The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1939-03-02
Social Security
Bills to be Made
Liberal, MOultOn
Increased Costs Will Add
More Taxes; Sales Tax
to Be Raised


OF some Of the things that have
been taking place. AS ! advised you
formerly, there has not been much
OF real interest In the legislation
thus far, outside OF the Social Sc
curity Bills and the very gradual
build-up towards what has the APP
pearance Of additional taxes.
1t Is impossible to tell at the
present time whether new taxes, II
any, will take the form Of flat in
come tax or an addition OF one per-
cent to the sales tax, plus remov-
al OF all exemptions from sales tax.
The Social Security Bills have
been somewhat liberalized and will
probably result in some additions TO
assistance already granted and per-
haps a widening OF the field, altho
1t Is impossible TO determine this
until the administration Of the act
is under way. Under the new act
the home, personal effects and pro-
duce raised by the applicant for his
own use are not considered as q
resource. The ability of relatives TO
contribute will be treated as q
resource, but will not necessarily
render the applicant ineligible to as
sistance. -.
I have gotten the irrigation leg
islation through the House and &c
win probably pass the Senate to-
morrow. Have handled all the Col
umbia Basin Bills for the Depart
ment OF Conservation and Develop
ment and for some OF the members.
All passed the House and will no
doubt pass the Senate Wednesday.
/ introduced bill In the House
some time ago for a small appro-
priation for the treatment OF Sleep
ing sickness among horses. 1t pass
ed second reading yesterday and it
will probably be on the calendar In
the House within the next day or
two. There is good deal OF oppo-
sition to appropriations and don't
know whether / can get IL thru.
believe / can have 1t passed In the
House, but It will probably en-
counter difficulty in the Senate.
can't say very much more about
the North Bank highway than has
already been said. am very much
afraid that the legislature is going
to refuse to add secondary high
ways to the system. I intend to see
Governor Martin on that today and
press the matter so far as possibly
can. I will have no difficulty in
having the road added TO the sys-
tenn II any others are put on, but II
program of putting no addi-,.
tional highways is adopted, we OF
course cannot accomplish anything,
unless perhaps we might have the
road added 10 the system and then
have 1t built from Patterson to q
connection with the present oiled
highway out OF county funds and
federal aid. I OF course will not ask
for anything OF this kind unless the
commissioners agree to &c. / have
by no means. given up the effort TO
have the road put on the map In the
ordinary manner. It is my opinion
that II the Highway Department
insists upon this program 1t will
result In movement to create O.
Highway Commission and do away
with the present dictatorship.
The PUD bills are having a very
difficult time in the Senate. It is
my belief that Senate Bill NO. zoo
will fail and that II numbers 1913
and 1919 pass the Senate, No. $50 will
also pass. There seems TO be q rap
idly g rowing pressure In favor OF
No. $50 and against No. 200. Num-
bers 1913 and 1919 are being very
greatly amended and may pass.
We have been struggling for the
adoption Of resolution TO make
the forty mill limit program a part
Of the constitution, but nothing def
mite has been accomplished TO
date and I doubt IL anything will
come OF It. Effort Is, being made
now to provide for an amendment
to the constitution permitting the
operation of lotteries tt may be
that ultimately we win have TO come
to the lottery as a means OF support
ing the state government. have
not reached that point myself. but
some times I think we might az
well all become gamblers and make
the best Of IL.
The school problem is still with
us. It appears likely that an emery
ency fund will be set UP for the re-
lief OF the more unfortunate dis
tricts and that provision will be
made for the full twenty-five cents
per pupil-day and the full equaliza-
ton amount for the. next biennum.
do not believe there will be any
provision made for the deficiency
growing out OF the failure OF the
state to pay equalization out Of the
next biennium except in cases OF
emergency.
The House passed the Fair Trades
Practice Act, calculated to put a
stop to "lost leader sales" and kin
bred matters.
Appropriation bills win be out
within the next day or two and by
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