The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-28

! Mr.. Gibson opposed the bill because
! he wanted everything cut down. He
would like to see the members of tnis
! legislature fix their own salaries little
below the maximum limit fixed by the
constitution
Mr.. Kenner suggested a course by
which the Uintah county member
might escape extravaganza. If he
! thought the state was paying him too
much for his services the state treas
urer would give him a receipt for any
amount that he might desire TO return.
As for himself, DIR. Kenner thought
that any member of the legislature
who could not earn 81 per day ought
to be engaged in some other occupa-
ton. Utah legislators were paid much
less than the lawmakers of other
states.
The bill was then passed, Mr.. Gibson
alone voting against it.
ANTI-POLL TAX BILL.
The committee on highways and
bridges reported that it unanimously
recommended the rejection of Kenner's
bill repeating the poll tax law.
Mr.. Kenner explained that he had
introduced this bill at the request of
numerous constituents. Much fault
had been found with the manner in
which the poll tax had been distributed
in this city. Complaints were made
that it was unjust and inequitable.
Mr.. Mckay, speaking for the high
way committee, stated it had been
thought best to leave the maintenance
of the roads with the county courts.
Should the poll tax be abolished, the
whole expense of keeping roads and
streets in repair would fall upon the
taxpayers, while there were many
young men able to work out the tax
who would escape any share of the
burden.
Mr.. Sloan was the only member who
defended the bin. The effect of the
poll tax law, as enforced, was to tax
those already taxed. Property owners
who could be easily found paid the
poll tax regularly, while those at whom
the law was aimed escaped. He did
not think property owners should be
doubly taxed and harrassed in order
that a few men might be made to pay
a poll tax.
Mrs. La Barthe suggested as a COM
promise that the tax be reduced to 81
Nearly all of the country members
attacked the bill and defended the
present law. 1t was contended that
without the poll tax many of the coun-
ties would be unable to keep the roads
in repair. Representatives from the
outside believed the repeal of the law
would be detrimental to the interests
of all the counties except Salt Lake.
Mr.. Mangan POp.) attacked the poll
tax law, which. he declared, was I'M
just and the tax was a burden not
laid equally upon the people.
After the debate had run along at
great length, and it had been demon
strated that the bill had very few
friends in the house, Murdoch moved
the previous question, which was car
ried.
KENNER OFFENDED.
Mr.. Thoreson called attention to tia
recognized rule that the author of a
measure is entitled to be heard in it's
support, and as the bill had been
bounced upon by nearly every member,
he asked unanimous consent that Ken
ner be given the floor.
In the presence of such rank dis
courtesy exclaimed Mr.. Kenner, in
an injured tone, 4 refuse to accept
the privilege
The bill was then rejected, Mr.. Man
gan alone voting no. Mr.. Kenner and
Mr.. Thoreson were excused from vot-
ing, the latter explaining that he did
not think the author had been ac-
corded fair treatment.
Mr.. BenniOn did not believe the house
had intended any discourtesy, and the
gentleman from Salt Lake had been
given abundant opportunity to speak.
MI ~ Iolltl IEUuhtu the uOuSe log
the disrespect it had shown for Mr..
Kenner and hoped such thing would
not occur again.
With these apologies and eXplana-
lions the house permitted itself to drop
the subject and house concurrent reso-
luton No. l, relating to the printing
of bills and resolutions, was taken up
and passed.
SHEPARD'S FEE BILL.
Mr.. Shepard called up house bill No
L, fixing the fees to be charged by the
secretary of state. He explained that
1t changed the present law in only two
respects. a maximum limit of $500
was fixed upon the fee to be charged
for filing incorporation papers. and no
fee should be charged for commissions
issued to state, legislative and ju-
dicial officers, or for pardOnS.
In the absence Of any printed copies
of the bill, several members inquired
how they could ascertain what it was
they were asked to vote upon, but it
was finally decided that the statement
of the committee as to the contents of
the bill could be safely relied upon.
Mr. Kenrer proposed that all fees
for commissions issued to public Of
ficers be abolished. He did not think
the people should he fined for holding
office.
MI IHOTeSOn OIereQ a substitute !
for that provision relating to commits
sion fees, fixing the fee to be charged |
for each commission issued by the gov
ernor at SIS, provided no charge shall |
be made for any commission issued to !
any public officer or for pardons.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
At this point the house discovered /
that it could better consider the meas |
ure in committee of the whole. and /
Mr.. Sloan was called to the chair The |
bill was read by sections and Mr.. |
placed himself on record in OPP
position to any charge for a commits |
sion issued to a public officer. 1t was |
simply holding UP the public officers |
for something that should be furnished |
to them by the state.
Mr.. Kenner thought these charges |
were almost as Objectionable as a poll |
tax
Mr.. Price of Cache said the justice !
OF the peace and constable of his pre-
cinct had never made enough out of |
their offices to pay for their commits |
sions, and Mr.. Calls of Summit de- |
clared that men elected to precinct of |
fees in his county had never qualified |
because they could not afford to pay /
for their commissions.
ThOreson's substitute was adopted |
and Thoreson moved that the bill be |
adopted and the committee report |
ack to the house.
Duffin raised the point of order that
the committee of the whole had no
power to adopt a BILL but his point
was overruled, the bill was adopted and