The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-05-06

It is quite certain that the new as
sessment Of taxable property, which
is now being compiled, will show sub
stantial increases in most counties
as the result Of the activities of the
state tax commission. The total state
valuations now exceed $1,O00,000, 900
but the tax commission is out to add
millions more. Chairman Sam Chase
and Commissioners McInnes and Nc
Broom have been conducting investi-
cations in all counties, checking up
values, helping assessors to resist
local pressure and search out escap-
ing Or lightly assessed property. The
commissioners hint that there will
be many surprises when the new tax
roll is completed.
Unless there is startling upset,
the republican state central commit
tee, meeting in Seattle on Saturday,
will vote to hold state convention
in the third week of June, the Hart
ley leaders having apparently lost in
their plan to prevent a state convea-
ton. Yakima and Snohomish coun-
ties on the west side and few east
side counties-the committees of
which are under control of the Hart
ley people favored passing up the
convention. It was obvious that the
supporters of Gov. Hartley did not
want to face the prospect of having
the governor condemned. directly or
indirectly, by republican convention.
* 4
Republican leaders opposed to Mr..
Hartley intend to make the conven-
ton a distinctively anti-Hartley show.
Senator Sutton of Cheney and other
educational champions want, and
will doubtless get, plank in favor
of the present school programs. It is
also intended to pass a reclamation
plank, which is not expected to please,
Mr.. Hartley. And, because Of fear
that Mr.. Hartley wants less money
spent on roads, the plan is to declare
for continuation of the present high
way program. Passing of the three
planks, worded as planned, would be
an Endorsement of the present legis-
lature and reputation of Mr.. Hart
ley-the sharpest rebuke for repub-
lican governor by a republican con-
vention in this state.
But more direct and singing slap
at Mr.. Hartley is on the agenda. SEN
ator Morthland, Yakima, and Rep
resentative Jacobs, Puyallup. will
seek Endorsement of the Morthland
bill to prevent a governor from giving
jobs or appointments to members of
the legislature. The Morthland bill
was passed by the last legislature and
vetoed by Mr.. Hartley, the governor
claiming it was Unconstitutional
Since then, Mr.. Morthland and others
claim that Speaker Danskin, Senator
Smart and others have been given
appointments as reward for having
voted to support Mr.. Hartley in the
legislature.
The democrats are also facing a
few fights. Several leaders, such as
George Ryan of Seattle, tried to avoid
a convention but a rally for regu-s
lar convention was staged and ap-
fparently won by Maurice Langhorne
of Tacoma and James Geraghty and
Edward Robertson Of Spokane. State
Chairman Clarence Martin, Cheney,
is now making plans for the conven-
ton.
1t is indicated that conservative
leaders. such as Mr.. Langhorne, Mr..
Geraghty and Mr.. Robertson, are out
to gain control of the democratic par
ty. They hint that the present demo-
cratic rulers dickered too much with
radicals and sknifed' the democratic
nominee for president, Mr.. Davis, in
favor of Mr.. LaFollette.
They want an old-fashioned DEM
ocratic party. believing that the re-
publican split over Mr.. Hartley will
not be healed and result in the cleo
tion of Is or 20 democrats to the leg
islature. this fall; and perhaps re-
suit in the election Of conservative
democrat, such as Judge Stephen
Chadwick, as governor in 1923. 1t
is possible that the democrats will
be disappointed, of course, but such
are the hopes that are stirring demo-
crates in various parts of the state.
Regents of the University Of wash
ington will meet Friday and Satur-
day and it is expected that they will
devise a plan for appealing to the
supreme court in their fight with Mr..
Hartley. The governor has ruled that
enactment of the money bill was
s.irregular," and that the contrary
claim is that it is not for the COVER
nor to set aside acts of the legisla-
ture. Consequently, the regents are
expected to appeal to the supreme
court. Inasmuch as Mr.. Hartley has
ordered the regents of the schools
not to spend the money, the anti
Hartley people claim that Mr.. Hart
lev is looking for a chance to dismiss
the regents and "fire' DR.. Henry
Suzzalo. university president. New
ertheless there is a heavy demand
upon the regents to defy Mr.. Hartley,
I aJ;oxy;n,. that IN showdown the