The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-12
1t LIS SNUEFED OUT.
The Last Days of the Idaho
Legislature.
ALTURAS EMPIRE DIVIDED.
Two New Counties The Close OF .
Remarkable aessfon-The
Governor Cheered.
EMPIRE DIVIDED

BOISE CITY, February Especial
correspondence of The HERALD. i
There never fails to be excitement in
Boise City, upon the last day of the
session OF legislature. but that of J es-
terday has seldom been equaled anG
not heretofore excelled, unless, proba-
bly,, by that of the thirteenth session
when the capital location issue was the
leading feature of the session.
For many years past efforts have
been made
TO DIVIDE ALTURAs COUNTY,
which has had one sixth of the entire
representation of the legislature in the
Territory. These efforts have failed for
various reasons, Sometimes mem
bars have been purchased; at other
times it seemed as if luck wa
with the county and then
again the average Wood River
politician is very prone to form political
combinations which serve for the time
being. These efforts at division were
renewed this winter and the projects for
sllcing up the big county were so
numerous that it seemed for q time as
if all must fail. Western Alturas had
been promised by the leading citizens
of Haley. two years ago, that no OPP
position would take place from that
source if the people desired the county
OF Elmore to be formed, but when the
Legislature convened and redemption
of such promise was called for, the
gruff answer came, "Get it if you can. "
Under these circumstances a oombina
ton was made with Bingham County
that desired definite line and the
people of Southern Alturas who wanted
to be formed into the County of Logan.
ANTICIPATING DIVISION.
The politicians of Wood River formed
the design of packing both houses.
They succeeded in getting Clough, OF
Lemhi, elected president of the Coun-
Gil. This Clough has an ambition out
of all proportion to his ability, though
not of his self esteem. Two years ago
he stood in with Alturas when the div
ision question came up, and was re-
wsrdef with great ovation at HALEY
and reference made to him in the news
papers of that place as an available can.
didate for Delegate to Congress. Since
then this has been the goal of his ambi-
ton and the promise of the delegation
from the big county has led him into
many follies. As soon as he was
elected he appointed committees with
an eye single to the interests of Alturas.
Burkhart, the speaker of the House,
is a man of whom little has been known
until quite recently. His being from
the leading county and receiving the
support of loud talking politicians may
account for his elevation. He ap-
pointed none upon the committee on
counties and county boundarers save
such as he knew could be relied on in
preserving the autonomy of Alturas
and he did not at all miss his intent.
WITH TWO SUCH PRESIDING OFFICERS
and the committees appointed by them.
the chances of division looked thir,
however large the majority might be:ln
its favor. Added 70 this, the rules were
made and imposed upon green and
unsuspecting members in such manner
and form as might best subserve the
purposes of the anti -divlsionists.
About three weeks ago the omnibus
bill was drawn and introduced in com
mittee of the whole by De Haven. of
Nez Perez County. 1t was reported
back without recommendation, and
after a most desperate struggle, during
which the speaker made the most alb
surd decisions, passed the House by q
decided majority and was sent to the
Council about week ago. Once there
President CIough took a hand in
smothering it. 1t was taken up in
committee of the whole and recon-
mended for passage, but every time i
saw daylight an effort was made to tall
it to death Motions were made t
limit debate, but the president decided
that motion to do so was equivalent
to q suspension of the rules and required
a two-thirds vote. Appeals were takel
from hisl1 decisions in vain, anC
he refused upon all occasions to enter
tain them. motion tending to brinl
the bill to vote would,be countenance(
| for moment, nor au appeal thereon
This Wednesday night, the ftty.nintl
day of the session,
which was only broken by motion t.
adjourn at o'clock on Thursday after
| noon. Upon that day the usual routin
of business was gone through until tn
| division bill was reached. Then anothe
attempt was made to talk it to death
| Motions in restraint thereof wer
| treated the same as before.
At midnight of Thursday, Burkhart
who las been attempting to run thing
in similar manner IN the House, TO tn
detriment OF public interests, declare
the fifteenth session had transpired b.
limitation. Immediately after be ha
left his chair the members elected Hon
George P. Wheeler speaker pro tenn
and proceeded to the transaction G
business. De Haven was sent into th
Council with a message from til
House, and Clough refused to recetv
him. Charley Reid, the regular cler
who had served as such, tried his han
next, but was met with similar re
buff. Judge Mayhem, of Shoshon
County, arising to his feet said in sub
stance: 1--WE are here to do bushes
for the people. There sits in the chai
ONE GUILTY OF DERELICTIoN CT DUTY,