The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-10

Yesterdays session Of the state
legislature was one devoid of merit as
far as the house was concerned. The
members thereof together with the
speaker seem to be all at sea concern
ing the rules which govern the prac-
tice Of lawmalling bodies and expend
the greater portion of the time in an
endeavor to ascertain where they left
off.
For instance after going into COM
rnittee of the while on any particular
matter, the custom of all well regulat-
ed bodies is that when the business
before the committee is completed it
rises and by the chairman reports to
the house. The chairman Of the COM
mittee Of the whole Of the house al
lows this duty to be performed by a
clerk. The committee never rises it
simply resolves to report to the house
and were it not for the fact that the
clerk is a competent man and makes
the record clear, the footprints which
are being made on the sands of time
by this house would be crooked indeed.
The Democratic members seem to en-
JOY the situation and not until the ma
! Jor1ty are hopelessly entangled do they
come to the relief of the unfortunate.
The house yesterday refused to pass
a resolution by Nebeker to refer all
bills to the proper committees on first
reading, thus acting contrary to the
senate, which did. The apparent reas-
on is that the motion was made by a
Democrat Today some Republican
VIII make the same motion and it will
be agreed to, as it should be.
House bill 3. by Nebeker, allowing
fees to state officers, in cases of emery
ency, was passed yesterday. 1t viii
be seen that ali the important legisla-
Zion of the session is emanating from
the minority and that this condition
will continue is apparent.
In the senate yesterday the Demo-
Gratis demonstrated that theirs is the
party of the people, by the introduc-
ton OF two measures which are cal
culated to improve the existing condi-
tons. The first was in the nature of
bill, providing for the control of the
relations between employer and en-
ployees; the second Joint resolution
in the interests Of silver. Both were
introduced by Senator Warner of
Utah county. The bill was tabled
pending the appointment of a com
mittee which should have the handling
OF such matters. while the Joint reso-
luton was promptly smothered by
the majority. which desires to rob the
senator and his colleagues of any
circuit WHICH may accrue.
The last session Of the legislature
treated the Democrats in the same
fashion. This was doubtless the reas-
on why Senator Booth, of this city,
was so anxious to have the question
seriously considered" ere action was
taken 1t is safe to predict that a Re
publican member will introduce a
similar resolution later in the session
and that it viii be adopted But the
reading public viii understand the
situation and viii bestow the credit
where it belongs.
Senator Allison, Of Weber, attempted
TO establish q gag law yesterday, but
was defeated in the house of his
friends. 1t came up on the report Of
the report of the committee on rules.
which by a section in the code abolish
ed the previous question custom. Ali
son, in lengthy speech, argued that
the committee had made a mistake
Why" said he. the minority NAV
speak ninety days on one bill and we
will be at their mercy" But the
senator was Cutvoted when it came to
final action on the rules the ballot be-
ing ayes II. noes /
= The senate was a busy BODY vester-
day, while the session lasted. From,
the opening TO the closing. not a mo-
ment was lost and much genuine busi-
ness was transacted