The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1939-03-02
Legislature Now
Exceeds Budget
Set by Governor
No Means Of Raising the
Money Yet Appears Says
Senator StinsOn

The legislature has now reached
its critical point, states a commun-
ication to this paper from Senator
Chas. Stinson. Bills are passing out
of the committees very rapidly, and
the big problem is to get them on
the calendar so that they will come
to vote.
At the end Of the week the senate
will consider no more Senate Bills,
and the House will consider no
House Bills, the last two days no
bills whatever can be considered by
either house. Time must be given
to conference and free conference
reports, and matters incident to the
closing Of the session. It looks very
much like we will be on our way
home with many bills not passed
Much Of the important legislation
will probably go to the joint free
conference committee Of both
Houses, who are given the power
to rewrite the entire bill.
Budget Exceeded
We have already exceeded the
Governors carefully prepared bud
get Of expenditures which viii show
the state heavily overdrawn. This
Is caused by the heavy demand for
relief, pensions, schools, and the
various departments Of the state.
It is quite noticeable the little
interest that Is being taken to rai6-
Ing the money to meet these de-
mands. No one seems to want to
lead the fight for more taxes, and
only q small group Of us have made
an effort to keep down expenses.
The session Is all too short for q
careful study Of the real matter Of
the state. S; $50
Save Road Funds
We all feel that we should have
a few new roads added to the ,sys-
tenn. The Highway Department
has indicated that, that would be
very disastrous with the road money
that they have available. We ars
told that the country. roads are re-
ceiving over fifty percent Of the
gasoline tax money and have only
twelve percent OF the traffic; and Z
strong effort is being made to d.
vide the money on q population and
traffic basis. This would surely be
a hardship to Eastern Washington,
however, we have succeeded in
blocking that plan. I was fortunate
In being placed on q sub-commit-
tee to determine our major road
legislation, and today 1t appears
likely we will be able to keep the
favorable ALLEGATION which we now
have.
From now on we will be putting IN
10 hours day with continuous roll
call In an attempt to take care Of
the major problems. We are sim
cerely hoping that our school prob
lem may be solved in a satisfactory
manner. Even with the lack Of
funds we may be able to apportion
the money without making serious
curtailment to the real school needs.
Creditable Showing
Considering the general business
conditions Of our state I believe the
legislature will make a creditable
account Of themselves. ~
We have dozens Of letters In
every mail telling me to vote both
for and against the three grange
power bills. The Public Utilities
Committee has made some changes
and they incorporated Senate Bill
1913, a provision to put bond issues
up to a vote Of the people. No. 100
may be discarded and some; Of its
provisions written In other bills.
Senate Bill 200 will probably be
passed with some changes. It does
not appear to be the intention Of
the legislature to interfere with the
peoples plan Of getting cheap pow-
er. However, q majority Of the
committee which had It In charge
have voted that certain safeguards
should be placed In the law. What
viii happen when It comes ont On
the floor remains to be SEEM
|. II this letter is published Il mag
save my replying to hundreds q
letters which have recently been
placed on my desk. z
- Il