The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-02
WORK OF IDAHO
LEGISLATURE
Extensive Reform School Planned
For Erring Youth.
ACTION ON EIGHT.H0UR LAW
HOW THE REPUBLICANS PUT
THEMSELVES IN A HOLE.
ACTION ON EleHT.HoUR LAW
Especial to The HeraId.1


Boise, Ida, Feb 1.-The important
work in the house the past week was
the passage of a bill to establish
state industrial school, to be located in
Fremont county, for criminal and in
corrigible minors of both sexes. The
bill. which is drawn regardless of ex-
pense, provides for a bond issue of
$4,000, to run for fifty years, drawing
4 per cent interest; for an immediate
appropriation of $4,000 for two. years
expenses and the donation of $4,000
acres of state lands, the sale of the
same to form a perpetual interest
bearing fund for maintenance. At the
rate state land is now selling this
would realize 100000. 1t is not thought
the bill will pass the senate, although
there was but one vote against it in
the house. It is altogether on too
grand a scale and seeks to combine
reform school for youthful criminals
and a sort of orphan asylum in one
A much more modest sum would FUR
nish all that Idaho can possibly need
in the reform school line for many
years to come.
Initiative and Referendum.
Representative Galloway on Thurs
day last introduced a resolution to sub
nit an initiative and referendum
amendment to the state constitution.
The measure is identical with the Ore
gon law which was adopted at the last
election in the Webfoot state. 1t pro-
vides that on petition of s per cent of
the voters any measure must be sub
mitted to popular vote, and that for
ninety days after any bill passes the
legislature, outside of emergency meas
ures for public safety and the like, a
popular vote, can be demanded by 3
per cent of the voters. Petitions ap-
pFoximating 1000 names have been
presented asking the legislature TO sub
NIT this amendment The Democrats
are pledged to submission by their last
state platform and the Republicans,
almost to a man, are opposed to the
measure. but are somewhat afraid Of
making it a partisan issue, which Will
be the result if they vote down the
Galloway resolution. Idaho is still
Republicans are afraid of making
blunders.
Eight-hour Law.
The action OF the senate in rescind-
ing its previous action on the eight
hour bill, which applies to mines, fac
tories and smelters, was the result of
the fact that placer mining Was no4
excepted from its provisions. OF course
placer mines must be worked while the
water IS Obtainable for the purpose, re-
gardless of hours. Now that the meas
ure is again to be brought before the
senate. the cry OF its opponents is that
the bill in unconstitutional, for the al
legged reason that the constitutional
amendment giving the legislature au-
thority to enact such legislation was
not advertised the proper length of
time, as required by the laws of the
state. This is a f1imsy preteXt to beat
in o hnnn l.
can party can dodge the issue. It will
hardly avail, however, as the desire
of the people was made known by an
almost unanimous vote for the amend
ment
Timber Land Sales.
An amusing matter that has arisen
to confront the Morrison administra-
tiOn is a state timber land sale of the
Hunt administration. 1t will be re-
called that during the campaign Gov
ernor Hunt and his land board were
numerically scored for selling state
timber lands at an alleged fraction
of their value, according to all Re-
publican papers and speakers. This
was a particularly strong point in the
speeches made by Governor Morrison
The Democrats replied that the lands
were duly appraised. advertised for
sixty days and sold to the highest bid
der but the Republicans insisted that
the states greatest asset was being
wasted. Now comes George H. Kester
leading Republican banker of Lew
iston. and asks the Morrison board to
release him from the. purchase of GER
tain timber lands for which he bid
S32, 600 and deposited a So 600 check on
his bid with the Hunt land board The
Democratic board has appraised the
land at $4,000, but Kester evidently
put faith in the campaign stories of
his own party friends and thought il
safe to bid almost twice as much.
especially as the marty organs and
speakers charged Hunt with sacrific-
ing the timber at one-fifth it's value.
The Morrison people are now looking
for a looDhole by which they can re-
turn Kester his check and stin pre-
serve an outer semblance of self-re-
spect. The Democrats are highly
amused at the situation and the Nor
rison board of the legislature will be
guEed to the full extent If they re-
lease Mr.. Kester from his bad bar
gain.