S-1953               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6042

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Talmadge

Read first time 2/24/89 and referred to Committee on  Ways & Means.

AN ACT Relating to the acquisition of the William O. Douglas property for the establishment of a permanent memorial; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Justice William O. Douglas, the only justice from the state of Washington, appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1939, served the state and the nation in a distinguished fashion as chairman of the securities and exchange commission, and later supreme court justice for thirty-six years.  Justice Douglas spent much time at his home, a cabin in Goose Prairie, Washington.  Many state residents, visitors from other states, and the judicial community closely associate Justice Douglas with issues closely linked to the nearby vicinity; his lionlike support of conservation issues, his role as a humanitarian and a defender of civil rights.  The cabin in Goose Prairie, near to the William O. Douglas wilderness area, would be a fitting monument to the accomplishments of the justice, and a center of inspiration for judicial, environmental, and humanitarian interests.

          Many parties support establishing a permanent memorial to Justice Douglas.  These parties believe preserving the cabin and the adjoining property should be done soon using partnership of state, federal, and private financial assistance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the general fund to the parks and recreation commission to purchase the eight acre William O. Douglas property and cabin at Goose Prairie.  This appropriation may be expended only if the federal government and private parties agrees to pay the balance of the purchase price and the federal government or designated nonprofit interest group agrees to manage the property as a public memorial to Justice William O. Douglas.