Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-02-15
Boise correspondence.

RoIsE, Feb. Io.-The last ten days have
been days of comparative quietude, al
most tranquility, in the Legislature
although fraught with great mortality tc
net administration schemes. The dem
ocrats had evidently made hopeful cal
cuIations for generous feast. The pie
counter they had prepared to erect was
of uncommon length and the viands
were to be many. But it is beginning to
look as though a great many hungry
hopefuls will have to sit down to all un-
common bare board and they are filed
with woe. One of the anticipated deli
cacies was bureau of immigration labor
and statistics, worth to the faithful
friends of Governor Steunenberg any
where from $4,000 to $50, 900 per annum
The bill authorizing the bureau gave its
chief $500 a year, and ALI. necessary
travelling expenses. The bill also makes
generous provisions for the organs of the
party, authorizing the chief of the bu-
reau to have done all the printing he
could possibly find any excuse for. 1t
was a fine bill and would have been a
powerful factor in providing the sinews
of war for democratic engines during
the dull spell. But the bill is dead and
there is sorrow in the land
House Bill No. 2o2 was designed for
the purpose of more. generally and equal
ly distributing the fruits of victory. 1t
provides for three mining inspectors. each
to receive SI2oo year and $3.50 more
to pay for board, clothing and washing
little matter of $1,000 cash for three of
the faithful. This humane and mapnan-
imous measure is i'll most prearious con-
dition, and likely to expire at any hour.
There is also another Christian measure
pending which is in critical if not help
less condition. 1t provides for the es-
Enlistment of game warden, whose
business it shall be to protect the little
fishes and the birds from the ruthless
hand of the destroyer. This gent1emanly
keeper Of the game is to receive a mere
pittance of $I2oo year for his valuable
services, besides Office expenses and fire.
wood for the family. Of course the fam
will need firewood while the warden is
out shooting the cruel poacher off the
state sage hen patch. 1t is really too
bad that the republicans in the senate
should be disposed to put their foot
upon the neck of this generous bill, and
smother the life out of several gross of
embryo wardens. And still there is
another benevolent measure for the relief
of unrequited merit. This one would
establish the office of state mine inspec-
tor of steam "bilers,' to be presided over
by mechanical doctor, whose official
duty and professional pleasure it would
be to examine and diagnose all the
steam OILERS he could lay his hands
on at $4,000 year without incidentals.
The bill is liberal to the profession in not
saying to what school Of medicine the
states "biler" doctor shall belong, and
there is nothing observable to prevent
Christian scientist or veterinary surgeon
from practicing on steam boilers in Ida
no. This bill is moribund and will die
the moment the majority in the senate
get whack at it. But there is vet an
other humanitarian measure which pro-
vides for state examiner of everything
not coming under the jurisdiction of the
boiler doctor, or the game warden, or the
mine inspectors, or the commissioner of
immigration. This examiner paramount
was to get, or yet may get, $1,000 year
for his labors, and considering the mag
nitude and longitude of the duties inn
posed on him it is quite little enough.
Among other things too numerous to
mention the state examiner created by
this bill is charged with making thor
ough examination of the books and rec
ords of every state and county officer,
every corporation public or private, ev-
cry bank and everybody else, at least
once year, and as often additionally as
he may De requested by an obliging public.
NO man on earth could perform the du-
ties imposed by this bill, consequently it
would turn out farce as intended, ex-
cept as to affording some good politician
fat job.
II Is the most fortunate thing in the
world that the Democrats did not secure
control of both branches of the present
legislature, as it is now perfectly clear
what they would have done in the way
OF creating new offices with good salaries
Tor considerable army of Democratic
politicians. The Republicans and Pop
ulists in the senate are able to kill those
measures for the promotion of Democracy
as fast as they come up, and in direction
at least, some valuable results can be
credited to the Republican, opulist
fusion. No one can predict where office
creating legislation would have ended
mad the Democrats been entirely success
iui. The measures now being introduced
are OF course, the most conservative of
those they had i'll contemplation. 1t is
however, cause for regret that all the
Republicans i'll the senate are not as clear
ana correct in respect of some other
administration measures, farther reach
Ing and more destructive of public we'll
fare than the creation of expensive and
superfluous Offices.