Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-21
BOQUETS FOR
LAW MAKERS.

The Senate convened promptly at 2
o'clock this afternoon one Of the con-
spicuous features in the chamber was
three beautiful boquets that adorned
the tables Of Senators Allison. Alder
and Larsen, the supporters OF Arthur
Brown. who presented the flowers.
A communication from the Governor
was read, stating that the chief execu-
tive had signed Senate bin No. /, pro-
ylding for the appropriation Of $4,000
for current and contingent expenses.
Senator Smoot then presented the fol
lowing rather sensational petition
against compulsory vaccination from
ll1j citizens OF American Fork:
I'VE, the undersigned citizens OF
American Fork city. state Of Utah
humbly petition your honorable BODY
FOR the following relief;
Whereas. the order Of the state
board OF health In excluding our chill
dren from schools unless vaccinated Is
an unwarranted presumption Of power
and a perverted Interpretation Of the
laws made and provided in such mat
ters: and Is an infringement ot our per-
sonal rights, destructive OF the princl-
pies Of local sef-goyernment In forcing
upon us the OdiOus principle OF compul-
sorry vaccination. whereby the health
and lives OF our children are endan-
gered. our schools depleted and our
educational interests demOralized by
the turning NJ our children from school
and the dismissal Of good and able
teachers, and
Whereas. no contagious or infectious
disease exists warranting the Issuance
OF such an order and fully believing
that our local board OF health has am
pie power 20 cope with any emergency
that may arise by proper quarantine
measures.
We. the taxpayers and supporters OF
the schools petition your honorable
body FOR the following redress:
We hold that the laws Of the state
neither give by special act nor Implied
meaning, power 90 the state board Of
health 20 institute system of COM
pusory vaccination. but II such power
In your judgment Is vested In them,
we respectfully ask that an act be
passed for an abridgement OF the same,
and also that an act be- passed TO take
immediate effect prohibiting the en-
forcemcnt OF compulsory vaccination,
TO the end that our schools both pub
lie and private be opened 90 all per-
sons % sound health free from con-
tagious and infectious diseases o. be
subject 10 the power of the local board
Of health under the laws In such cases
provided this law 10 take c1ect-s0 as TO
grant immediate relief and for your
20 r..flfiImUTa NH||N nTNL
Then follows the LIS names Of the
petitioners.
Senator Smooth said that the matter
was becoming quite serious and pro-
posed that the committee on public
health meet with the House COM
mittee and take the matter up at once
that II might De settled and settled
right,
A communication from Mr. w. II
OBTen OF Idaho was read. stating
that the Idaho legislature would accept
an invitation from the Utah LegIsla-
ture 10 visit the latter at Salt Lake
city. The communication was not OF
fetal, not coming from a member NJ
the legislature. The communication
was laid on the table until after the
senatorial matter is disposed o.
Senator Murdoch introduced Senate
bin No. 10. an act 10 provide for the os-
adjustment maintenance. control and
MANAGEMENT OF irrigation and drainage
districts.
II is an elaborate bill and the prcam-
BILE recites that Il Is Of vital Importance
90 the future well being Of the people
OF Utah. that the waters ~ the State b.
20 controlled, managed and used. that
they Will properly irrlgate the largest
areas and I'm order 10 accomplish this
result Il Is necessary that the manage
ment Of the waters Of large tracts ~
country be brought under one control
Ing body. and 10 this end Tor the state
TO exercise us right Of eminent domain
over such waters The bin further pro-
yides for the drainage OF swampy and
marshy lands which are held 10 be
menace 20 the public health.
The measure provides that the Gov
ernor call a special election 10 estab-
lish drainage and Irrigation districts.
II a majority OF the voters are IN favor
Of forming such districts the Governor
shall issue proclamation to that ef-
feet and the district shall become a
municipal corporation, capable Of suing
and being sued and OF holding property.