Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-02-12
LEGISLATURE OF IDAHO
PROGRESS OF THE WORK IN OUT
TING DOWN SALARIEs.
How the Eight-HOur Bill Passed in
the Senate and the Deficiency
Judgment Bill In the Mouse.

Boise, Idaho, Jan H.-During the past
week more ACTIVITY mas been shown in
general legislation. The salary ana fee
bills In the senate and the deficiency
Judgment bill in the house have been the
leading topics OF debate.
In the discussion of the salary bill In the
senate, Harris. the author or the bill. con-
tended that at the time the present sal-
aries were fixed the cost OF living was
more than double what 1t Is now.
Bennett and Turner of Bingham. op-
posed the cutting Of the salary OF the
superintendent of public instruction to
$500, saying that the stale could not get
q competent man for so small sum.
On the other hand Bessett and Cough
amour thought there were plenty OF com
potent teachers who would be very will
ling to hold the office at the figure nameA
and the amendment prevailed for the
time being, but later In the week 1t was
reconsidered and the salary fixed at
$500.
An amendment to 1x the salaries Of the
justices Of the supreme court at $25OO
was lost, and the 5000 figures remained In
the bill.
An amendment to fix the salaries of the
district judges at $1,000 was defeated as
also one to make 1t $500 and $500 and 1t
was left as In the bill at 5000.
The bill fixes salaries as follows: Gov
ernor. 1900; secretary of state 1850;
state auditor. $500; state treasurer, $1,000;
attorney general. $500; justices Of the
supreme court. $1,000; judges Of the dis
trict court. $1,000.
Davis Fee Bill.
There was also considerable talk In
the senate over the Davis fee bill, regu-
lating the fees and compensation OF coun-
ty officers. Coryeu claimed that II the
bill was passed the officers could not
make a living.
A motion to reduce the fee for record
ing mining claims to 81 was opposed on
the ground that 1t would have a tendency
to encourage prospectOrs to record worth
less claims and tho amendment was vot-
ed down. 1t was agreed that the fees ac-
cruing in land office business should be
included in determining the compensa-
ton OF the clerk Of the district court.
Settlers are obliged to execute many pa
pers before the clerks and hitherto there
has been no law requiring the clerks to
report the fees received from this source.
A debate was precipitated over the mo-
ton of Young to increase the sheriff's fee
for serving summons or complaint from 90
cents to rs cents. Harris commended that
In many small counties II was necessary
to make up the sheriff's minimum from
the treasury. and that II these fees were
cut litigants would be relieved and the
burden thrown on the taxpayers. Davis
of Oneida declared tina. his county had
been paying Its sheriff $1,000 u year, while
there were plenty of good men who would
be glad to do the work for $500. Davis OF
Boise said that his county had received
only about SLIGO last year. The amend
ment to increase the fee from so cents to
rs cents was finally defeated. Further
consideration OF the bill was postponed
for a week.
After q lively debate. during which the
Bible was quoted on both sides. the bill
to abolish capital punishment. was rec
commended by the committee OF the whole
to be indefinitely postponed
The Eight-HOur Measure.
When Benefits bill making eight hours
a days work in mines and mills was
taken up In committee of the whole of
the senate, Coughanour opposed 1t on the
ground that 1t would work al injustice to
mine owners. He asked the senators to
let the 10-hour system alone, until they
we're thoroughly satisfied that the pro-
posed change would not do more harm
than good. In advocating the bill Ben
nett said that he had been told by the
manager Of the DeLamar mine that the
eight-hour system would not injure the
company, adding that 1t would be better
for the men and for society at large to
give the men more time for self-improve-
ment. Young said the bill would increase
the number Of mon at work In the Occur
d Alenes, adding 800 or 400 to the pay
rolls. The bill was recommended for pas
sage
state Timber Lands.
In supporting his bill to define the pow
ers and duties of the state board OF land
commissioners, Nelson stated that az
the law now was the state could not sell
Its timber land for the reason that at
the present time the state has not &C
sary improvements to get the timber The
proposed amendment would give 10
board of land commissioners the power to
act when they acquired more land and
the state could sell the timber from
what 1t now has. The bill was approved.
The House an Deficiency JudH ents.
Randolphs bill relating to deficiency
judgments was finally approved In the
house, but not without much opposition
The bill provides that when a sale has
once been ordered In foreclosure proceed
ings and when the proceeds OF the sale
are found insufficient, no Judgment can
again be docketed for the balance.
Waters declared that the bill was In op-
position to the laws of contract. When q
man borrows any sum of money, agrees
10 pay that much and his note Is the
contract. The borrower is mono the less
liable for that note when the property
given as security depreciates. adding |
that such a law would prevent the loan
Ing of money.
Taking the other side Perkins said
Mortgages are the curse OF this coun-
try and II this bill would do away with
the loaning Of money. with property as |
security. 1t would be the salvation of our
nation" He continued by saying that
IN time OF depression the forced sale of |
would only add to the wealth of |
the moneyed class and aid In the building
up of landed aristocracy.
Clawsons bill providing that county |
shall not extend the time |
,f payment OF outstanding indebtedness
Or reduce the interest charge unless 40
authorized by two-thirds vote of the
qualified electors. was indefinitely post
,oned
SAC AND EOX AGEMHN rp0I1pI |