The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-07
IDAHO'S LEGISLATURE.
BOTH HOUSES GET DOWN TO
BUSINESS.
Ex-Governor Mcconnell Sends in a
Message, Which Is Not Read in
the House, and Received In
Dignified Manner in the Senate.
Especial TO The Herald.)

Boise, Jan. 6.-The legislature got
down to business today.
In the senate the time was devoted
to rules, which were adopted after
several lively discussions.
The rules do not materially differ
from those of the last senate.
Governor McConnelTs message was
presented by Governor Steunenberg.
and the question of its acceptance
caused some debate in the house.
It was finally agreed to receive it,
but not to have it read.
In the senate. McConnelPs commune
cation was received in a dignified man
ner.
The first bills of the session We're
presented in the house. One provides
for a sweeping reduction in the sala-
ries of the legislative attaches; others
provide for the county board to lease
state lands in boundaries of the cOun-
ty, instead of the state board; pro-
viding for the payment of taxes in
warrants; to prevent deficiency judg-
ments: fixing the legal interest rate
at 6 per cent; providing that guardian
ship of minor child shall be vested eX-
clusively with the father or mother,
unless incapacitated mentally or
otherwise.
DUBOIS MEN CONFIDENT.
Dubois men are feeling more conf
dent daily 1t developed today that
the statement given in these dispatches
last night respecting the proposed re-
taliatory move of the Populists has the
best OF foundation and is well under
stood by Dubois managers and Popu-
list leaders. AS far as legislation is
concerned, the DubOistes have the
balance Of power. Both the Demo-
Gratis and Populists are anxious to
control law-making, but the Demo-
Gratis viii not waive their senatorial
ambitions so. it is thought. to secure
that end 1t is believed the Populists
viii, in view Of the action of the Dem
ocrats in breaking away, in a manner,
at least, from the convention agree
ment make the election of a Popu-
list next to impossible and that they
viii join with Dubois, thus administer
ing double disaster to the Democrats,
their campaign allies, but their legiS-
la+ive fees.
The PoDulists met tonight for the
purpose of caucusing. but took no vote.
Below is a resume Of the message
above referred to:
In his message the governor shows
a total bonded Indebtedness of $393,O0O,
and deprecates any further increase at
this time. He says:
BY inquiry in the state auditors Of
fee, l have aScertained that the esti-
mf ed levy to meet the general expense
next year will be 70 cents on each $100
Add to this cents for the road bonds
of 1889. cents for the road bonds of
1893 cents for the normal school
bonds, 21s cents for the refunding
bonds, ~ cents for the support of nor
NAL schools 215 cents for support of
university, 513 cents for the i'm
provement of asylum. ! cent for asylum
bonds. AZ cents for redemption of uni
versity warrants, and you will observe
that this runs the levy to S1.19. or 19
cents above the constitutional limit of
taxation.
I believe that by persistent effort on
the part of the state board sufficient
timber NAV be selected for the state
during the coming year to enable the
state board of land commissioners to
effect a sale which viii practically wipe
out our bonded Indebtedness, and make
the needed improvements to the peni-
tentiary and insane asylum. But these
must be made without
regard to that sale, as the conditions
in both institutions require immediate
He advocates a liberal appropriation
for the soldiers home. the insane asy-
lum and the state penitentiary;
to the school laws; set
llement of the boundary line trouble
between Idaho and Montana; the
of the partially con-
SbOshone counties, and the diversion
IF the money to build the Lower Sal I
mon river division; has a good word
for the national guard, and then says, |
as to taxes 1T viii be impossible to
reduce state taxation without repudi
lting our obligations, but very great |
reduction may be made in the ex-
Dense of running our county govern !
Dents and it will devOlve upon you |
o enact such legislation as will accom-
Dlish this object.
Art s, section /, of our constitution |
treating public debts, has been, in my |
persistently violated. al
hough it has been held by our attor-
ley- general that state warrants do /
Tot fall within the meaning of a liza |
lility. With due respect to his legal |
lttainments, and those who agree
With him. l insist upon my construc- /
ion being right. and / desire to warn /
7ou against further aggTessionS, as
he time will come when some one will |
all upon the supreme court to pass
lpon this subject, in which case those
Who deal in our securities are able
o meet with q disagreeable surprises
He then takes d whack at the coun-
Y officials by saying:
Although in some of the counties
f the state the tax levy has run up
o several cents on the dollar, it must
e borne in mind that the levy for
tate taxes has never exceeded So cents
n each hundred dollars, and that the
Xcessive taxation which the people
ave been called upon to bear has
een brought about. by extravaganza
\ the administration of county and
lunicipal affairs. and the excessive
ees paid in some instances to county
ficers.'