The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-31

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money the state treasury did no,
have. Banks closed down. Pocket.
money was at premium.
The Legislators needed the
call They passed . $1,000
600 relief bond issne. 10 he
paid for from the gas tau.
They created the emergency
relief commission 10 spend the
money. They enacted . tar
On Eross revenues II every
business, IN try 10 get hack
some of the lost s40. OO0. OO0 In
property taxes. Horse racing
was legalixed and . htste
money trickled In for pensions.
The state was amused At the
governors short-lived hitch-hiking
protest against high gasoline
prices. II watched with interes,
a. later IN the year he appointed
a liquor advisory commission,
headed by Robert K. Evans, OF Ia
coma. TO suggest how the state
should handle the multi million
dollar monopoly.
In November he called 4 special
session Of the legislature for Dec.
8 to pass 4 liquor law and enact
state laws to cooperate with
President Roosevelt's new deal
agricultural, relief and banking
programs.
Now York law authorities
asked him 20 extradits John c.
Stevenson 20 they could try
him on stock swindle charges.
hut Gov. Martin refused.
Stevenson lster became the
governors political enemy and
ran against him In 1888.
The special Legislature en-
acted . liquor law and first
state stores opened In March.
Alarmed BY the IlndberKh
kidnapping, the h " m kers
passed the most stringent law
In the nation against KID
mapping.
They passed q law opening the
way for the Tacoma Narrows and
Lake Washington toll bridges.
Agricultural codes for all indus
tries were set up. The state plan
ming council was formed. Liquida-
ton Of scores of closed banks and
savings and loan associations
started.
Working on the premise cleo
tricai rates were too high. the
public works department launched
a series of rate reduction cases
against public utilities. In the
fall Of 1884 the electorate abolish
cd all fish traps.
Washington seethed and
churned its way through the
hrst two years Of Governor
Martins term. and came mn
TO thu 1888 legislature with
now problems and new laws
10 pass. The 1888 old age
pension law failed 10 work for
lack Of money, % the 1885
seeaion enacted the sales tau.
On July 8 the first old ase
pension check Of $3.50 went
10 IT, late George w. Reed.
al Ritxville.
The lawmakers that year brought
out 4 complex tax law to bring
In moro tax money-they taxed
sales. cigarets. picture shows, foot
bali tickets. fuel oil and even real
estate deeds In their search for
new revenue TO pay moro pensions
and relief. They passed another
futile income tax amendment.
The session approved bills to
have the state buy bridges at
Bremerton. Brewster. Abe r cen
and Hoquism. II authorized con-
struction on the capitol grounds of
the first social security building In
the nation. II passed the blanket
primary law, took relief away
from the laundering counties and
lodged II with the state.
II created the parole board.
the Unemployment cempensa-
ton set-up aad flood control
lswS- Many flood districts
were hunched. but only four
actually were formed later. ~
people forgot the destructive
floods Of the winter Of 1855.
Al the governors request. the
legislature broadeued entrance
roquiremsuts. - more boys
and giFis esaid 81 into the
stnte unisesity and colleges.
fhe year wore on. labor troubles
dared up. The national guard was
called out 70 help the state patrol
control mob violence In Tacoma,
Aberdeen and Longview.
The Cornmonwealth federation
nourished and became a potent
political force representing the
radical element
Governor Martin was heavily
criticized by labor leaders for call
ing out the national guard
frhe secsnA article win deaI
vita events Of tire governors go
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