Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1897-02-26
LEGISLATURE OF IDAHO
THE SHEEP AND CATTLE INDUSTRY
DISCUSSED.
The Medical Bill ArOuses the Sem
ators and Consumes the Big
ger Part of the Week.

Legislature began Will WOTuy war III Ltio
house over the sheep question.
Elder declared that the substitute bill
presented by the live stock committee was
In the interest of the sheep owners, while
No SO, which the committee recommended
be indefinitely postponed. was the meas
ure the people of the state wanted, and
the legislature should pass 1t If it desired
to protect the ranges against large rowing
bands of sheep.
Perkins thought the committees bill
would practically abolish the sheep indus
try.
Briggs wanted it understood that the
substitute measure had been sent all over
the state to prominent sheep men TOR
their approval, adding that If the present
conditions continue it will not be long be-
fore the people in the Snake river valley
will be importing beef cattle from Utah
and Montana.
Wright claimed that the growth of tie
cattle industry would afford market for
the hay which is rotting all over the
Boise valley, and that any measure which
would restrict the sheep industry and
enlarge the cattle industry would be a
blessing to the state, adding that the time
Is coming when patience will cease to Ire
II NItueb anu WILL iul n bSiihu iOSfNs'
to shoot down sheep herders and destroy
their industry in order to save the health
of their wives and children. Much of tile
disease prevailing in some parts of the
state is caused by the fouling of the wa
tiers by the sheep.
When Brim was asked by Mccarthy if
this substitute bill was not the same as
the one prepared by the sheep men, l e
admitted that ii was.
Orr maintained that the sheep industry
should be encouraged and he believed that
in time it would drive out all the cattle
interests in both Montana and Idaho, be-
cause it would prove the more profitable
of the two.
One of the most vigorous speeches upon
this topic of legislation was made by Wa
tiers, who said he represented a county
where there were SO, 900 head of sheep and
10000 head of cattle, and there had been
no war between the owners of either.
Ninety per cent of the hay in his county,
he said, was fed to sheep. IF people want
to raise hogs, let them raise hogs, ne
continued. IF they do not there will he
less legislative timber in the future. The
men who love a fine mutton chop, VINO
draw warm wooden coat about them, CT
creep under wooden blanket at night
with comfort and satisfaction, look sheep
ish when they declare sheep nuisance
Every industry must be equally protected
l will raise hogs if l desire l will raise
sheep If l DESIRE. or cattle; but l will no
help raise hell by voting for the passage
of such bill as this
Both bills were referred to the commit
tee of the whole.
As to Gambling.
Four members of the committee OF
state affairs reported in favor of the pass
age of the bill relating to gambling in
troduced by Workman, and one membe
of the committee reported in favor o
its indefinite postponement. In the dis
cussion that followed Briggs said that II
Idaho City four-fifths of the gambling
had been done away with by a strict or
dinance passed by the city council, an
that children who, before the ordinanc
was passed, were roaming the street
barefoot, now were going to school, wear
ing good clothes as well as shoes.
Morgan opposed the measure on tn
ground that even the present law regu
lating gambling was not enforced. TIL
majority report was accepted IL member
voting no-Allan, Andrews, Beary, Bryan
Clagett, Clawson, Hays, johnson, Mitch
ell, Orr and Rogers.
Public Schools.
Considerable interest was manifested /
the debate over the distribution of licens
moneys, introduced by the ways an
means committee, providing that so pc
cent shall constitute part of the geners
school fund; 40 per cent part of the ger
eral road fund, and that 10 per cent sha
go to the state treasury. The member
coming from the towns and cities favore
the district provision, while those froI
the country declared that all none
should be distributed equally among bot
city and country schools.
Clagett pointed out that the cities, a
ready having superior schools, were no
demanding more money, while the boy
and girls in the country were going bare
foot and only receiving three months
schooling each year, and Waite could nj
see the benefit of building up the cit
schools when 80 per cent of the childre
of the state never attended any otht
than the district school.
On the other hand, Hampton elaine
that it was impossible to reduce a
schools to the same level. If the none
was distributed among the countr
schools 1t would amount to very little p'
school. while he believed that at lea.
one high school grade should be SUI
ported in each county.
The bill was talked to death.
other Matters.
The house passed:
Bearys lien bill.
Fulton's bill legalizing three-barbe
wire fences.
Elders bill authorizing city council
and village trustees to levy a tax for II
funding and purchase of outstandir
warrants.
Waters bill for the appointment of W;
ter masters in irrigation districts, upo
the petition to the district judge of 10 {
more users of the water.
The bill relating to stay of execution
of judgments in civil actions.
Rogers bill, giving the court power I
decide In chambers cases of insolvenc
and to discharge the debtor.
The house agreed to indefinitely post
pone:
Clawson's bill providing that ever