The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-02-10
ROAD BUDGET
STILL In AIR
Fight Looms in Legisla-
ture over Control of
Highway Funds

Mlu-SeSSlOn nHuS the washing
ton legislature with little started,
little done; inconsequential bills
filling the hopper, and a tendency
to keep the track clear for the
struggle for control of the high
ways. The road fight is brewing
steadily and relentlessly back stage
emerging a little at time.
So far, the outstanding events
of the first 80 days are:
Rejection of the regents named
by the governor.
Defeat of the Eagles old age
pension bill, vetoed by Hartley, re-
passed by the senate, and the veto
sustained by the house. This was
distinctive victory for Hartley.
Passage by the house of the
constitutional amendment to per-
NIT classification of property for
taxation, the vote being 1920. The
amendment has a good chance to
pass the senate. 1t would then be
submitted to the voters in the
1928 elections. "
Passage by the senate of the
Hall-Carlyon highway reorganiza-
tion bill, which would break Hart
ley's control of the road program
by placing the highway engineer
and highway patrol under the
highway committee. 1t passed the
senate by vote of "a to 16.
First come the roads. The sem
ate took the lid off plans, moves
and gossip in passing the Hall
Carlyon bill to create depart
fent of highways" Originally, the
bill wanted commission of five
elective offices, but it was amend
ed to three, governor, auditor and
treasurer, the same as the present
highway committee. This move
showed conclusively that the big
idea is to take the highway engin-
eer and highway patrol away. from
Hartley.
In the debate, Senator Houser
nagged Senator Carlyon until the
latter said the move was being
made because of rumors that Hart
ley intends to fire Hoover-the
highway engineer. Houser, aided
by Senator Conner, wanted the
department of highways" to be-
come effective January /, 1929,
SO it would not be "a slap at the
governor But Carlyon, with Sen.
Hall expressing spity for the
state' for having elected Hartley,
managed to beat the Houser-C Con-
ner amendment.
Thereupon, Houser hit at Car
lyon by suggesting that cement"
interests wanted to control the
highway engineer. Conner follow
ed by suggesting that Carlyon was
handing Hartley ga bouquet of
poison ivy"
| The bill is due for harder going
in the house. 1t would be defeated
today, but Hall and Carlyon, vet
Grams of many road wars, expect
to pick up strength. If it looks
like defeat, the chances are, Treas.
Potts and Auditor Clausen will
"resign" from the highway COM
mittee. The idea is for Potts and
Clausen to put it up to the legis-
lature to give them authority or
relieve them of responsibility.
Oiled roads are being slowed up.
Hoover, after making an inspec-
tion of oil treatment in eastern
Oregon, recommended, thru Hart
ley, about $50 miles of oiling,
costing nearly 81 100000, for the
east side. But the house roads
committee, with the consent of
several east side members, has
tentatively decided to cut the oil
ing program by about $1,000,000.
This would mean million dollars
more construction, which members
could trade around among them
selves, thereby giving the raods
committee a finger in the road bill.
The biggest upset in years took
place in the house when the classi-
fication amendment was passed.
Mark Reed and Ed Sims, rival
leaders of the 1926 session, joined
hands and took a sound beating,
rounding up only 20 out of SO
votes. 1t is the first time in many
years that Reed and Sims, regard
ed as an unbeatable combination"
failed to muster enough votes to
stop a two-third majority.
In fact it looks as if the house
is entering a period of transition,
out of which may come new or
der and new leadership. Things
change, you know, and perhaps
Reed and Sims are turned toward
their legislative sunset. They still
have a kick, of course, but they
certainly saint what they used to
be-"
Members of the senate appro-
priations committee have compiled
!, a statement to refute the claim
i that Hartley's budget shows a saw
ing of more than S1,000,000. The
senate statement, giving minute
comparisons, shows that Hartley's
recommendations on executive
| control itarns total 60 6(l0 mn ,,ao,.a