The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-01-20
Governor has Recovered a
Lot of Lost Ground in
State Politics
LEGISLATURE WILL
CONFIRM GARDNER
Appropriation Bills Being
Used as Political
Weapons

Just now, after several days Of
feeling around. the Washington
Legislature is laboring under re-
preston; subdued for the time, by
Gov. Hartley's message and bud
gets on general appropriations
and highways. 1t is as if Mr.. Hart
ley threw wet blankets upon his
critics and opposition in the leg
islature. >s.
This does not mean that Mr..
Hartley is in control of the legis-
lature, but it means that the legis-
lators who disagree with him are
held without an excuse for open
opposition. 1t means that, for the
moment, Mr.. Hartley is on top,
commanding the strongest posi-
tion he has held in the legislature
since the first day of the 1925 ses-
sion.
The governor reached the posi-
ton by changing his tactics. He
dropped that forceful, direct ac-
tion, which flared resentment in
the 1925 special session, and turn
ed toward maneuvering. In other
words, it seems, Mr.. Hartley has
decided that there is "more than
one way to choke cat, etc." Con-
sequently Mr.. Hartley is moving
like a master Of political strategy
surprising his critics, taking
some wind out of the recall and
regaining some lost ground among
the people.
Governor Hartley's budgets, ac-
.ording to his estimates, call for a
reduction of 81 $4,000 from the
appropriation for the last bien-
mum, and an increase of S2,143, 900
for highways. The general budget
calls for $60,O03,336 and the high
way budget asks $24,4S4,000.
These budgets put a damper on
the legislature, but there is mur-
muring, discomfort and talk Of
"usurpation" beneath the calm.
Most of the members, who are ca
sual in their observations, were
pleased, seeing only provisions for
educational institutions and high
way money for their districts. But
the old members, such as Senator
Oliver Hall and Senator Carlyon,
were startled, if not shocked. They
saw Mr.. Hartley reaching out to
take control of the highway pro-
gram, the thing they started and
fostered for years. Moreover, they
saw Mr.. Hartley stepping forward
to take budget control of all state
affairs. They, seeing legislative
powers over highways and appro-
priations slipping away, wondered
why they passed budget, in 1925,
that gave SO much power to the
governor.
Consequently, there are two
brewing plans of opposition, either
of which or both may break the
restraint and force a division in
the legislature.
Most important is the matter Of
control of the highways. There is
criticism of an over-appropriation,
over distribution and things like
that, but the low-down is control"
The senate roads committee, head
ed by Mr.. Hall, is particularly re-
sentful, feeling nullified. This
group of senators does not want
Mr.. Hartley controlling the high
way program by having the power
to force or remove the state high
way engineer, who, at this time
is j. w. Hoover. These senator's. as
well as most of the representatives
are "for" Mr.. Hoover, but. they
gossip, Mr.. Hartley might remove
Mr.. Hoover. Therefore, they are
feeling out the possibility of pass
ing a bill to put the highway en-
gineer under the state highway
board, instead of under the COVER
nor. 1t may not work, of course,
but they are likely to try it.
The other plan is to give Mr..
Hartley lesson in economy, as
well as in politics. The governor
wants buildings for most of the
institutions, several. of which he
vetoed a year ago. So some of the
legislators feel that Mr.. Hartley
is angling for credit. Moreover,
Senator Karshner, Tacoma, insists
that the. Hartley budget is fatter
than the last one, instead of small
er. He directs attention to the fact
that the last session appropriated
nearly $5,500,000 for the new cap
itol, 100000 for eradication of
bovine tuberculosis, and few 9TH