Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1929-03-21
WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE ENDS
Heavy Road Program Carried;
Governor Shows Strength
Of Following.

Taxes Not Raised by Big Road Ap-
propriations-s4oo. 900 for Bridge
Some Budgets Reduced - Railway
Bills and Many Others Fall to Pass
Road Program Unstlnted by Legis-
lators.
Olympia, Wash.-The 21st session of
the Washington state legislature ad-
iourned sine die Friday night after
house and senate approved the high
way appropriation bill.
The road bill was passed after II
was agreed in committee, after hours
OF deadlock. to allow 100000 for the
purchase or construction OF a toll
bridge across the Columbia river from
Kennewick to Pasco.
Probably the outstanding feature OF
the 1929 legislature was in that IT
broke oil records for appropriations.
passing routine and new money bills
to total more than sS3.O00,OOO While
the total includes appropriations of
more than s6.000,0Oo. the grand total
still exceeds previous legislative appro
priations by more than $4,000. 900.
Yet the increased financial load
made no material tilt in property
taxes, although 1t is certainly true
that the session failed to provide any
relief for property. The big boost is
due to the fact that the legislature
was unusually daring on highway
so much SO that 1t would be permits
sible to say the session was "road
mad" Senators and representatives
were so busy grabbing and dickering
for road money. either to pick up some
extras" or to protect items listed In
the Hartley road budget, that they had
little time or patience for measures con-
corning social welfare, Judicial re.
forms and other such things for the
betterment of the commonwealth.
Highway Appropriations Huge
The last act before adjournment
was passage OF the highway appropria.
lions bill. involving expenditures TO-
falling $23,734.445 and passing 1t on to
the governor for approval. The bill
appropriated s1,275.O0O more than the
house intended to provide and $780,
600 less than the senate had appro.
rated In Its bill.
The Pasco-Kennewick bridge across
the Columbia river. bone Of conten.
ton In the committee and chief cause
OF the 211s.hour deadlock. will re
ceive 100000 for purchase or con
domination OF the present structure
The victory went to the house con
ferees us the senate wished to provide
s5S0.00o for this Item.
The road bill appropriated s424,6O0
for maintenance OF the Stevens Pass
highway from Leayenworth to Everett.
Other changes In the road bill fol-
low:
Betterment and reconstruction of the
Pacific highway between Seattle and
the British Columbia line was reduc
ed by $4,000 and the $4,000 senate
appropriation for paving south of
Everett was eliminated.
Paving east OF North Bend was re.
duced rom $4,000 TO 100000. The
SeattleWenatchee oiling appropriation
was cut from s23l,sO0 to 100000.
An appropriation Of $4,000 for con
structlou OF a road between orlando
and Waterville was eliminated and
that amount was added to heavy oil
ing from Wenatchee east.
Eastern Washington Benefits
The sum OF 100000 was added for
surfacing the Prosser end OF the pave
ment at Kennewlck. Paving from
Walla Walla west will receive sos, 500
instead of s23,5OO as the senate in.
tended.
Appropriation OF $4,000 was cut
from the Pullman. Colfax-spokane road
and added to construction on the In.
land Empire highway between Pull.
man and the Idaho state line.
An item for $4,000 for construction
and bridge work between Stevenson
and Nelson creek, on the North Bank
highway, was increased TO s72,500.
Fifty.two thousand dollars was
chopped off the senate budget for con.
struction from the east city limits OF
Aberdeen. on State Road No. 9, TO
point one mile or less west.
An increase of $4,000 was made to
the senate bill for construction. sur.
facing, oiling and betterment OF the
road between walyille and Astoria
ferry landing.