Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-03-29

busted. 1t was such PROMISING; bill.
There was little bill providing for
state reporter whose duty it would be to
correctly report and prepare for publica-
ton the decisions of the supreme court.
This was about the only meritorious Office
creating bill introduced, but it had one
fatal defect. 1t provided that the SUI
preme court should appoint the reporter.
The governor had no stomach for that
sort of thing. He wanted to attend to
all the appointing business himself. Nat
urally, the supreme court would want
competent man, and probably that would
call for republican. In which event
the administration would be undone.
The state reporter bill was marked tor
the slaughter before the second section
was reached.
Senate bill No. 20 was beautiful
thing in Office making legislation. 1t
provided a bank examiner who should
roam over the state examining the nine
or ten banks within our territory at 1880
year, and 10 cents mile each way, be-
sides necessary expenses. There were
also generous provisions for printing.
Uncertainty as to who should hold the
job was the bane of this measure and ul-
tinately killed it.
Senate bill 81 was of similar cast, ex-
cept that it was more elaborate and all
pervading in its scope. 1t created state
examiner who would have consti-
tuted the most effective political agent
imaginable. His duty would be to ex-
amner into the accounts of all county
officers and report to the governor, and
he was to hold Office for four years. This
would give the functionary ample time
in which to damn every republican coun-
ty officer i'll the state. Senator Church,
of Bannock, a republican, was inveigled
into lending his name to this monstrous
bill on some sort of understanding; it
is said that he was to get support for his
normal school i'll return The combined
republican and populists S senator's finally
succeeded in killing it, much to the dis
comfture and chagrin of the administra-
ton. Ofcourse, it carried lots of printing
with it for the truly good.
A militia bill which was veritable
Jim Dandy was also concocted and sought
to be enacted 1t proposed to erect a
military establishment as elaborate as
old Darius establishment when he went
forth to meet Alexander There were
officers of every possible degree of rank
and ornamentation and behind it all a
liberal appropriation. The bill can only
be thoroughly enjoyed when examined
in all its magnificent detail for which
space is here lacking. 1t was killed and
there were sounds of lamentation in the
southwest corner of the capitol. Senator
Watts conceived an elegant measure
which provided for an imported Con
ductor" of county institutes and other
useless trappings. 1t also provided a
salary of $4,000 year which was the
main thing and the usual liberal print.
ing annex. This promising measure ex-
PRED at the hands of Populist Senator
Easton who is now under the ban of the
reform forces. Then there was an at
tempt made to give some faithful
reformer job at $500 day examining
the books of the superintendent of pub
1sN t,cfr aA~sA -
statesman introduced bill providing for
a special deputy state auditor at 1880 a
year, $75o travelling expenses, Office and
stationery and plenty of printing. The
death of these beautiful creations spread
dependency over the face of the adj
ministration, and the demise of little
pet bill creating special insane asylum
board broke the governor all up. It was
only matter of a little picnic or two
but it was nice thing to have. But the
death of those pets did not Danish joy.
Along came the code commission and it
was made much of. The original bill
provided for only three commissioners,
but that was clearly inadequate, seeing
that the legislature had been so measley
in the matter of providing jobs and the
demand for jobs was so brisk. So the
code commission was augmented to
FIVE members all exceptionally qualified
as drawers of salary and all save one
worthy laborers in the vineyard. 1t is
needless to dwell on this measure which
is now law but may turn out to be as
defective in itself as deplorable in results
if duly carried out according to program
The bill creating the commission
originated in the Senate and carries al
appropriation of $I3,5oo. There is some
question as to the validity Of the pro.
ceeding. The constitution would seen
to contemplate that all bills making ap-
preparations shall originate in the house
But in any event all the conditions sur
rounding the measure are disreputabl,
and the end of it will probably be largs
expenditure of public money to a worss
than useless purpose. The immigration
bill passed and julie Bassett is "a PEI
cent. happier than was George Dewey
when he boarded the Oregon" ana