The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-06

Senator Glen Miller came to the con-
clusion yesterday that the senate is not
doing as much business as it ought,
and accordingly indited letter to Sen
ator Booth, the chairman of the ways
and means committee, which had the
effect of bringing that gentleman up
standing, as il were. He Immediately
called a meeting Of the committee last
night, and it was in session for the
purpose Of formulating such measures
as are deemed necessary for the ben
eft Of the public.
Senator Muler's letter was couched in
the following language:
In order that may now place my
self on record, write to give my opin-
ion upon matters which, in my esti-
nation. should be under considera ton
by the ways and means committee. 1t
seems TO me that the matter of the
most vital importance to the state and
people has so far received no eonsid-
GRAFTON from us. l refer to the ques-
ton of state revenues and their rela-
ton to the necessities Of various state
institutions and general state expenses.
For myself, ] have been and am now
in favor If necessary, of passing over
for the present all lesser matters of
legislation and deVOting our attention
exclusively to this paramount question
of what the probable state expenses
will be and the means whereby TO pro-
vide for them. We should have this
oata for presentation to the senate at
the earliest possible moment in order
that such data may be ready for ser
vice whenever the question Of apprO-
priatons or the mourning of expense is
proposed. l do not think we should
wait until the committee on salaries,
on public Institutions ETC., have COM
pleted their reports, as it Is, in my
Judgment, more important that these
committees could have the results of
our deliberation than we Of theirs.
1t seems TO me that We are deYot-
inc ourselves to secondary subjects
while vital questions are being post
poned [ would, therefore, as one of
the members of the ways and means
committee. respectfully ask that an i'm
mediate meeting of this committee be
called ana continued in session during
convenient hours from day to day I'M
I'll the problem of revenue can be fully
6nd adequately considered. / offer these
suggestions not in the spirit of criti-
cism or fauit-finding. but as the opin-
ion of an individual member of the
committee"
This letter Of the senator will apply
TO nearly any other committee of the
legislature. Up TO date all laws
ia ssed have been, in the main, lin the
interest Of the attorneys" to quote an
expression bv a member from the out
side. They have been for the most part
passed with view of amending and
changing existing statutes. The presi-
cent Of the senate favors some action
on measures Of general Importance TO
the state and now that Miller has set
the race there Will likely he a great
deal of hustling done by all the COM
1nittees.
The judiciary committee has been
working hard for some time past, as
reference to reports made it daily viii
show The other committees have
done fairly well only.
Yesterdays session was quite busy
one. owing 70 the fact that several
bills had reached stage where action
could be had. Among the number
finally disposed of was house bill G.
fixing the age of consent in females
and making 1t a felony to violate the
provisions Of the act. The house
passed the bill with an age limit Of IS
years, burt the senate cut this down
10 Is. Glen Miller succeeded a few
days ago in getting this reconsidered
by the house. This was finally agreed
to Yesterday and the bill viii doubtless
become a law.
The bill defining those who are and
who are not fellow servants was
passed yesterday, together with an
amended libel law. reported by the
committee on judiciary. This law was
constructed IN the same lines as was
the one introduced by Glen Miller. for
which the one adopted is a substitute.
Two bills were introduced yesterday,
both by Allison. the first for an act
defining the duties Of the attorney
general and fixing his compensation:
rhe second creating the office of state
superintendent of schools and defining
lis duties and fixing his compensation.
Both bills were referred to the appro-
pirate committees.
ROUTINE WORK
Prayer was offered by Elder Joseph
Z. Taylor.
The reading Of the journal was fol-
lowed by reports from the judiciary
committee on senate bill 5, Glen Mil
lers libel law: house bill 81. providing
for legal holidays: house tlll so, for the
relief Of school districts which did not
levy a special tax last year: house
bill 81, providing for redemptions; sen
ate bill IS, for the release Of Joint
for the district and county clerks The
committee on agriculture and irriga- 1
ZION reported q. substitute for senate
bill IS. the irrigation bill.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Senate bill No. 46 was introduced by |
Mr.. Allison and is q bill for IAN act
defining the duties of the attorney
general, and fixing his compensation" /
The bill provides. It is the duty of the
attorneys general to attend the supreme
court and prosecute or defend all !
causes to which the state or any Of I
6cer thereof is a party, and all causes !
10 which any county may be a party,
unless the interest of the county Is 1
adverse to the state. or some officer I
thereof
After Judgment Oh any Of these
A|r 4%@~w~N (