The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-23

The senate yesterday varied the 81
lent monotony of the past few days
by indulging in some debate. Senator
Harbour's bill, providing for liens for
mechanics and others, was the sub
ject.
The measure came back from the
committee on labor with a favorable
report, after some slight amendments
had been made, but Snow was not
satisfied with the reading and moved
to strike out that portion of the act
where it provided that the lot Of land
upon which the building was situated,
should be seizable for the cost of the
lien. Mr.. Snow said he believed the
building itself should be sufficient and
thought that to include the land was
giving the mechanic more protection
than was necessary.
Robson followed with the Sugges-
ton that buildings might be erected
on leased property and that in such an
event the law would be useless.
Replying, Mr.. Harbour said that of
course if the building was erected upon
leased property it would be of no avail,
but if the holder of the lien did not
have the ground there would be no
DIOICCllOn III the INV l HISS llC IdG
some way of getting to the structure,
the lien would be valueless. The per-
sOnal property could not be sold I'M
less the purchaser could be assured
that he could make some use of it.
He could not move it, unless ground
was provided. Harbour declared the
bin as it came from the committee was
a good measure and one which lould
be passed.
Tr 10 10 no
amendment offered by Mr. Snow. but
favored one which would provide land
enough for all available purposes in
using the property. He believed that
the law should so state II would
hardly be fair to give man a house,
for instance. and then compel him to
enter and go out by means of a bal
Icon and have him taking perpetual
chances of being arrested for trespass
for flying over his neighbor's premises.
Mr.. Evans opposed the measure on
the general ground that he had not had
time TO examine il and make compari-
sons with the printed law as it now
exists. But the matter of the amount
of land had been fixed by the courts,
which was about the best law which
could be had on the subject, and in his
judgment this measure should not be
forced upon passage until all have had
chance to make comparisons with
view to aScertaining whether the same
is needed or not. He would advise
great caution in the consideration OF
the pending measure. In the country
towns the word lot" might mean
large amount of land. There We're lots
of three acres and sometimes more. To
seize more ground than was needed
would be an injustice. He favored the
amendment offered by Mr.. Snow if the
measure was going to pass.
Johnson opposed the bill Onssubstan-
tally the same grounds advanced by
Mr.. Evans.
Then Harbour made another brief
statement in advocacy of the bill. He
declared he had taken the advice of
able attorneys in framing the same,
and they had informed him that the
size of the ground was d matter which
10 doubt would be determined by the
courts, but it was proper to state the
same in the bill.
Wright's judgment was that the bill
did not cover enough ground, and he
advised that it be amended to include
several other classes of mechanics and
laborers.
Finally however Shows amendment
prevailed and then, on motion of
Smoot. the bill having passed second
reading, was referred TO the commit
tee on iudiciar.-.
DGudlc DIlA 4NO. T. lnt IdllTOdu Dill
introduced by Mr.. Game, came back
from the committee on engrossed and
enrolled bills and was signed by the
president in open session and sent to
the house, from whence it went to the \
governor for his approval.
The incident of the day then came
up. The chief clerk of the house sent |
down two communications relating to |
resolutions passed which were wrong
in their composition, and Mr.. Game /
called attention to one after the sen (
ate had voted to return it to the house |
for correction. At the conclusion the !
president remarked: The officers of |
the house will receive the instructions |
of Senator Came" whereupon there
was a good laugh at Mr. Gaines ex-
pense. That gentleman disclaimed |
any intention of instructing anybody, I
and there the matter reste%
The governor transmitted a report /
of the appointments made during va
cation. which was filed and the senate I
until today at II o'clock
IN THE HOUSE.