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

Monument - Horticultural Bill
Passed-Pure Vinegar Bill Goes
Through.
The house has decided that the presi-
dent of the agricultural college must re-
sign the office of supreme court reporter.
or the supreme court reporter must retire
from the presidency of the agricultural
college. This was one of the great mass
of measures acted upon by the popular
branch of the legislature yesterday. With
4 short recess at noon, the house was in
session from a. m. until p. m, and,
in the amount of business transacted.
broke all previous records. It passed six
bills, two memorials and one concurrent
resolution and rejected three bills and one
concurrent resolution, besides disposing OF
the usual amount of incidental business
The horticultural bill, Bennion's pure
vinegar bill, RoylanceS amendment TO
the statute of limitations, Shepard's su-
preme court reporter bill, Romney's bill
relating to exemptions from execution
and Perkins bill relating to the election
of officers in cities were the measures
passed, and DreSser's mine inspection bill
was among those killed.
Debate now proceeds under the three
minute rule, and Gibson. watch in hand,
officiates as assistant time keeper. with
the result that time is called promptly
on the second.
THREE-MINUTE RULE.
Shepard offered resolution, providing
that debate proceed under the three-min-
ute rule, and that no member be per-
mitted to speak more than once except
the author of the measure or the chair
man of the committee reporting il. who
should be permitted to speak five min
utes in opening and closing. The resolu-
ton designated Gibson as assistant time
keeper and was adopted.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The conference committee on the senate
memorial relating to manner of electing
United States senators recommended that
the house recede from its amendment.
The report was adopted and the memo
rial passed.
The committee on counties reported a
substitute for house bill No. 49, author
izing the Salt Lake county commission
ers to reimburse the Civic Federation
for moneys expended in prosecuting the
joint building cases The substitute fixes
the amount which the commissioners are
authorized to pay at sS.972.
Senator Rideout's Cuban memorial was
read twice and referred to memorials
committee.
Wilson's concurrent resolution directing
the appropriations committees to report
or or before Monday, March S, was
adopted.
ELECTION OF CITY OFFICIALS.
House bill No. Ia by Perkins. an act
10 RION1ue LOT the eleCIOn OF OTflcerS IN
cities and owns, was taken up on third
reading. The bill provided for the election
OF city recorder, treasurer and justice of
the peace in all cities and the election of
auditor and city attorney in cities of the
frst and second class, and city marshal
in cities of less than 1900 inhabitants.
Calls offered an amendment. providing
Tor the election of city attorney in all
cities. This official when appointed. was
often derelict Calls cited the case of
the city of Coalville" as an Illustration.
In that city the sounds of reXelng and
disorder were heard on the Sabbath and
in the night. because the city attorney
would not enforce the ordinances.
Roylance represented that the city of
Springville' had no attorney at all, and
did not need any. There were many
other towns that did not want an attor-
ney.
Thoreson offered an amendment limit
ing the bill to auditor and city attorney
in cities of the first and second class.
and city marshal in cities of less than
10000
The Thoreson amendment was rejected;
the Calls amendment went the same
way, and the bill was then passed.
MINE INSPECTION.
Dresser's quartz mine inspection bill
was taken up as the special order, it hav-
ing been reported by the committee with
out recommendation. The bill provided
for the appointment by the governor of
an inspector of mines other than coal
mines, and defined his duties.
The bill was introduced by Dresser, the /
representative from Mercur. and was OPP
posed by Wheeler. the member from the
Tintic district. and by Calls. represent |
ing Park City.
As soon as the bill had been read
Wheeler moved that the snacting clause /
be stricken out.
Dresser defended his bill and presented /
a petition from 264 Mercur miners. asking /
that the bill be passed. The legislature. |
he said, had passed bills for the pro-
lection of everyone and everything, and /
the miners should also be afforded some !
protection. He briefly replied to some of !
the objections TO the bill The expert /
ence of other mining states demonstrated I
the practicability and wisdom of such a
measure.
Sloan opposed the bill It contained OBJ
jectionable features. and he was opposed /
to the creation of any more offices.
Wheeler declared that this bill would not
protect the miners. There were over
40 600 mines and prospects in the state,
and if but per cent We're being worked.
no living man could inspect them. re-
Quired by this bill. Under this measure
the miner would not have the same claim
for damages against the mine owners
that he has now. Moreover, the owners of
the large mines would be likely TO buy
the inspector off. while the law would be
enforced against the small owners.
O Brien believed il was the duty of the
state to protect the lives of its citizens
and 10 class deserved protection more
than the miners. This bill would reduce
10 a minimum the danger from accidents.
AID the mine owner would rot be re-
lieved from liability.
a. P Sorensen. a member of the mines
committee. said the miners OF but one dis
trict had asked for the passage of this
bill. There was one mine in the Mercur
district that was in an unsafe condition.
1t was with difficulty that men could be
induced TO work I'm II. and first-class min
ers would not work in it. The legislature
was asked TO pass this bill for the ben
eft of that one mine.
Mrs. La Barthe favored the bill. and
I f---.Sht the miners should be given pro-
tection-
Calls. chairman of the mines commit
tee. opposed the bill, as he did not be-
lieve il would provide safety for the min
ers. In order to insure thorough inspec-
ton there should be three or four depu-
ties. and the state should be divided into
districts The mine owners had taken a
patriotic course in keeping their mines in
operation in the face of adverse circum-
stances. and the very mines that the bin
proposed to inspect were mines that
needed no inspection. II was the small
mines that needed inspection. yet the ]
others were the backbone and the main
stay of the prosperity of this country. He
believed in providing every possible safe {
guard for the miner, but this measure
would not accomplish the purpose.
fIopkin opposed the bill. Quartz mines
we're not so dangerous as coal Flines. and !
lid not require an inspection.
Dresser replied TO the arguments against
he bill y majority of the mine owners $
If the miners but there were properties {
hat needed protection. He mentioned !
some of the accidents at Mercur due 10 I
- ,,aoIiVa-ca ~ the r1ipa ovxrnerS