Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1891-05-08
THAT DECISION,

An Impartial Opinion Of tho Issue
Which 1t Settled % Deplorably.
Boise statesman.)
What is generally known as the
Alta-Lincoln counties case has had its
day in court, and was yesterday set
tied definitely and, We suppose, finally
BY decision Of the Supre me Court Of
Idaho, which substantially declares
that the act passed by the State Leg.
islature last winter, creating the coun-
ties Of Alta and Lincoln out Of the
area covered by the counties of Altu>
ras and Logan, unconstitutional and
void in law and fact. The interest
taken in this matter by the people i'm.
mediately interested has been con-
slant, intense and deep, from the
time of the introduction of the bill
into the Legislature until the render
ing Of the decision yesterday, which
left no longer room for hope OF fear.
To the ears of . disinterested layman
the opinion Of Justice Huston, as read
and substantially Endorsed by Justice
Morgan, seemed faultlessly and per
fectly conclusive until it was followed
by the dissenting opinion Of Chief
Justice Sullivan, when, to the mind
unframed in the mysteries and subtle.
ties Of legal lore, the two conflicting
opinions seemed blended into q simple
mass Of tangled uncertainties, leaving
nothing clear nut the fact that there
has been lots Of time and talent and
temper wasted that might have been
saved and utilized to better purpose.
Tn. at OF the Territorial .egisla>
ture, which created the counties of
Gilmore and Logan from a portion Of
the area covered by the original
county Of Alturas, contained an ele>
ment Of Injustice to what was left OF
the old county, which was allowed to
keep the name while she was shorn Of
nearly all that made one of the larR.
est and most prosperous counties u
the then Territory Of Idaho. This
injustice entailei misfortunes and dis
advantages which made the condition
If the county Of Alturas well-nigh
insupportahle under the burdens il
imposed. Under these circumstances,
it is not surprising that the people Of
Alturas should seek a remedy. and
ioyfullv believed they had found it in
securing the passage OF the act by
the State Legislature, which at the
b. 81 afforded them only the promise
Of partial relief Now that this
promise and this hope is taken from
them. there is nothing wonderful in
The fact that they find themselves un.
able to acknowledge the justice Of the
blow which smites them. But with.
out going into details, the Statesman,
while believing that Alturas has been
unfairly and unjrstly dealt with in the
first partition OF her territory aud in
the subsequent passages of her his.
tory. feels. nevertheless, certain that
the brave old county, as she stands
t'>day. possesses natural resources
aud capabilities which will enable her
t. rec"v from all the blows inflicted
and take her rightful place among the
richest and most prosperous counties
il thu State.
But We would fain hope that in the
hour Of Temporary disaster, AltnrAs
will not Law all the misfortunes at The
door Of her sister Logan. Logan WAS
ais" a sufferer hv that first act If
PARTITION. and verv naturally resisted
anv further cnr'ailing Of her area and
resources. The recent co, n Ct that
has c"me was inevitable, and followed
"a natural consequence Of the 6rst
uero,s oo~vn;vsnA