acceptance of this proposition, and the majority of this Senate is now called upon to make good the pledges mentioned. 3. It is generally conceded that the salaries heretofore recommended by the majority of this Senate, and now concurred in by a majority of this committee, are higher than the persons holding the respective positions could earn or obtain for the same services when rendered for private persons. The justification offered for this is not always the same, but is generally about as follows: In political campaigns, many of the legislative candidates feel called upon in the interests of party success to promise assistance to various individuals to secure high salaried clerkships in the legislature. This has resulted in a custom, which is now well established, of a gathering at the capital from every section of the state at the opening of the session of persons who have been led to think they may obtain positions as clerks or assistants in the legislature. This involves in many cases the incurring of large and unusual expense by way of preparation, and for traveling expenses. And it is said that at this time there are a large number of persons with us in just this situation, and that to give the few whom we employ a fair compensation, exclusive of the expenses incurred by them, it is necessary that we pay them considerably more than the real value of their services. It is generally conceded that the present system is wrong, and should be corrected. I now submit that this is the time of all times when the needed reform should be instituted. The political party just come into power is emphatically pledged to correct the evil complained of. The way to reform is to reform. To carry out the conclusions I have above set forth, I now submit the following schedule of salaries: Secretary...... $5.00 Sergeant-at-arms... 4.00 Assistant secretary, minute clerk, docket clerk, journal clerk, enrolling clerk, bill clerk, and all committee clerks... 3 00 Assistant enrolling clerk, assistant engrossing clerk, assistant journal clerk, and all Senator Keith moved to adopt the majority report. Senator Lewis moved to amend the report by fixing the salary of the bill clerk at $4 per day and that of the minute clerk at $3.50 per day. Senator Houghton moved to amend the amendment by fixing the salaries of both bill clerk and minute clerk at $4 per day. The amendment to the amendment was lost. The amendment was lost. The motion to adopt the majority report was carried by the following vote: Those voting in the affirmative were: Senators Baum, Cole, Crow, Davis, Dorr, Easterday, Field, Frink, Harper, High, Hill, Houghton, Keith, McReavy, Megler, Miller David, Miller T. J., Paul, Plummer, Range, Reinhart, Runner, Van Patten, and Yeend-24. Those voting in the negative were: Senators Deckebach, Lewis, Washburn, and Wilson-4. Absent or not voting: Senators Hall, Lesh, Pusey, Taylor, Warburton, and Wooding-6. The following resolution was introduced by Senator Taylor: Resolved, That all clerks be required to report daily to the secretary of the Senate and at such time as he may require. On motion of Senator Deckebach, the Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M. to-morrow. OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON, Thursday, January 14, 1897. 2 o'clock P. M. The Senate was called to order at 2 o'clock P. M. The secretary called the roll, showing all members present except Senators Frink and Hall. At the request of the president, Rev. John R. Thompson offered prayer. The journal of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved. Senator Cole was excused from further attendance during the day. On motion of Senator Deckebach, as amended by Senator Megler, the Senate went into the committee of the whole to consider House bill No. 23, by Representative Wilkeson, An act making an appropriation to continue the operation of the state salmon hatcheries. The bill was considered in the committee, Senator Plummer in the chair, and reported back to the Senate without amendment. The bill was read the third time by sections, and, on motion of Senator Megler, the rules were suspended, the bill was considered engrossed and placed on its final passage. It was then passed by the following vote: Those voting in the affirmative were: Senators Baum, Crow, Davis, Deckebach, Dorr, Easterday, Field, Hall, Harper, High, Hill, Houghton, Keith, Lesh, Lewis, McReavy, Megler, Miller David, Miller T. J., Paul, Plummer, Pusey, Range, Reinhart, Runner, Van Patten, Warburton, Washburn, Wilson, Wooding, and Yeend-31. Absent or not voting: Senators Cole, Frink, and Taylor-3. The secretary read the resolution of Senator Taylor, introduced yesterday, relative to requiring the Senate clerks to report daily to the secretary at such times as he may require, and making them subject to his order. The following resolution was received from the board of trade of Dallas, Texas, which, on motion of Senator Easterday, was referred to the Committee on Memorials. To the President of the Senate, Olympia, Oregon [Washington]: Dallas, Texas, January 7, 1897. DEAR SIR-This board of trade has been impressed with the vital importance of the passage of a bankrupt bill and has been in actual communication with the like commercial bodies over the country with the view of speeding the passage of some just and equitable bill. We find a general consensus of opinion that such an act is a necessity, and many commercial bodies have memoralized congress praying its passage, forwarding petitions similar substantially to the one enclosed from the Milwaukee chamber of commerce. The deplorable condition of financial slavery resting upon thousands of our fellow men, the loss to the state from a paralysis of their energies, the cruelty of forever keeping such men in bondage forcibly suggests to all men having in their hearts, charity and kindness for these long suffering men and their families, and that relief should be granted. In view of this condition of affairs and of the incomparable beneficience of a bankrupt bill we venture to invoke your aid, and that the body over which you preside, in speeding the passage of such a bill through the Senate of the United States. The bill, as you know, has passed the House and is now on the Senate's calendar awaiting its action, as there remains only some forty days of the present session we beg to suggest that the passage by your body of a joint resolution invoking immediate action on the part of the United States Senate would be most desirable. Such a resolution will be promptly introduced and passed by our legislature which convenes next Tuesday. Very respectfully, LEO WOLFSON, Secretary. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MILWAUKEE, December 28, 1896. To the Honorable the Senate of the United States: The following resolutions were unanimously adopted at a meeting of the board of directors of the chamber of commerce of the city of Milwaukee held on this date: Resolved, That the chamber of commerce of the city of Milwaukee, through its board of directors, earnestly appeals to the Senate of the United States to promptly pass the Torry bankruptcy bill which has already passed the House of Representatives, and only awaits the favorable action of the Senate to become a law; thus at once affording a measure of relief and protection of which the nation at the present time stands greatly in need-relief in "releasing from financial servitude thousands of able, energetic and experienced men, whose restored energies could again be devoted to the upbuilding of the state," and protection in removing one of the most fruitful causes of financial distrust and panics in the temptation which the absence of an equitable bankrupt law affords to any creditor, in case of financial embarassment of his debtor to seek his own advantage to the detriment of other creditors and the ruin of the debtor. "Neither common sense or justice demands the continued and helpless servitude of such a great number of our fellow men" nor the continuance of this needless hindrance to the returning prosperity of our country. Failure to pass the bill by the Senate at this session will probably involve indefinitely delay in the passage of another bill, and such delay "simply means denial of relief for men now past the prime of life, who have but few years remaining to recuperate their fortunes. Resolved, That a copy of this actioh be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate and that the senators from Wisconsin be respectfully requested to use their best efforts to secure the passage of that beneficient measure, the Torry bankruptcy bill, at the present session. Respectfully presented in behalf of the board of the chamber of commerce of the city of Milwaukee. CASSIUS N. PAINE, President. W. J. LANGSON, Secretary. (Signed) The secretary read the following communication from the gov ernor: STATE OF WASHINGTON, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, The Honorable the Senate of the State of Washington: STATE PENITENTIARY. George T. Berry, of Walla Walla county, re-appointed April 7, 1896, for the term ending February 18, 1902. REGENTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND SCHOOL OF SCIENCE. J. W. Arrasmith, of Whitman county, appointed May 22, 1895, for the term ending March 9, 1899, vice Charles R. Conner, resigned. TRUSTEE WESTERN WASHINGTON HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Francis A. White, of Snohomish county, appointed June 15, 1896, for the term ending February 1, 1901, vice John E. McManus, resigned. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. George Hyde Preston, of King county, re-appointed July 19, 1895, for the term ending the 2d Monday in March, 1902. R. E. M. Strickland, of Spokane county, re-appointed July 19, 1895, for the term ending the 2d Monday in March, 1902. Charles A. Riddle, of King county, appointed May 9, 1896, until the close of the next ensuing legislature, vice Wm. D. Wood, resigned. TRUSTEES OF THE WASHINGTON SOLDIERS' HOME. E. S. Callendar, of Pierce county, appointed September 4, 1895, for the term ending June 26, 1900, vice Albert S. Cole, term expired. George H. Boardman, of Pierce county, re-appointed July 1, 1896, for the term ending June 26, 1901. STATE FAIR COMMISSION. John R. Reavis, of Spokane county, re-appointed April 3, 1895, for the term ending March 22, 1899. W. H. Hare, of Yakima county, appointed February 27, 1896, for the term ending March 22, 1899, vice A. B. Weed, resigned. Samuel J. Cameron, of Yakima county, appointed February 27, 1896, for the term ending March 22, 1897, vice Fred Parker, resigned. Frank A. Williams, of Kittitas county, appointed February 27, 1896, for the term ending March 22, 1897, vice A. W. Engle, resigned. TRUSTEES OF THE WASHINGTON STATE REFORM SCHOOL. John Dobson, of Chehalis county, re-appointed May 7, 1896, for the term ending April 29, 1902. TRUSTEES STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT ELLENSBURG. John C. Goodwin, of Kittitas county, appointed July 6, 1896, for term ending June 26, 1902, vice T. J. Newland, term expired. BOARD OF HEALTH COLLECTION DISTRICT OF PUGET SOUND. F. W. Hastings, of Jefferson county, appointed March 18, 1896, for the term ending March 7, 1898, vice L. B. Hasting's term expired. Nathaniel C. Strong, of Jefferson county, appointed March 18, 1896, for the term ending March 7, 1898, vice Frank A. Bartlett, term expired. Jacob Behrman, of Jefferson county, re-appointed March 18, 1896, for the term ending March 7, 1898. (These appointments made under section 2 186, Code 1881.) STATE BOARD OF HEALTH AND BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS. John T Lee, of Pierce county, re-appointed January 7, 1896, for the ⚫ term ending September 30, 1900. TRUSTEES STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT CHENEY. Elmer D. Olmstead, of Spokane county, appointed August 4, 1896, for the term ending July 29, 1902, vice Louis Walters, term expired. BOARD OF STATE LAND COMMISSIONERS. Erastus Brainerd, of King county, appointed March 27, 1895, for the term ending March 26, 1897. S. J. Chadwick, of Whitman county, appointed March 27, 1895, for the term ending March 26, 1897. TRUSTEES FOR STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT WHATCOM. Eli Wilkin, of Whatcom county, appointed June 13, 1895, for the term ending June 12, 1897. |