White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-01-22
Administration
In Control
At Olympia
knute Hill Tells OF Organ =
iZation of Legislature
At State Capitol
KNUTE HILL

KNUTE HILL
The 1881 Legislature has been in
session one week. The Senate under
the leadership of Lieutenant Governor
Gellatly caucused Sunday, organized
Monday by electing Senator Sutton
president protein, and have been on
the job for five days holding ses-
sions, having committee meetings and
considering bills introduced.
The House, where a threatened
fight over speakership doomed, or
ganized by electing Templeto,.
speaker. has held session per day
for five days averaging one hour in
length and no committees except
Rules, Revenue and Taxation, and
Roads and Bridges have even held
any meetings. The election of Tenn
pleton was due to the fact that
eight men who had promised Knapp
their support in writing, deliberately
broke that promise in order to get
important committee assignments,
some road or other special privileges.
ITO verify this statement see Spokes.
man-Review for Thursday, January
15th.) The leaders of the Knapp
forces were accordingly punished by
losing the chairmanships of such
important committees as Revenue
and Taxation, Appropriations, Roads
and Bridges.
There is no resentment on their
part, however, as their only aim is to
get some constructive legislation ac-
ned. This the organization
forces have promised. How sincere
they are in this only time can tell.
We are behind schedule when we
consider the past two sessions and
they were VIGOROUSLY lax in activity.
AS an illustration of the political
angle in the appointment of chairme1,
Of committees, the education COM
rnittee had, during the past session,
and has at this yFssgior, Al half
dozen or more teachers and
men associated with educational ac-
tivities. Notwithstanding lawyer is
always chosen to head Judiciary Com
r1ittee, banker to head the Bank
ing Committee, ETC., last session a
laundryman was chosen to head the
Educational Committee and this ses-
sion salesman was chosen for the
sole reason that. they are regular.
naittee are, with one exception, ere
GUAR. To look for any fair CON
sideration on the floor Of the House
Of any bills that do not meet with
their approval, is to be over optinis
tic. A majority Of the present men,
bership throttled such measures as
the income tax bill during the last
session and it is natural to assume
they will do the same again.
An incident occurred Thursday ana
again Friday to indicate the attitude
OF the opposing groups. Mr.. Colds
worthy on Thursday moved to hold
a session on Friday. 1t has been
customary in past sessions, during
the first and second weeks, to ad-
journ on Thursday until the follow
ing Monday. His motion carried al
though there was a strong negative
vote. On Friday ne made the same
lotion and demanded roll call. This
was lost as only fourteen Republi-
cans and eight Democrats voted Tor
it. ut may be noted, that without
prearrangement all the Democrats
voted for this motion.) Ex-Speaker
Ed Davis made strong plea against
the motion. He is one of the leading
members of the Rules Committee.
All of this committee present voted
to adjourn. With the most serious
problems for years confronting US
and with one week already gone,
large majority voted to adjourn from
IL O'Clock Friday to IL o'clock Mon
day. The minority demand action SO
that the road bills may be disposed OF
bv not latter than the fortieth day
and thereafter measures dealing with
taxation shall have preference. The
reason for this is to have the threats
and promises always connected with
road legislation disposed of so that
the important tax measures may be
dealt with on their merits.
The Governors Message was not
able for its brevity, its lack of con-
structiye suggestions on the all i'm
portant question of taxation, its usual
request for the adjustment of certain
departments and its vltrlolic attack
on the Commissioner OF Public Lands,
OF Course we have the reports OF
both the tax commissions and are
carefully studying them over this week
end: but as has been said by others,
if the Governor and these two tax
commissions can not after eighteen
months deliberation agree and offer
some constructive legislation, how can
the legislators be expected to do so
in sixty days? The Governor stated
he had been in office six years and
had wrestled with the tax problems
from every ANGLE but that it was still
in chaotic condition What states
ranship! He demands the complete
audit of the land office and requests
an appropriation Of twenty-five thou
sand dollars. He wants the Depart