The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1932-02-25

StructlOn work started once more.
The more conservative of IN e
building trades union feel like their
fellow craftsmen in New York, that
it is better to cut wages at this
time and create jobs than to go
without anything to do.
A revival of the building BUSH
ness will stimulate all down h e
line and this is what is desired
above all else by labor and CAPT
tai alike.
| There is considerable amusement
around the office of the state
highway director these days over
the meeting at Seattle last Satur-
day when the executive committee
| of the Washington State Good
Roads Association voted not to
spend any money or engage in any
campaign in behalf of the propos-
ed initiative bill creating a new
state highway commission and es-
tablishing new methods for allo-
eating state road funds.
This was a compromise bill pre-
pared by attorneys representing
the State Grange and the Automo-
bile Club Of Washington. When
| completed the compromise bill,
while acceptable to the Grange,
was far from being satisfactory
with the result that no one was
satisfied and the whole idea is APP
parently now on the road to obliv-
ion until sometime in the future.
It is interesting to note that in
many sections of the state the full
import of what Initiative No. SO
really means to the average per-
son and business man is becoming
known. This is the bill designed
to exempt from taxation all prop
erty used for home residence up
to the value Of So, 1000.
In virtually every section of the
state pencils have been taken out
and some figuring done. The re-
suit has been startling. The farm
er with more than a $4,000 home
is discovering that he is going to
pay taxes on the property of the
So 900 home owner in the city and
help that man out
The farmer is also finding that
his product will have to pay a
heavy tax in order to make up the
deficit caused by the city jewellers
exempting his state and county
share.
Republicans Of the state have a
deficit hanging over for last cam
paign. This amounts to around
Sc, 900. Hence when the time comes
for the State Central committee to
select a convention city for 1892,
Seattle bid. Now this Seattle in
vitation was offered because the
Republican leaders thought that as
long as Seattle digs up most of
the Republican War Chest, Seattle
should be permitted to get some of
it back.
Whether this is true or not, the
fact remains that the Central Com
mittee members took Seattle's Of
fer literally to mean that it would
pay $4,000 for the convention.
Aberdeen offered, nibbled and
dropped out. Ellensburg did the
same. All took the position that
Seattle is bidding 5000 for the
convention" Now Seattle Repub-
licans are wondering Just what
happened. No others are.
Another interesting sidelight
which will not be denied. Chair
man Hinton D. JONI said Seattle
wanted the convention and would
help raise the war chest. He didn't
mention, however, that it was or
iginally planned for a three-day
session, one day for the platform
committee, a second day for key
noting and speech making and a
third day for nominating congress-
lional district and state tickets, as
ordered by the Bellingham con-
vention.
| But after a test vote on the two
or three day convention plan had
been taken and it was found that
the convention idea could not mus
ter any thing like a majority vote,
there was a rapidly scattering Of
the convention boys and the idea
was turned down flat.
That's that. The Bellingham
fiat dropped flat.
Despite this fact there is no
Question but majority of the rank
I and file of both the Democrats
and Republicans feel confident
/ that most of the political ills o f
the present time can be traced di-
rectly to a lack of party control.
this is condition brought about
| by the direct primary.
/ However, all are agreed that
to handle the direct primary ques-
/ ton calls for direct action either
| by the legislature or thru initiative
and cannot be met indirectly thru
advisory conventions such as con-
templated by the Bellingham
i plank In fact that idea was one of
u