The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-29
HOUSE PASSES
ITS FIRST BILL
Members Approach FatefuI
Moment With Nervous
Excitement.
AMENDMENT IS REFUSED
INQUIRY INTO COAL SHORTAGE
is AUTHORIZED.

The Utah house on the fifteenth day OF |
its session. passed its first bill yesterday
The lucky measure was house bill No l. |
introduced by Nephi United States Cen
tennial Jensen. making taxes on real
property a lien on the property on the
second Monday in January of each year.
The bill came in with the Endorsement
OF the judiciary committee. and passing |
through the red tape Of the rules. was
finally brought mp to the point OF pass
age.
When it was realized'that the house was
about to commit itself. perhaps irrevoca-
bly,. to the passage Of its first bill, sol
emn stiffness hushed the assemblage.
Speaker Joseph was nervous The various
clehrks were keyed up TO a pitch of ner-
vous expectancy that was absolutely
painful The members watched the clock
and tapped nervously on their desks.
The Hateful moment was about to ar
rive.
Thompson's Discrepancy.
Mr.. Jensen, the author. had explained
his bill which according 10 him. Is de-
signed to harmonic certain conflicting
sections of the statutes and bring the
time when liens for taxes shall apply TO
the same date, when Mr.. Thompson, the
chief director Of the house, discovered
something.
In the section which Mr. Jenson sought
TO amend, the title Real Property" de-
noting. merely for convenience of those
who study the general statutes, the sub
Jeet OF the section was included in the
bill. Previous legislatures had not so in
eluded the titles, leaving that function
to the secretary of state when he COM
piles the session laws.
Mr.. Thompson moved that the offending
words be stricken out. TO avoid the ne
cesslty of having the first bill of the ses-
gin hoe 20 4I.
amendment
The explanation of Mr. Thompson did
not satisfy the house. The members were
afraid there was some concealed trick
that would defeat their aspiration to pass
at least one bin before final adjournment.
The Thompson amendment was voted
down and house bill No. 1 was passed
without dissenting vote.
One Bill Enough.
Having exhausted itself with this effort.
| the house then consented, without objec-
ton. to an amendment OF the rules Of
| fered by Thompson, providing that one
day should intervene between the commit
| tee report on bill and it's third read
! ing ana final passage. In consequence
! Of this action. the opportunity TO pass
another bill was lost and house bill No.
! 10. by Kuchler. providing for judgment
| and penalty I'm contempt cases. went over
until today.
| Former Speaker Thomas Hull occupied
I a chair at the left of the speaker dur
I ing a portion of the session. looking with
approving eye over the work OF the body.
A message was received from the gov
\ ernor. asking that the legislature take
some action in the matter of the law re-
garding the trial of cases in district court
tby a Judge from another district The
governor said the practice had been when
/ a Judge was selected to try a case in
another district. to take with him his
own stenographer. He urged that the law
be made so that the local stenographer
att N avoid
the payment OF mileage for travelling stem
! ographers. The message was referred 10
/ the judiciary committee.
! Mr. kuchler had house bill No. 10, the
I Anti Skeen'' bill. referred again to the
| committee on judiciary. 10 take it up in
! connection with similar bill passed in
emasculated form by the senate. This
amounts to a shelving of the Anti
I Sleen'' move
Coal Shortage Inquiry.
Mr.. Robinson offered resolution pro-
viding for the appointment of a commit
tee of three to investigate the shortage of
| cars i'm relation to the transportation of
| coal. to report what measures might be
necessary to bring about better condi-
] ton OF things In the existing coal fam
The resolution provoked considerable de-
/ bate Mr.. Thompson objecting on the
ground that nothing could be accom-
plished by the resolution. Mr.. Toiton sug
/ gested that the matter be referred to the
Merchants and Manufacturers associa-
! ton which seemed 10 have the question
| we'll in hand. but an amendment TO this
! effect was ruled out of order by the
| speaker
| An amendment to refer the resolution
| to the committee on railroads and COM
mon carriers was voted down and the
resolution was adopted. several members
! voting in the opposition. The chair ap-
pointed Robinson, Hone and Tolton on the
committee
Mr. Thompson REQUIRED 10 his sugges-
I ton regarding the omission of titles to
/ sections and the speaker consented that
the chairman of the judiciary committee
should confer with the chairman OF the
senate committee and arrive at an UNI
Outstanding regarding the insertion or
| omission Of the titles.
/ The speaker delivered a rap at Mr.
Marks inquiring if the latter had attend
ed a meeting OF the Judiciary committee
since his appointment. Mr.. Marks was
not present. Mr. Robinson. vice chairman
| of the committee. volunteered the infor-
! nation that Mr.. Marks had not attended
I a committee meeting. Another member
promised that Mr.. Marks would be in at
tendance tomorrow and the matter was
allowed to drop.
FIVE BILLS OFFERED.
House Brings Limit Of New Meas