Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-02-22
THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE.
A BRIEF REVIEW OF ITS WORK
THE PAST SESSION.
What Bills Affecting Alturas County
We're introduced. and How They We're
Disposed Of-The Fees and Salaries
Of Some Of Our County Officials In.


To THE EDITOR OF TIE TlMEs:-
Now that silence sits enthroned in the
Legislative halls, where but few brief
days ago babbling tongues made dis
cord, and petty strife was waged, |
imagined, having an half-hour Of lei
sure. that perhaps your readers light
enjoy short resume of the business
accomplished by the Twelfth Lcgisla-
tive Assembly of Idaho-not as a
whole, for even my patience could
not stand that; but SO far as bills IN
troduced and passed pcrtained to
Alturas county.
In the early part of the session but
little was accomplished. The reason
why was obvious. In the House there
was wrangling and discord from the
first day until the last. Various COM
binations were resortcd to on the part
of the Mormons and the Democratic
element. Men elected as Republicans
fell down and joined the ranks of the
enemy. An imbccile, old ignoramus
easily controlled it, and, not guilty Of
being blessed with IDEAS of his own,
was placed in the chair, and so the
story runs. Again there was a great
howl on the part of the delegates for
county measures. To limited en-
tent believe in member insisting
on certain needed legislation for the
county he represents; but when public
interest is SO forgotten, trades made,
chicanery resorted to and the public
needs sacrificed for the accomplish
ment of some petty county foible, |
consider the ends of legislation de-
featcd. Taken all in all, the Lcgis-
lature just adjourned will not bear
very close inspection. There We're
many good men, but many more that
had better been allowed to remain at
home and pursue the peaceful occu-
patton of farming, instead of being
foisted upon the community as law
makers.
1t is strange. but true, that in a
farming community the great desire
seems to be to have honest men to
represent the dear people. That term
honest is strangely construed; ability
and honesty seem, in the public mind
seldom to go hand in hand. Honest,
in its general sense, if interpreted by
the class Of men usually so dcnomi-
mated, would seem to mean, some
thick headed, slow, easy going fellow
devoid of ability, and with more ca
pacity for herling sheep than making
laws. Men strictly honest themselves
are prone to believe others equally SO
and are imposed on accordingly, by
schemers and unprincipled knavcs
"A man known to be little slippery
is watched by his fellows, and is not
so easily led into traps as the honest
and unwary. Is it not better, then, tc
place in political positions men OF
known and recognized ability, even
tho they may not be known as
strickly honest, and have simply that
qualification to recommend them t.
the public patronage and favor? Pol
itics is a lifetime study, and poll
ticians are as much professional me,
as lawyers, doctors, and others of tina
ilk. The great strength and bulwarl
of a country are the laws that govern
the people; and those laws should b,
framed and passed upon by men com
petent to fill the position for which
they are elected, and not by mel
better able to follow the pillow, thar
interpret the sense and subtle mean
ing of carefully worried Englisl
sentence.
But l digress, and must come bacl
to the subject Of my letter. Among
the measures introduced and passed
and which now fall under the head O
New Laws, the following will b.
found to pertain to Alturas county il
particular:
House Bill No. ), to amend sectiol
44O of the Code of Civil Procedure
was a bill providing that prospcctors
property, consisting Of two horse
and outfit for prospecting not exceed
ing in value $3.50, should be exemp
from execution.