WASHINGTON. 



753 



for carrying such commodities on Dec. 1,1800; 

 ami ihai IP 'i more than $5 a ton should ! 

 charged for carrying the commodities enumer- 

 ated for a distance of 500 miles or less. An in- 

 i Tease of the maximum rates on other freight, 

 as they existed on Dec. 1, 1890, wa.s forbidden. 

 A forfeiture of compensation in each case of 

 violation, and a fine not exceeding $500 for 

 each offense, were provided as penalties. Later 

 in the session another measure on the subject of 

 treight rates, known as the Anderson bill, be- 

 came a subject of contention. It provided for a 

 further decrease of rates. A compromise re- 

 sulted in its passage, with a provision that no 

 rate greater tnan 85 per cent, of the rates in 

 effect on Jan. 3, 189o, should bo charged for 

 carrying wheat, barley, flour, or other mill stuffs, 

 tin \seed, rye, oats, potatoes, or hay. and that no 

 irreuter rate than $4.75 a ton should be charged 

 for carrying the products enumerated in car-load 

 lots for a distance of 500 miles or less. The 

 penalties were made the same as those of the 

 other act. These laws were designed to benefit 

 the farmers of eastern Washington. A bill was 

 passed declaring a failure by a railroad com- 

 pany to build fences along " its right of way 

 prima facia evidence of negligence in actions 

 for injuries to stock by its trains. 



There was also passed over the veto of Gov. 

 Laughton a bill, first passed by the preceding 

 Legislature, making it unlawful for any person 

 or corporation to organize or employ an armed 

 body of men in the State for any purpose what- 

 ever, which was aimed particularly against the 

 use of such armed bodies in case of strikes. The 

 act provides that any person violating it shall be 

 punished by a fine of not less than $1,000, nor 

 more than $5,000, and in a like sum for each day 

 he shall continue to offend after being once fined. 

 Provision is also made for the imprisonment of 

 offenders against the act, and for the forfeiture 

 of arms and equipments to the State. 



A new State land policy was adopted by the 

 enactment of a law placing all school and public 

 lands, tide lands, and harbor-line areas under 

 the supervision of a board of State land commis- 

 sioners, which superseded other boards. A con- 

 troversy arose as to the regularity of the passage 

 of the bill providing for this board, and the At- 

 torney-General declined to approve the official 

 bond of one of the commissioners, on the ground 

 that the bill signed by the Governor was not the 

 same as the one passed by the Legislature, and 

 that the constitutional requirements had not 

 been observed in its introduction or its progress. 

 Application was made to the Supreme Court for 

 a writ of mandamus requiring the Attorney- 

 General to approve the bond, which was granted, 

 the Court holding that the enrolled bill of an act 

 of the Legislature, which is duly signed by the 

 presiding officers of both Houses and otherwise 

 appears fair upon its face, is conclusive evidence 

 of the regularity of all proceedings necessary for 

 its proper enactment in conformity with the'con- 

 stitutional provisions. 



A fractional section of common-school land 

 near Seattle was set apart as a new site for the 

 State University, and an appropriation of $150,- 

 000 was made for the erection of a building 

 thereon. The following appropriations were also 

 made for the erection of public buildings : For 

 VOL. xxxiii. 49 A 



additions to in-ane hospitals, $120,000; addition 

 i.p K. form School, $15,000: addition to Peni- 

 tentiary, $50,000; new building for tin; Agri- 

 cultural College. $70,000; Klleiisburgh Normal 

 School, $60.000. Appropriations for normal- 

 school buildings, aggregating $90,000, were ve- 

 toed. 

 Other acts of the session were as follow : 



Enabling citit-.s and towns to validate warranto and 

 other evidences <>f indebtedness issued in excess of 

 legul authority. 



Authorizing cities and towns to purchase and con- 

 struct wutcr works, systems of sewerage, and gas and 

 electric-light planto. 



Regulating fishing in Columbia river and Puget 

 Bound. 



To quiet possession and confirm titles to land. 



Providing for the appointment of police matrons in 



cities. 



Fixing the legal rate of interest at 8 per cent. 



Relative to assignments for the benefit of creditors. 



For the prevention of cruelty to children, animals, 

 and birds. 



Providing that makers of wills may deposit the 

 same with clerks of the superior court for safe keep- 

 ing'. 



For the relief of indigent soldiers, sailors, and ma- 

 rines of the civil and Mexican wars. 



Making an additional appropriation of $55,000 for 

 the State's World's Fair exnibit. 



Prohibiting the sale, purchase, and manufacture of 

 cigarettes and cigarette paper. 



Regulating the practice of dentistry. 



Providing for garnishment proceedings. 



To secure" secrecy in the transmission of telegraph 

 and telephone messages. 



Granting a bounty of one half cent per pound for 

 the production und manufacture of sugar in the State. 



Providing for the construction, repair, and improve- 

 ment of public roads. 



To protect salmon and other food fishes in Puget 

 Sound. 



Prohibiting divorced persons from contracting mar- 

 riage within the period in which an appeal from the 

 decree may be taken. 



Requiring assignments by insolvents to be for the 

 benefit of all the creditors. 



Authorizing the Governor to remove from office all 

 officers appointed by him not liable to impeachment. 



For the punishment of bank officers for receiving 

 deposits for a bank while knowing such bank to be 

 insolvent. 



Regulating the practice of pharmacy. 



For the construction of a State road across the Cas- 

 cade Mountains by way of the pass north of Mount 

 Baker. 



The duty devolved upon the Legislature to 

 choose a Senator in Congress to succeed John B. 

 Allen, whose term expired on March 4; but after 

 a contest that lasted throughout the session the 

 Legislature failed to elect. The membership of 

 the joini convention consisted of 75 Republicans, 

 28 Democrats, and 9 Populists. A Republican 

 senatorial caucus was held, but as some of the 

 Republican members failed to attend it, there 

 was not a sufficient representation present to 

 constitute a majority of the Legislature. John 

 B. Allen was nominated by the caucus to succeed 

 himself, but the party contest was necessarily 

 left unsettled, and was carried into the Legis- 

 lature. On the first ballot in the Houses. Allen 

 received 49 votes, 7 less than a majority. The 

 Republicans opposed to Allen, together with one 

 Democrat, voted for George Turner, his vote be- 

 ini: -.'<>. Chauncey W. Griggs, the Domocratic 

 nominee, received 27, and Govnor Tears, the 



