The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-23
THE ANTI-GAMBLING FIGHT
TEST OF PRAYERS US. PLUNKg
BEING MADE.
Money Being Collected to Defeat the
Proposed Legislation, While It's
Supporters Are Using Prayers and
Serving Petitions = Establishing
Mormon Church az Boise.
Ospecial Correspondence.l

task OF re-enacting the laws passed
during the statehood era. There were
something like lie of these all told,
representing the enactments of eight
years. The history of his country fur
nishes no precedent for the proceedings
Of the past two weeks IN the big build
ing where. material is furnished to be
tested in the FLAMES Of Idaho's supreme
court furnace. It has been a tedious
undertaking and has nearly exhausted
the patience CT the members. In order
to be quite sure not TO again run afoul
of the supreme court, il was decided
that the two-thirds vote necessary in
order 10 dispense with the first and
second readings of bills contemplated
two-thirds Of the entire membership,
and not two-thirds of the quorum. As
there were several members on the sick
list, it required. under this ruling, the
continuous presence of all the able
bodied solons during the process, re-
vivifying in so far as u old laws were
concerned, but deadly in its effect upon
the members.
A number of old laws were not in
cfuded in the list ~re-enacted. All laws
that had been directly declared uncon-
StitutiOnal by the supreme court We're
left cut. Among these were the county
officers fee law, the medical law and the
sheep inspection law. All obsolete acts
We're also omitted. such as approp-ia-
ton, laws, etc. All county division
laws were eliminated, because of pcssi-
bic complications that might follow
their re-enactnenT. For instance, most
of them provided that a certain number
OF days after their passage and ap-
prevail the governor shall appoint the
county officers.
There was one law omitted thai had
never been passed on by the supreme
court as to its constitutionality, but
stood in the same light as those laws
which were ~re-enacte That was the
anti-gambling law passed during the
session two ago. The commits
sion appointed by Governor Steunen-
berg to outline a -re-enactment plan for
the legislature included the anfi-gam-
bling act with the rest, but the joint
legislative committee appointed to de-
wise a plan Of action omitted II from
the list of laws TO be rejuvenated. II
committees report was adopted, many
voting for it who opposed elimination
Of the a~nti-gambling act. They swal-
lowed this bitter los rather than pre-
cipitate a. fight hat might jeopardize
the entire plan
They have now come forward. how
ever, with a new anti-gambling bill,
which is an a copy of the old law.
Its friends are very ~sanguine Of its
passage. A very bitter fight viii be
made against it, however. The sport
ing men and saloonkeeperS are already
lined Up. They have q central organi-
cation here, and contributions are being
received from all over the state. to con-
stitute a fund with which to fight the |
act The church people and others in !
terested in having + bill become a
law are also organizing. but instead of
sending in money they are forwarding ]
petitions n holding prayer meetings.
It remains to be seen which has the
most influence, prayer or "plunks."
In this as in other legislation, Mormon /
influence viii be largely felt. IN fact. /
the friends Of the anti-gambling bill
depend largely upon Mormon support.
Fully one-fourth Of the members are
connected with the Mormon church,
and they are led by Senator William
Bulge. the bishop who stands at the
head Of Mormonism in this state. In
this connection it may be interesting
TO know that an effort is being made
70 establish a Mormon church in his
city. Two Mormon missionaries, J.. H.
Stoney of Beaver, Utah. and Charles
Cole Of Paris, Ida, are making a rouse
toulouse Of the city, and hold
ing indoor ana oDen-air meetings. 1t IS
understood they have made a number
Of converts here.
The people have become accustomed
by this time 10 the mixture Of political
oil and waUeT-Jhe union Of the gold
Republicans and the Pooulists in the
senate. The combination bids fair 10
stand during the entire session. The
principal object of this aggregation.
outside Of the initial desire TO control
che petty patronage of h upper house,
is to secure the passage Of pet EeDub-
lean and Populist measures by forcing
the hand OF the majority on admins
lratiOn II these cannot pass.
say the Republican Pooulist %hold-uDs
in the senate, then the appropriation
bills n other measures supported by
the silver administration and lacked
by TIE silver majority in the house
pass. In view Of the present
status OF affairs, il would not he az all
surprising to see the Republicans sup
porting the PODulist initiative and re-
rendum scheme. The PooUlis-s de-
manded Of the Democrats and silver |
support Of this hobby as
the price Of POpulist cooperation in
organization Of the Legislature. The
offer was rejected, WhereuDon the Pop I
ulists fCDDed into the open RepuDli- {
arms. The question now is, Gid {
the Republicans enter into a secret {
agreement With the Pops 10 suDp0r I
initiative Z referendum plan? :
Such a spectacle would surely give l
Mark Hanna much pain. {
Among the bills introduced up to date
are the following:
BY Johnesse-To provide for the COM q
oletiOn Of the Salmon river division Of l
he state system Of wagon roads. The c
bill proposes an appropriation Of $4,000. |
;aio sum to De used in building = read y
rom a point near the mouth Of the q
main Salmon to Little Salmon L
Meadows, q distance Of Twenty-Five h
niles. There now remains in the state +
road fund, unappropriated, over :
Gee. l
BY Nicholson-To repeal an act es- q
ablishing a reform school at Noun y
airhome. |
By Thatcher-To provide free and Il
text books for the public O
schools Of Idaho. c
By Stark-To secure the liens for me- f
laborers, material, men and I
,ther -ersons. \
By Starll-To provide for the pay p
.ent o6 taxes in COUNTY warrants. E
By consolidating to election Of 8
United States senator. f
Ey SteDhens-To submit to electors Il
n amendment relating to the term Of q
flee of county commissioners. e
BY Misunderstanding the amount
f pol tax to be collected, and repeal
ny the poll tax act.
By Notwithstanding Shoshone V
and annexing the segregated II
ortion Of Nez Perez county. IF passed, II
his bill viii q to Nez Perez nearly d
90 square miles. {,
By SHith-An act to amend section n
e62 Of the revised statutes, amend
lg the estray law. compelling the b
aker-up Of estrays to publish at least 81
BUR times in a weekly newspaper. q Oh
- - H. -,sl $780, - l.