American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-01-07
LEGISLATURE ORGANIZED.
The Body is Now Prepared to Take
Care of Legislative Matters.

| The Legislature was organized,
Monday, by the election of Honor
able Fred Gooding, as President pro
TEN. OF the senate, and Honorable
Charles Storey as Speaker of the
House. Mr.. GoOding is one of the
strong men OF the state, and his ell
ectlon gives almost universal salts
faction. Mr.. Storey is not SO we'll
known but is a worthy man in every
way for The honor which has been
conferred uDon him. He won his
victory only after a hard fight, and
by very close margin. His oppon-
ents were Capt. Davis, of Oneida,
Capt. Bell, of Latah, and H. C. Bald
ridge Of Canyon counties. All the
candidates were clean and capable
men whose records were such as to
entitle them to consideration at the
hands of the voters and the sell
ection between them was a matter
of location only. Either would
have acceptably fulfilled the duties
of Vhe office.
James H. Wallis was elected Chief
Clerk of the House, the position he
so acceptably filled two years ago,
as to induce those who were mem
berS two years ago to solicit him
to become candidate. He is con-
sidered to be the most efficient chief
Clerk the Legislature OF Idaho has
ever had. Under his administration
two years ago. affairs were so care
fully looked after that there was
no difficulty nor delay at any time.
The businSs of thee House very larg
ly depends upon the Chief Clerk, aid
when an incompetent one is chosen
matters are muddled throughout the
entire Session, and mistakes are Of
ten made which invalidate acts of
the legislature. 1t is quite a COM
pliment to Mr.. Wallis to have those
VINO are familiar with his record, to
not only solicit him to accept the
position, but to go out and rally
support sufficient to elect him with
out any effort on his part. Mr..
Dempster, of Soda Springs, was chos
en- chief clerf Of the senate, and Mr..
Lisle, editor of the Richfield Re-
corder, assistant secretary.
The message of Governor Hawley
is a lengthy document containing
recommendations upon many mattels
that greatly affect the interest of
the people. One of interest to the
people of this locality is recon-
mendation in favor of a board of
engineers, instead of a Carey Act
commission to relieve the over
burdened land board. Some relief
for the land board as at present
constituted, to keep in touch with
Carey Act affairs and administer
Them with intelligence. Whether a
board OF engineers, as recommended
by Mr.. Hawiey, will give better ser
vice than a Carey Act commission
is a matter of doubt. Aboard of
engineers VIII have limited powers
and a less broad scope OF activity
than d commission composed OF one
engineer, one attorney and one pIaO-
tical irrigator. "A board composed
entirely of engineers would possib-
I iy not relieve the attorney general
from the responsibility of passing
upon hundreds of legal details which
arise in Carey Act matters every
year, neither would such board
be in position to view affairs from
a standpoint of the practical farm
er and irrigator. Ii board of en-
gineers is the only relief in sight.
the Press will heartily favor it's
creation. 1t is inclined to believe,
however, that it will be less useful
and less salts factory to the people
on Carey tracts than Carey COM
mission, on lines recommended by
Governor Brady two years ago.