The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-27
STATES
STIRS UP SENSATION
Serious Charges Are Made in
the Idaho Senate.
ACCUSED OF HOLD-UP
TROUBLE GREW OUT OF ALBION
NORMAL SCHOOL BILL.
Especial to The Herald.)


Boise Ida, Feb. Ex-senator Smith
of Cassia county today made sensa-
tional statement from the floor of the
senate during the consideration of the
Albion normal school bonding bill, which
had. been recommitted for the purpose
of allowing him to make an amend
ment. He charged that an effort was
being made to hold up the people of his
county, and branded ]. Z. Miller,
former member Of the Legislature, with
being principal to it. The senator also
intimated that the scheme was being
aided and abetted by other senators
| in Boise.
The bill, which originated in the
| house, provides for a bond issue OF
| SI3, 900. The senate had amended it by
making the act operative only after
a deed in fee simple to the ground on
which the normal school stands should
be given the state. This was done at
the instance of Lieutenant Governor
Terrell who stated the existing deed,
| executed by J. z. Miller, contained
reversiOnary clause, thereby presenting
| a serious flaw in the states title. The
| senate took his word for it and made
the amendment.
When news of the action reached
Albion, J. NJ. Price started at once for
Boise with certified copy of the deed
in his pocket He submitted it to At
torney General Martin, who pronounced
| it an absolute deed 1t was then de-
| sired to recommit the bill in order to
have the conditional amendment Strick-
en- out.
When the bin came up in committee
of the whole, Lieutenant Governor Ter
reII changed his tactics somewhat,
modifying his former statement that
the title was not sufficient, but insist
1, -i~.11
would require the execution of another
deed, should be adopted, saying if the
title were perfect the adoption of his
amendment would harm no one He oc-
cupied the floor some time urging this
amendment. 1T looked for time as
though it would be adopted, but when
it came to a show down the senator
from Cassia told the real reason why
the Terrell amendment was not desired,
disclosing to view the skeleton in the
closet of the normal school.
Wanted Large Sums.
It was, in effect, that J. E. Miller,
who formerly owned the land on which
the normal school house stands, would
not execute a new deed without the
/ people paid him a large sum of money.
Senator Smith also said Miller mad
stated that the people of POcatello,
where Lieutenant Governor Terrell re-
sided had offered him $4,000 to make
a new deed so POcatellO could secure
the normal school, but that he had
asked more and PocatellOites would not
put it UP. The desire on the part OF
the PocateIlO people back of the scheme
as explained in the senate, was to re-
move what they considered rever-
siOnary clause in the deed, which stood
as a bar to removal of the normal
school to any other point.
After a lot of discussion, during which
considerable feeling was aroused, the
bill was amended as the Cassia repre-
sentative wanted it and sent it on its
way to final passage. But for the atti-
tude of Miller the friends of the bill
would, they say, never have interposed
in objection to Teller'S proposition.
The senate passed the bill apprOpriat-
ing So 600 for a bridge across Salmon
river on the Houston ChalliS road, and
in committee of the whole, took favor
able action on the senate bills to pre-
vent the spread of disease among
stock: making blowing up of buildings
where life is not endangered felony
instead of misdemeanOr. and allowing
divorces in cases where the defendant
is confined in an asylum outside the
state.
A bill was issued for a bond issue of
S104 900, to cover all deficiencies al
lowed by the state board of examiners
from 1895 to 1900. both inclusive. These
include over $50, 900 of claims, growing
out of the Occur d'Alene trouble.
To Tax the Mines.
In the house favorable action was
taken on the house bill to tax the out
put of mines, the provision for sur
face tax on nOn-prOducing claims being
eliminated. The bill gives the assessor
power to examine books of mining
companies.
The bill giving larger amounts to in
formers in gambling prosecutions
was killed.
The bill prescribing strict quarantine
on deceased sheep from other states
was passed. It now goes TO the gov
ernOr. The senate memorial against
the Grout anti-OleOmargarin bill was
adopted.
Standing committees reported ad-
versely on the bin against bedding
sheep within two miles of a residence,
which was adopted On the bill appro-
priating Sc 600 for a bridge across the
Snake river in Fremont county, near
Big Buttes adopted, and adversely on
the POcatellO-C Chesterfield road bill, this
report being rejected.
A general caucus Of the fusiOnists of
the Legislature was held this evening
Immediately after adjournment, at
which time Cae legislative reapportlon-
ment bin was again considered. 1t IS
learned that the Democrats and silver
Republicans stood pat for the pending
measure, giving forty-six members in
the house To this the Populists OBJ
jected The other wings of the fusion
paid no attention to them, however,
voting down motions to increase Latah
one and Shoshone one.
motion by Triesch to give Nez
Perce another representative was also
voted down. It is now up to the Popu-
lists. The Democrats. by their action,
have simply said: The apportionTaent