White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-02-21
Washington
State Analyst
BY Horace Lane and Lew selvidge

| BY Horace Lane ana Lew SeAVioSe
Legislators will come face to face
with vital issues on the floor OF the
senate and house this week, leaders
indicate, as committees prepare to
bring out bills on the highway code,
the taxation situation and like prob
lens. The house majority has been
firmly welded together behind Speaker
Waldron so that administrative sup
port is expected to be strong on all
vital issues.
But the senate is not so well organ
lied, in fact is probably operating UNI
der an individualistic plan rather than
a combination of forces that will per-
NIT action on bills Organization is
lacking and because of this, action on
bills is delayed while each and every
senator expresses himself as for or
against And after a vote has been ia
ken the senators frequently decide to
reconsider the next day. So the argu-
ments are all repeated and much time
is lost.
Only small portion of the 745 bills
introduced has a chance of becoming
law. Only 10 acts have been approved
thus far by both houses, yet leaders
declare vital issues will not be lost in
the maze of committee rooms. I'M
portant bills are to be brought out in
time to avoid the jam in the closing
week or two.
Only five bills have received the APP
prevail of the governor thus far in the
session. Martin has signed House Bill
No. 116, authorizing the state director
of conservation and development to
sell to the RFC irrigation, diking and
drainage bonds now held by the state.
He also approved House Bill No. 49,,
providing that coal miners may employ
their own check-weighman The three
other bills provided for legislative ex-
penses, printing and making election
of board of second and third class
school districts partisan.
Legislators apparently are subscribers
to the theory of state socialism-put-
ting the government into business--a
study of measures introduced con-
vinces.
Bills have been introduced to put the
state in the gasoline business. The
| house passed this bill but current in
dications are that the senate will kill
the measure. Other bills would give the
state authority to sell life insurance,
distribute milk, retail power without
submitting the plan to constitutional
amendment, print school text books
and sell fire insurance for public build
ings.
The house also voted in favor OF
a measure asking congress to take
over all banks, creating national gov
eminent bank set up.
The original power bill called for a
vote of the people on plan to sell
electrical energy at Coulee Dam whole
1, sale. There is no constitutional provi-
sion against the plan, but sponsors be-
lieved if they could get the bill through
as an amendment they would block
opposition.
This week the house will get severa
bills designed to authorize the state te
engage in retail power business They
will be submitted by Governor Martin
through administrative spokesman
One of the bills will create a rura
identification authority to promote
the use of electricity by making i
available to farm communities at thu
lowest cost consistent with Sound &c
onomy and prudent management"
Senator Scott NJ Ryan, Whatcom
co-sponsor of move to force an inves
tigation of the Department of Publf
Works, says: Director E. K. Murray
operations have failed to reduce publi
, utilities rates despite an appropriation
of $63O,85O last session to bring tina
about" Murray argues that investiga
lions have been slow because of thei
scope and that the work is just get
ting underway. He promises that if tn
legislature votes him the $682, 100 aske
in the budget that concrete results Wi
be forthcoming. The cost of the de
, partment during 1913 was 200
. as compared with Murray's request G
l two and a half times that amount.
Troubles ahead for the state ar
9 seen aplenty if the proposed highWa
Z code is enacted, says Attorney Gen
: eral G.. w. Hamilton. The code is I'VE
= bred for law suits unnumbered,' h
says. Section BAT is cited by the legs
f chief as an example. 1t authorizes tn
\ director of highways with the approx;
of the governor, to appoint peace off
GERS in every county to enforce tE
act 1t also provides for the appoint
n ment of an attorney by the director
= prosecute violations in any county. Tn
is in direct conflict with the const
4 tuition, the attorney general says.