The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-16

The weary lawmakers Of the lower
house were In continuous session from
o'clock yesterday morning until mid
night, with short intermissions for re-
freshments, and when a recess was
taken until this morning, the business
of the session had practically been dis
posed OF.
Nothing now remains to be done ex-
cept to pass the revenue bill, which
will promote a reduced tax rate, and
await the engrossment of a few bills:
The lower house will be ready for hnal
adjournment by noon today.
THE TAX ROLL.
The Democratic legislature has re-
deemed its pledge to reduce the burden
of taxation. The revenue bill TO De
introduced this morning will levy a tax
of az mills for state purposes, Tor the
ensuing two years, against mills last
year. The appropriation bill was hnally
passed by both houses yesterday ana
the latest of all appropriations made
by this legislature approXimates $780,
OO0 1t is therefore enabled to reduce
the tax rate half a mill and still leave
a surplus in the treasury for Its sue
cessor. Many think the rate could
have been reduced a NH, but mere
ample revenue and protect the treasury
from any possible embarrassment.
Generous provision has been made
for the support or state institutions
$15,000 given to the semi-centennial eX-
position and $4,000 to the Omaha eX-
position. Not only this, but for all
state educatio institutions the APP
preparations cover the period ending
June 80, 1885, six months after the ex-
piration of the. present legislators
terms of office. Heretofore the practice
has been to appropriate for but two
years but this legislature has provided
for two and half years.
The railroad bill was yesterday
passed over the governors veto, and
it is understood that his excellency de-
sired that this be done. Two attempts
were made TO pass the sheep bill over
the gubernatorial veto, but both were
unsuccessful.
The members were impatient and
restless, and it was with difficulty that
they were induced to remain in the
hall. One or two left for their homes
yesterday, and the final breakup will
come today.
The house refused to concur in the
senate amendments to the code and
Shepard, Royiance and Wilson were
appointed a conference committee.
H. 3. Isl, by Taylor, validating
county warrants issued in excess of the
OF the ways and means committee.
S. B. SO, relating to the bonding of
county Indebtedness, was placed on its
passage and rejected by a~fvote of 4
TO u.
Taylor, Thoreson and OBrien were
appointed a conference committee on
the appropriation bill
PIONEER JUBILEE
The semi-centennial celebration reso-
luton was brought up again. The SEN
ate amendments were concurred in and
the resolution was passed by a vote of
% 10 Z. AS amended the resolution
appropriated $4,000, of which sum $500
goes to the counties.
The appropriation for the Omaha ex-
position was reduced 10 $4,000, and the
bill was then rejected. by a vote of IS
20 is, having failed to receive the con-
stitutional majority. Half a dozen of
the friends of the measure were alb
sent.
Roylance presented the report Of the |
code conference committee, recon- |
mending that the senate amendment be !
concurred in. except as to the eight |
hour law, and that in this matter the |
senate recede from the provision max |
ing the law applicable to employees of /
the state, counties and municipal gov |
erEments.
FIRE AND POLICE.
The report was adopted and the code
re-passed by a vote of SO to 8.
O'Brien, chairman of the municipal |
corporations committee, presented re-
port, recommending the rejection of
senate bill 80, re-enacting the old fire
and police law, and the substitution of
q new Dill, containing the provision of |
house bill 49, by Watson, previously
passed by the house and rejected by
the senate.
After a short discussion, during
Whlch IL was represented that a ma
jority OF the Salt Lake members ia
Vored the Wilson bill, the latter meas
ure was passed by vote of 80 to A.
A VETO.
The governor returned H. B. 143. the
railroad bill, without approval but
with suggestions as to amendment. The
governors objection was as follows:
Section provides that railroads
may have right of way over all state
lands. including certain depot privi-
leges every ten miles. Article 20 of the
constitution provides as follows:
That all lands granted to the state
snail be held in trust for the people.
TO be disposed of as may be provided
by law, for the respective purposes for
which they have been or may be
granted
while in favor of the policy of ex-
tending encouragement to the build /
ing OF railroads in every proper and le- !
gal way, in my opinion it would be a ,
violation of the trust imposed bv the
constitution to donate any part of the
granted lands to any person or corpor- I
alton
IF amended as indicated shall ap-
prove the BILL
The bill and the governors message
were referred to the railroad committees f
which subsequently, through KimbaJI | I
of Cache, chairman, recommended its I
passage, Notwithstanding the gov 7
errors objections.
Kimball defended the BILL and said r
that California, Montana and IGaho. [
with similar constitutional provisions. a
had enacted similar legislation. Be
sides, there was no time left for r
amending bills il
O'Br;en and Shepard defended the 4
governors veto. and thought the bill P
should be amended, and Robinson
thought It should be passed over the {
veto, as there was not sufficient time a
for amending. V
During the discussion it was repre- c
scented that the governor had advised I
members to pass the bill over his t
veto rather than to try to amend il at b
this late hour. He had disapproved the o
measure chiefly because in the attor- n
ney- generals opinion, it was unconsti- !;
The bill was passed over the veto by
e A &c d..