
sal measures taken UP at the next
session.
Many Constructive Measures.
While many Of the bills passed are
not of statewide Importance, they are
of considerable Importance to various
communities which they affect.
The legislature enacted larger
number of constructive measures.
Among them were bills designed to
prevent the defaulting of local i'm
provement district bonds, promotion
Of reforestation, cutting of red tape
and expediting court procedure.
One of the most important meas
ures of local nature was the one en-
abling the signing of the Kittitas rec
lamation project contract. 1t also was
the bill around which one of the most
bitter fights of the session conferred,
and was the rock upon which the
House struck and split into the ma
jority and minority groups.
In the jam resulting from the legis-
latiye conflict, numerous bills in which
widespread interest was shown were
lost. Notable among these was the
automobile code, which died in the
Senate Wednesday night, when the
time for consideration Of bills was
ended. The bill designed to supple
ment the direct primary law, which
passed the House with big vote,
I also died in the Senate.
Several commissions we're named by
the legislature to investigate mat
tiers of vital Importance in the state
and to make specific recommends
lions to the next session. Among
them were commissions to investigate
reclamation, state timber and edu-
cational institutions.
Minority Rule Exemplified.
For fifty-nine of the sixty days of
its life the assembly was in open, ag-
gressive warfare with Governor
Hartley and for fifty-nine days a
group of thirty-two to thirty-four
House members kept at bay the over
whelming antiadministration majority
of both branches.
During that period rule by the mi
nority was strikingly exemplified.
While unable, in positive way, to
accomplish anything Of itself, this
bloc effectively stopped the COVER
nor's opponents from putting on the
statute books anything disapproved
by the executive.
After death had removed from the
House chamber one member of the
administration forces and illness an
other, the majority broke through last
Wednesday, the fifty-ninth day, and
exercise it's own will. 1t did so when
it changed the House rules, OVERRIDE
the speaker, and brought back from
the Senate and repassed the two
measures which mean so much to the
higher educational institutions of the
state-the millage and capital outlay
bills.
Maneuver Sets Precedent.
The unusual tactics resorted to,
while held by the highest authority to
be perfectly legal and parliamentary
sound, were admittedly drastic, but
unquestionably have set precedent.
The leaders of the House majority or
ganization believed the financial sal
walton of the five higher educational
institutions was an end which justi-
fed steamroller tactics if it could not
be accomplished otherwise Therefore,
when once it had the two-thirds neces-
sary to prevail, 1T drove forward.
Just as the school row marked the
closing days Of this extraordinary
session, the Banker reclamation bill,
stripping the director of conservation
and development of authority in such
matters and directing immediate en-
trance into a contract with the United
States government nledging the state