The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1935-03-27
Legislators Boost
Government Costs
Pledges Of Economy Forgotten
When Solons Went Into Action
Figures Show
By ARTHUR L. sCHOENT


OLYMPIA, March Is The
1895 legislature, which came to
Olympia on campaign pledges of
economy, increased the budgets OF
% state departments and institu-
ticns $3,769,977 over what the 1888
legislature gave them.
A survey today by the United
Press showed only three depart
ments were cut below what they got
two years ago-Governor Martin,
License Director Harry g. Huse and
Director of Agriculture Walter j.
Robinson. Twenty-Five departments,
including the five state colleges and
nOrmalS, were increased.
Makes Spending Record
The boosts in spending helped the
1885 session earn its cognomen,
1.-THE most expensive legislature in
history" which is gained by pass
ing 500, 1875 900 in new taxes and set
ting new record for spending
money on its own wages and those
of it's employees.
Two reasons were ascribed for the
huge increase in appropriations:
l. Greater demands made by peo-
pie on state government as county
and city governments are crippled
by tax-reduction Initiatives. The
legislature passed dozens of bills
adding to duties Of state depart
ments, requiring more money to
perform them.
2. The 1888 legislature passed out
drastic Is per cent cuts in most
budgets. The 1885 session, evident
ly feeling the depression was wan
ing, restored the departments more
nearly to their old figures.
AS an example of a few of the new
duties piled on the departments by
the 1885 legislature:
1. A retail sales tax and dozen
others new taxes were passed. To
collect them the state tax commits
sion had to be given 1927, 500 extra
g. License Director Huse was CIV
en- $4,000 to enforce SB70, the
bucket shop securities regulation
bill, and 5000 to restore the office
of real estate director.
8. The department. of finance
budget and business was given $685.
600 to finance q state narcotic
farm colony under SB14.
S. Insurance Commissioner Will
lam Sullivan was given $4,000 extra
to carry out SB161, regulating in
surance companies rates.
6. Land Commissioner A. G.. Mar
tin was granted $11,500 to cruise
| timber felled by recent wind storms
7. E. F. Banker, director of con-
servation and development, was CIV
en- $12,5OO to fight the Walla Walla
river rights case with Oregon.
8. State Auditor Cliff Yelle was
granted $13,250 to pay costs of his
work. in connection with old age
pensions under HB582.
New Department Added
Apparently upsetting the theory
that merging state departments
would save money, the legislature
created a new department of fl
nance out of the present efficiency
and business control departments.
| To run the present two, the 1913:
legislature had appropriated $685.
4O6. The new single department will
cost $775,139, including $4,000 tc
carry out provisions of HB285
creating new parole board.
Following is compilation show
ing amounts for the state depart
ments and schools by the 1888 and
1885 legislatures. Figures represent
appropriations for salaries and OPP
erations and omit capital outlays
and paper appropriations" The
three decreases come first.
Department 1888 1895
Governors office ..$85, 600 $4,000
Licenses ........ 608, 495 575, 6OC
Agriculture -. 698,916 662 300
Lieut.. Governor. $500 1900
Secretary of State 1888 140,9lC
Attorney General 107,597 147,20C
Of ON 114 R0<