The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-02-16

mittee Of the senate will provide that
the usury law can only be taken advan-
tage of in defense of an action, in other
wo-1s, If person once pays usurious
interest under the proposed substitute
bill he cannot base an action upon it
and recover 1t is more than likely that
this substitute bill will become law.
Everything tends to commissions this
year. There are so many persons in
search Of public employment that a
score of schemes are on foot, each pro-
Viding for a commission. The result is
that some of the more conservative per-
sons are talking of drafting a general
law to control state institutions. and
do away with nearly all of the present
commissions. Advocates of the propos-
ed law say if it materializes it will make
it possible for one board or commission
to manage all of the state institutions.
thus reducing expenses materially, as
well as having a uniform system Of
management in them all
SCHOOL LAND CONTRACTS.
Senator Halls bill, extending pay
ments on school land contracts, will
meet with approval everywhere. and
will not only afford relief for purchas-
ers. but will be good, interest bearing
investment for the state. A bill pre-
cisely similar was introduced in the
house by Johnston, and passed with an
amendment extending the time of paw
ment to 1920. Purchasers under the law
of 1890. were required to pay for their
lands in ten annual installments. The
bill of 1898 was a little easier. 1t called
for the payment of one tenth the first
year, one-tenth the second year. and
then gave the purchaser the privilege
of paying the balance al any time with
in ten years. The bill now up for con-
sideration will especially help purchas-
ers under the 1893 law, whose lands are
liable to forfeiture because of the in
ability to meet the second payment.
The argument advanced for the state
in extending the time on these land
contracts is that it is simply immaterial
how long the payments run, because
the interest must be paid, the lands are
being improved, and the states security
is gilt-edge. Even though the payments
were made in lump sums the state
would not profit, because the law for
bids the use of any Of the permanent
school funds except the interest. The
state would have to reinvest such re-
ceipts, and perhaps to not such advan-
tage. Under the new bill, interest must
be paid regularly, and purchasers may
secure title at any time by making pay
ments in full at the purchase price or
approved value. Many of the contracts
now delinquent are for lands purchased
under boom prices so that the states
investment could not possibly be i'm
proved.
TO PROSECUTE PHYSICIANS.
The greatest disadvantage under
which the state board of health has suf-
fered in the prosecution of it's labors,
is the inability to secure reports from
the various parts of the state. The
present law empowers the county audi
tor to prosecute physicians who fail to
make returns, but so far as that officer
is concerned, the law has been dead
letter There is now bill in the house
which provides that the members of
any local board of health may prose-
cute such derelict physician, and it will
undoubtedly pass.
Another bill of interest to the medical
fraternity, is that in relation to the
printing of the report of the state board
of health. The present law has been so
construed as to limit the number of
copies to be printed to 200. This the
board considers useless, and the report
has consequently not yet been printed.
bill in the house provides for the
printing of a sufficient number of re-
ports to meet the demand