White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-03-05
Deadlock INK
e LEGISLATURE
Continues
Two Houses Are Still Un-
able to Agree On 3
Major Issues
KNuTE HILL

The deadlock between tho Senate
and House on the three issues men,
toned last week budget System,
Appropriations, and Auto License
fees) still continues. The conference
committees have not yet agreed and
there is hardly any likelihood of
agreement.
The Rules Committee, running true
to form, is holding bills which it
does not favor. Two of these, in
troduced and passed by the Senate at
request of Land Commissioned
Savidge, have been held for more
than three weeks. Both are good
bills, being neither political nor
controversial. One seeks to protect
our last stand of timber in the
Olympics and the her relates to
the oyster industry. But because Mr..
Savidge sponsored them and the
Senate passed them they are with
held from action in the House. This
is also true of S. B. No. 10 by DIM
mick and Frary which would take
care of all present and future claims
of counties against state for moneys
which counties cannot collect from
irrigation districts In the past each
county has introduced serarate bill
for claims and this bill would elimin-
ate this necessity as it would apply
to all county claims and act autonati-
call upon certification by county
authorities to state authorities.
There was conference held last Mon
day between committee representing
the members interested in the Pasco-
Kennewick Bridge and a committee
representing the bridge company.
Although nothing definite was agreed
to, there was an offer of 100000 as
against demand of more than
100000 by the bridge company. It is
rumored, however, that the purchase
is nearer consumation than ever be-
fore. It would seem that the revenues
from the Pasco-Kennewick bridge
are very satisfactory to the stock
holders and thex will not sell except
at price which will repay losses on
the bridge they own on the lower
Columbia. If those in position to
act would either condemn the bridge
Gas county commissioners condemn
private property for roads when the
purchase price is held too high) or
start the construction of new bridge
as the franchise permits according
to a Federal Officer who attended
meeting last week. then the officials
OF the bridge company would come
down to reasonable figures. There
should be no attempt on the part of
the state to be unfair or unreasonable
to these stockholders; neither should
there be any further dal1ying and
yieldine by the state to unreasonable
demands by same.
The bill, placing tax on butter
substitutes has now passed both
Houses and is in the hands of the
Governor. Several minor bills have
passed both Houses. The Governor
vetoed his first measure last Satur-
day. 1t was bill giving National
Guardsmen a vacation on full pay.
The Senate passed two Income
Tax bills and a five per cent tax
on corporations this past week. These
are the only constructive tax measures
passed in either House this session.
They would, if enacted into law, raise
funds from individuals and corpora
tons now paying little or no taxes
and also relieve tax on property to
that extent. 1T is doubtful if the ma
jority in the House will favor these
taxes (two years ago the Income Tax
Measure was withheld from vote
in the House by Rules Committee)
and it is frankly stated that even If
passed they would be vetoed.
The Senate also passed the socalled
Sharpe bills Is. B. 7. and 81 or rail-
road tax bills in which so many
counties, including Benton, are in
terested. The railroad lobbyists have
been strenuously active against these
bills but failed to impress the Senate.
They will have more influence in the
House. Again, however, it will de-
mend on the Rules Committee. For
II they are permitted to come to
the floor Of the House they may
have chance to pass
On Tuesday about sixty former
members visited the Capitol Tues
day evening the Third House" had
complete control and under leader
shin of state printer, Jay Thomas.
car'catured the members of the
Legislature and State officials to the
amusement of a crowded chamber
and balconies
A week and three days remain OF
the session. Monday is the last day
on which to file new bills. Far too
many have already been introduced.
Only a few really attempting to
solve the paramount issue (tax re-
lief have been introduced, and none
have passed both Houses. With the
deadlock between them worse than
in previous years, the last weeks
can only be worse. There
can be no constructive legislation ex-
pected when the most important
legislation is crowded into the last
week with no time for study, con-