Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1929-02-01


Tax Commission Fears shortagas-
State School Head Urges Many
changcs-Extensive Highway Pro-
gram win Have oppOsition--Fish
War Expected.
Olympia, Washington. = Considera-
ton OF repeal measures and the intro
duction OF bills took UP the first part
of the week in the Washington legis
laturc. Following brief outburst OF
speed Tuesday, both branches relaxed
and casually contemplated the pilins
up of business and trouble for the fu
ture, until Thursday afternoon, when
the 4eaSte passed the Eagles old age
pcnsion M by vote OF 81 to 10, the
most important piece of legislation to
receive approval so far this session
and it begins to look as if both the
house and senate are going TO get
down to some real work soon,
Twice previously in the last three
years the humanitarian measure. back
cd by the national fraternal order, mas
been passed by the upper house. olb
to fail OF its final goal, a place on the
statute books of Washington.
If the bill is passed by the house
this session it will again be at the
mercy or Governor Hartley. who We
toed an identical bill following the
special session of t925,26.
Amendments Lose.
Backers of the bill not merely in
troduced it in the same form this year
but in morning and afternoon sessions
fought off running fire of amend.
ments offered by Senators Norman of
Pacific county and Murphy of sno-
homish, finally passing the bill in the
precise form of the earlier measure
The bill provides, in brief, for the
granting of pensions not exceeding
SIS monthly by county commissioners
to men or women without means of
self support, vino have reached the
age OF siSty-five and have been five
years resident of the county and fif.
teen years resident Of the state and
citizens Of the United States.
The state tax commission condemns
township organizations maintained in
Spokane and Whatcom counties, the
only two of 50 counties to retain the
the township system, in its official BIZ
enniai report to Governor Hartley and
the Legislature.
In its report the tax commission sug-
gcsted probabilities of shortages in
state, county and municipal revenues
as the result Of pending suits Of the
national banks and railroads, but made
no specific recommendation Cor meet
ing the looming emergencies. 1t did
however, regret the defeat Of the con.
slltutlonaI amendment for the classi
flcatioa of property and inferenIialiy
counselod the legislature that It would
be impossible to work out satisfactory
tax reforms until the people consented
to change in the constitution to per
nit classification.
Property Removal Deeried.
More specifically the commission
decried the tendency to remove prop
erly from the tax rolls and urged the
legislature to pursue a policy of res
sonable curiailmont in the field oi
exemption" The commission also ask
ed the legislature for power to assess
public utilities and private car com
panies, such assessments now being
made locally
Upon adoption Of the old.aee pen
sion the senate quickly passed sew
eral current measures and a flock Of
repeal bills 1t approved an appro.
prlation Of 100000 for an aeronautieal
school az the University Of Washing
Ton. which would make the university
( eligible for a Fitt Of 100000 from the
/ Gugg.ubelm fund. But the senate DE-.
ferrod to the recently pronounced pol
ley Of Governor Hartley by shifting
/ the $4,000 from the general fund tr
the University millaEe fund.
Complying with a request By Sen
ator Dlmnick. Yakima. the senate
unanimously passed a memorial 10
congress- to urge o federal appropria
tion Of si50O0O for improving the
Mount Adams highway as an import
ant link in the proposed Washington
/ Oregon scenic loop.
Senator Miller proposed bill that
would make the stevens Pass higli
way par; Of the stale highway ays
tem-the first step In a movement 10
obtain s5o0Oo0 for an improved road
over the Cascades between Everett
and Wenatchee. Senator'S Hastings
and Palmer. both ef Seattle. proposed
a measure 10 make Il q felony to sell
liquor TO minors.
School Superintendent Wants chsnHe
Tho showalter plan for reorsaniza
tion Of she common school system wa.
mode available 10 The washington Ic