Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1931-02-12


have announced their intention of
making fight in the full committee
deliberations.
Representative Moran contends that
three and two will keep the high.
way receipts on even keel, but Charles
r. Maybury, director OF licenses, told
the appropriations committee recently
that It would take a SO license fee and
something between two and two and
quarter cents additional gasoline tax
to sustain the present income.
Among other measures passed last
week was a senate bill by Jacobus, Of
Pierce county, barring trucks with GER.
tain exceptions from the state high
ways on Sundays and other holidays,
and house bill prohibiting the en-.
ployment Of aliens on public works
projects of the state.
Senator Jacobus' measure would
make 1t unlawful to operate an auto
truck Of more than two tons gross
weight upon any state highway out.
side of Incorporated cities between IL
a. M. and IL p m. on Sundays, Memoir.
ial day, Fourth OF July and Labor day
Trucks carrying sweet milk, cream,
fresh vegetables and other perishables
would not be affected.
The measure was attacked by Sen.
ator Paul w. Houser of King county
as being "a railroad bill intended to
hit motor carriers competing with rail
carriers" This was denied by Sen.
ator Jacobus, its author, who asserted
that the highways were intended for
enjoyment Of citizens tout for pleas
ure on Sundays and other holidays"
Nine Highway Bills.
Nine bills were introduced in the
legislature at the request Of the de-
partment of highways. One would
prohibit the driving of any animal or
animals with calked or sharp-shod
metal shoes on paved, oiled or sur
faced highways and another would re.
quire lights near highways be equip.
ped with reflectors.
The appropriations committees of
the two houses, while making prog.
ress. apparently are not in any hurry
to complete their bills. The senate
committee might finish up this week,
but 1t does not seem that the house
committee has moved as swiftly. How
ever, there has been no indication
from the floor of sentiment of alarm.
On the contrary feeling exists that
the longer appropriation and highway
matters are held off the more the
economy wave, just now so prevalent
at the capital, will reduce demands.
Running true to possession predic.
ton, the strong, well perfected Cow
county" combine in the present SEES
sion Of the legislature apparently has
absolute control in the senate as we'll
as in the house.
AS the legislature entered upon the
last half Of the sixty-day session, it
finds the "cow counties" well advanced
on their fixed program.
"cow Counties" Strong.
Three bills SO far in the senate, all
carrying either the Endorsement or
holding the opposition Of the "cow
Counties" have been acted upon. Two
were supported, one measure amend
ing the cooperative marketing asso-
citation laws, and the other, bill pro.
viding for Is cents pound tax upon
margarines and butter substitutes.
They were both passed, the first with
out a dissenting vote and the other
with but seven negative votes.
A third bill, recommended by the
governor and the state tax advisory
commission, opposed by the farmers
and small counties, a repeal of the
bounty act, was promptly defeated.
The first test Of strength on the
part Of the Cow counties" came on
the butter substitute bill. A similar
enacted in 1925 was referred
and voted down at the general cleo.
ton the following year. This session
the county delegates rallied their
strength and forced the bill through
an emergency clause which
estops any attempt to refer it if the
courts sustain the clause or the house
does not strike it.
While the revenue and taxation com.
mittees of the senate and the house
have been struggling with the tax
problem, there has been no letup on
the number of new bills dropped into
the hoppers on both sides of the state
house corridors, which in divers ways
would increase the cost of government.
There are bills which call for new
methods of spending road and bridge
funds, road district funds, general
funds, state, county and municipal, and