Evening star., 1934-03-04
|BN|FY|NG Of STATE|
AGENCIES IS BEGUN
Washington Is Planning
Commission Created by
Legislature.
BY JAMES DE X. BROWN,

BY JAMES DE X. BROWN.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
SEATTLE, March 3.-Unification Of
all State agencies under one head,
the recently appointed State Plan
ming Commission, Is now under way.
The recent special session of the
Legislature created the commission.
Gov. G. D. Martin completed his selec-
tions Of personnel last week, and this
week the newly appointed members,
including two State officials, a
prominent Eastern Washington at
torney, newspaper editor and pub
Usher, State Grange leader and two
prominent Seattle business executives,
completed their preliminary organiza-
ton.
Under the act the committee Is
given quasi-legislative powers to work
out programs for reforesting, re-
habilitation of fisheries, flood control,
waterpower control, agricultural and
future developments of State parks
and recreation resorts.
Two Problems Considered.
Acting President Hugo Winken-
werder, Of the University of Washing
ton and dean Of the University Col
lege OF Forestry was selected as chair
man Of technical committee Of ad-
visers. while Ben H. Kizer, Spokane
attorney, chairman of the commits
sion, revealed his plan Of drafting as
advisers outstanding engineers and
leaders in the State.
The first two problems to be con-
sidered are those affecting the COM
mercial fisheries and the control Of
the flood situation. j. NJ McClelland,
newspaper publisher of Longview, will
act as chairman of the latter COM
mittee, while Miller Freeman of
Seattle. an international authority on
fisheries. will have charge Of this
work.
The Legislature failed to make an
appropriation for the work of the
commission, but it is expected funds
will be made available from the
emergency appropriation of the Gov
ernor's Office, plus Federal moneys,
which can be obtained for food con-
troll and reforestation activities.
Efforts for Sanction Fail.
The creation Of an All-State Plan
ming Commission to make necessary
surveys and prepare a master plan
for the development Of the States
resources is the outgrowth of an agita-
ton extending over a period Of some
years.
Efforts in the past to obtain
legislative sanction of State wide
surveys of resources, including fisheries,
mineral, timber and potential pos
sibilities of electric power develop
ment, have failed, because in each in
stance large appropriations were
sought.
BY striking out these financial de-
mands at the special session the crea-
tive act was adopted, and now the
program is at least started.
Word from Washington received by
the commission intimates that $780,
900 has been allocated to this State
for the purchase Of materials and
equipment for the beginning Of flood
control. The State asked for a spe-
cial appropriation Of $1,000. 900 c. w. A.
funds.
As the State Planning Committee
got under way, another new State
commission. the Liquor Control Board
headed by Rear Admiral Luther E
Gregory, ran aground when it struck
a legal snag, suit brought by hotel
men and druggists attacking the
legality of the act, which gives the
State monopolistic control over the
wholesale and retail liquor business
Bond Offers Withdrawn.
As q result of the suit, the offer
of banks and bonding houses to pur-
chase the first issue Of $500, 900
liquor control bonds to finance the
States liquor business was withdrawn
and without funds the board cannot
proceed in the establishment of its
retail stores as planned.
At a recent meeting Of the board,
when representatives of manufacturers
were called in to quote prices, two
we'll known ex-bootleggers appeared
much to the amusement of those
present who could recall their former
activities under prohibition.
The board received quotations OF
prices on quantities ranging from job
lots to carloads.
The suit attacks the liquor control
bill on several constitutional grounds:
one that it conflicts with the provt-
sion which prohibits legislative action
on any measure adopted BY the voters
by q direct vote within two years;
that It gives to the State monopolistic
control over a commercial business in
competition with taxpayers and as
such erects q bar against residents OF
other States; that the board has no
authority to issue utilities bonds ex-
cept by q vote Of ratification by the
people.
Two Measures Filed.
Admiral Gregory has already re-
ceiyed applications from hundreds of
persons, both men and women, de-
string positions with the board as
clerks, storekeepers, investigators and
inspectors. In addition there Is no
dearth Of real estate owners who
would Like to lease or sell property to
the State In the various cities for
use as liquor stores.
Two liquor initiative measures have
been filed. Both would abolish the
liquor board and throw the business
Of handling hard drinks open to
general competition under regulation
by State, counties and cities.
As the new State control act bars
the sale of hard liquors by the drink,
cafe and restaurant men as well as
the hotel operators and druggists are
hard hit and have joined forces In
both the legal attack and behind the
proposed initiatives.
TEN MORE CHARGES
EhcE0 BY SINCLAIR