Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-14
Former Attorney General of Idaho
Talks Of Legislation,
THREE IMPORTANT BILLS.
They Are the Eight-Hour Law, the
Taxation Of Mines aud the
sugar Bounty Bill.

Among the guests at the Kenyon is
S, II. Hays, ESQ, Of Boise, Ida, who
was attorney general of that state dur
ing the troublous times of the Occur
dAlenes, "a few years ago. Judge Hays
brings good news Of his state and says
the outlook for an era Of unparalleled
prosperity is very evident. lie says the
session Of the legislature is attracting
most attention just now, but that thus
fan not many new laws have been
passed and il is not expected many viii
be-
The measures attracting most atten-
ton gre the eight-hout law, the taxa
ton Of mines and the sugar bounty bin.
From all appearances the eight-hour
law win meet with defeat In the house
and viii not again be heard Of during
the present session. Two bills looking
TO the taxation OF the net output of
mines have been introduced one 10y
Representative Jenkins OF Latah coun-
ty In the house and the other by Sem
ator OMEN of Shoshonc county whore
the rich silver-lead mines Of the Occur
d'Alencs are situated These counties
adion each other and the TWO bills are
Identical IL IS an open secret that both
were drawn 10y the most experienced
lawyers IN the employ Ot the mine own
ers and have for their pdrpose the tax
alton OF the net output by the various
counties OF the state according TO their
tax rate. While much opposition has
been made by the agtcultunsts the blu
has passed In the house and no doubt
win be- In the senate and viii probably
be signed by the governor
II Is very easy and natural deduc-
tiun that measure inspired by the
mine owners taxing their property isn't
going to hurt them much. Heretofore In
some counties the rule has been that the
county commissioners have placed the
taxation OF patented mines on q yalua-
ton OF $500 foi an Of them, whether one
was worth a million or wasn't worth a
cent, and the owner OF ranch property
WAS assessed according 10 the extent
and value Of his possessions, Under the
pending law It win be seen that n the
mine owner doesn't see m TO work his
property he will not be obliged TO pay
any taxes on any net output because
there will be none. while the ranch
owner must pay whether he works his
land or let's 1t lie idle.
A bill has been introduced into the
house providing for a sugar bounty OF
one cent a pound for two years and
the sentiment seems to be in favor Of
the passage of the bill and its becoming
law. so says Judge Hays
Much interest Is being taken in Boise
at present on the subject of q system OF
electric railways connecting that city
with outlying points ae far as q hum
bred miles away, and IN view OF the I'M
limited water for electrical power pur-
poses and light grades and no end Of
timber and the further fact that capi-
talsts are looking into the matter
there Is a possibility that this eXpecta-
ton may soon be realized
Judge Hays says that the Pearl and
Neal mining districts IN which many
Salt I.akers are interested, are In a
noulrshing condition. and the district
nearer TO Boise as likely to open up
wells in the spring.