Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-01-21
DIRECT PRIMARY
AND LOCAL OPTION
Two Important Measures to be Con-
sidered at Present Session of
Idaho Legislature.

The members Of the Idaho legisla-
ture are getting down to business,
and IL is believed that from this time
on. rigid attention will be paid to the
work of Importance to be brought be-
fore the body. The lengthy recess of
last week, some of the lawmakers de
clare, must be overcome by extra eff
fort on the part of the members, and
from now on the word will be work,
and then more work"
Direct primary and local option
measures are to be considered. and
while there seems TO be no doubt as
to the passage of the former measure
those opposed to local option still en-
terrain hopes of defeating the anti
liquor measure in the house at least
A canvass of the representatives dis
closes sentiment which indicates that
there Is small chance of the killing of
a local option bill in the house. The
liquor element Is strongly organized
and is maintaining a very active lobby
in The capital. The local option forces
do not appear to be organized in any
way to combat the efforts OF the op-
position.
Both branches of the legislature on
the 18th adjourned until Monday,
January 18th, to allow the members
10 attend the National Wool Growers
convention in Pocatello. Monday. It
is understood, direct primary and To-
cal option bills will be introduced in
the house The latter will precipi-
tate one of the most stubborn CON
tests of the session. The liquor men
admit that they are defeated in the
house, but declare they will win in
the senate.
Both houses of the legislature ad
journed early or Monday, January 49,
out of respect to the memory of Ma
than II. Clark, a member of the ninth
session from Custer county, whose
death occurred in Boise on Saturday
In the house the first primary bill
made its appearance, being fathered
by Woodward. Parsons and Atkinson
1t is patterned after both the Wiscon-
sin and Washington laws and contains
first and second choice provisions and
a statement similar to that in Oregon
covering the election of United States
senators. Fifteen per cent of the sal
airy of the office is the maximum that
may be legally expended for cam
paign purposes by any candidate. In
the senate Davis OF Gilmore presented
an employers liability bill applicable
to railroads.
The features of the Davis measure
are to be included in an employers
liability bill which is now being pre-
pared by Kerns as representing the
Democratic views of such law. The
Kerns bin contemplates general
law, with especial attention paid to
protection for miners. The bill will
be remodeled probably from, the Eng
lish law
Senator Spaulding introduced a res
olution in lieu of one covering sim
liar subject. Under this resolution
the state land board is given power
to settle the controversy over lands in
Shoshone county held adversely to
homesteaders by the state. The for
mer resolution provided for commits
sion OF three to be named by the
board. One of the most spirited con
tests Of the session will resolve
around the Spaulding resolution.
After long debate the Idaho house
of representatives on Tuesday, Janu-
airy 10, adopted a memorial TO con-
gress protesting against the proposed
reduction In the tariff on wool lead,
ore, hides and timber. Five Repub-
licans joined with the Democrats In
voting against the memorial.
Growing out of the fight of citizens
OF Twin Falls against the Bell Tele-
phone company, which has resulted in
many telephones being taken out of
, homes and business houses because OF
/ an increase in the rate, Sweeley of
Twin Falls has introduced a bill in
the senate the object of which Is to
! give any city or village the power to
regulate the rates of individuals, as
sociations or corporations serving the
public. The Sweeley measure Is pre-
sented Independent of a public utili-
ties bill recommended by Governor
Brady.