Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-03-26
THE FREE PRESS.
0RANGEvILLE. IDAHO.
FRIDAY. :: MARCH 26. 1897


Our Legislature.
1t is as yet too early to see the
full effect of the work accomplished
by the last legislature, yet anyone
who is conversant with the bills
passed must admit that in great
measure the pledges made to the
people were fulfilled. All parties
were pledged to economy and a
comparison of the appropriations
mady by this and the legislature
of two years since will show this
to have been kept in mind. While
the levy for state purposes is re-
duced but little, if any, no bonds
were voted, and the current expen-
SEES will have to be met from cur
rent revenues. Some of the more
important measures enacted are as
follows:
s. B. 53-Making the legal rate
of interest seven instead of ten per
cent. as at present; parties can con-
tract for a rate not exceeding twelve
per cent.
n. B. Establishes the board of
trustees of the soldiers home, plac-
ing the management in the hands
OF the Governor, Secretary of State
and Attorney-Genera The office
Of the adjutant of the home is abol-
ished and superintendent APP
pointed. Inmates who receive PEN
sions in excess of "a per month and
have no family dependent ON them
must pay such excess to the man
agement, to be used in the support
of the home. This bill will reduce
the expenses of this institution
very materially.
S. B. 3O-Abolishes the Office of
assistant state engineer, saving to
the state $1,000 per annum.
S. B. 65-Provides for a system
of parole for prisoners confined in
the penitentiary who have served
one-half their sentence, and have
a credit for uniform good behavior.
This does not apply to prisoners
who are confined on a life sentence.
1t is claimed that this system is in
operation in several states with
the best results.
S. B. prohibits the employ
ment of aliens who are ineligible
to citizenship or have failed to de-
clare their intention to become
citizens by any county government,
municipal or private corporation.
III. B. 47-Amends the placer To-
cation law. Locators must within
fifteen days after making the loca-
ton, make excavation of not less
than 100 cubic feet for purpose of
prospecting the claim.
The estray law. was amended so
that the officer selling an estray
must brand the same with a circle
with an initial E in the center.
III. B. 80-Fixes the time for as
sessment on the second Monday
in January instead of the second
Monday in April.
"a. B. 137-Defines the duties
of county surveyors and fixes the
fees to be charged for services.
II. B. 221-Suspends the penalty
on delinquent taxes. Ifpaid any
time before July l, 1897, the origi-
nal tax with ten per cent. from
January l, 1897 until the date of
such payment; if not paid by July
l, all penalties provided by law
shall be enforced.
s. B. 79-Is what is known as
the ''bug BILL" It creates the
state board ofhorticulture, and APP
propriates s1O,5OO. Our repre-
sentatives believed that it was the
duty Of the owners of orchards to
protect their property against pests
and all three voted against the bill.
II. B. 66-Provides that over
seers of the several road districts
shall be elected by the qualified
electors on the first Monday in De-
cember in each year. The cleo
tions shall be conducted as school
elections are. t.. -. Z - as -.
II. B:s234-Provides for state
board of d rb; t,.o flor, {~,. %l.n co%%lo