The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-03-21
me Late issues Of the Idaho legis-
aatufes and O.Onounces 1t to be
THE BEST LEGISLATURE
That Ever GraCed the State House
Not Many Bills Passed But all
First Rate Ones. -.


from Boise where he has been a
lobbyist. TO his home at Wallace,
idaho, gives the following summary
OF the doings Of the State legislature
to a representative Of the Spokes-
mani Review: 49,.
It is generally conceded by those
who have been watching the work
OF the session just closed that it
was one of the best legislatures that
the State has ever had. Few new
laws were enacted, the legislature
evincing a disposition antagonistic
to innovations.
"The question of the annexation
OF the southern portion of Shoshone
county to Nez Perez county was
submitted by the legislature to a
vote OF the electors of that section
at the next general election. The
only changes made in the revenue
laws were with regard to the taxa
ton OF mines and the migratory tax
on sheep and cattle.
"A measure of great interest to
the taxpayers of the State was the
bill regulating the taxation of the
State funds. Heretofore the treas
urer has deposited the State funds
in such banks as he saw fit. The
new law creates a State board of
taxation, consisting of the governor,
attorney general and State auditor.
They are authorized to select State
repositories from among the various
banks of the State, the bank fur
nishing national, State, county or
other good bonds to the amount of
$40 for every 500 of the State
money deposited in the bank and
to pay in addition thereto an inter-
est of not less than per cent upon
the daily balance. In this way the
State will receive an income on its
money and in addition the money
is perfectly secure, being protected,
as it is, by the best bonds on the
market.
"The legislature also amended
the election laws preventing the ap-
pearauce of name upon the ballot
more than once and providing for
an emblem for each party and reg
ulating primary elections.
"A State reform school was estab-
l;shed in Fremont county. the exact
location to be selected by a comis-
sion to be appointed by the COVER
nor. The salaries of the various
State officials were raised to an
amount sufficient to enable our Off
GERS to live in Boise without sacri-
fee.
although several special fran
chises were asked, the legislature
refused to grant any special privi-
leges. The most important one
before the session was the applica-
ton of the Clearwater Timber COM
pany for franchise upon the Clear
water river and this was defeated
after a protracted struggle. A
building and library was provided
for the supreme court at Lewiston
and new general election law was
enacted. Liberal appropriations
were made for the maintenance of
the State institutions.
"One thing that may be pleasing
to many of the old residents of the
Occur d'Alenes is the knowledge
that Francis Jenkins, formerly a
citizen of this county and now a
citizen of Latah county, was the
Republican floor leader and shaped
the legislation of the entire session.
His management of the various i'm
portant measures was excellent and
his personality had much to do with
the success of the measures which
become laws. Mr.. Jenkins is looked
upon as one of the strong men of
the State.
"The Shoshone delegation was
looked upon as one Of the strongest
at Boise. Senator O'Nei1's record
in the Senate is a credit to himself