Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1911-01-28
D0INCS AT THE
LEGISLATURE
A Resume Of the Doings Of the
Law Makers at the State
Capitol

A bill of more than ordinary
interest to the public was intro
duced in the legislature this week
by three members of the House
Representatives Charles L. War
nick, Albert H. Featherstone
and Edward j. Hammer.
The bill relates to the whole
educational system Of the state,
and the object is, if an amend
ment to the state constitution cal
be made to put the control OF all
schools under one board OF re-
gents. This includes all schools
in cities as we'll as the rural
schools and high schools.
One regent will be appointed
from each judicial district in the
state and the appointment will be
in the hands of the Governor and
the District Judge. The regents
will be allowed to employ one
man in the state who will make
the system Of teaching and ad-
ministration uniform in the whole
state.
Two bill of much interest were
introduced in the Senate by SEN
ator w. H. Hornibrook. The bills
aim to tax corporations such as
express companies, telephone and
telegraph companies and make
them pay license to the state. Ex-
press companies to pay 3 per
cent of their gross earnings, tel
ephone and telegraph companies
2 per cent of their gross earnings
The officers Of each company
must make a sworn statement
each year as to its gross earnings
and in case of negligence will be
subject to fine of $500 to $1,000,
or one year to six months in jail
The other bill introduced by
Senator Hornibrook is to tax
sleeping car and refrigerator car
and oil companies, these to pay
a license tax of 3 per cent OF the
gross earnings. The bill, as the
other, provides for statements
from the officers of the compan-
les and subjects them to the same
punishment in case Of failure to
comply with the law, as provided
for in the bill relating to tele-
graph, telephone and express com
panies.
The state of Oregon has laws
of the same nature and Mr.. Hor-
nibrook claims that the compan-
les who do business in the state
should pay a just proportion OF
taxes. The argument in favor OF
these bills made by Mr.. Horni-
brook is reasonable, but the trou-
BILE comes from the fact that
strong companies like those des-
cribed in the bills, have it in
their power to force the public
to bear the expense. However,
measures of that character tend
to open the eyes Of the people
and must in time be a law In all
states, provided the public holds
fast to the present system OF
taxation.
The bills asking for appropria-
tions to build bridges are as US
ual manifold. Nearly every 9th
er senator and representative
wants q bridge built for his home
locality. If bills Of that nature
keep ON being introduced at the
present rate, the only salvation
for the taxpayer, if the bills pass
both houses, will be i'm the Gov
ernor's veto. A bill for an ap-
preparation of $4,000 to build
bridge across the Snake river at
Burley, passed the senate this
week, and number of bills OF
the same nature will be present
ed for the solons to pass upon
very soon.
The Sunday Rest law has been
debated in the house, but there
is no sign of agreement as yet.
Two committees to visit the
state institutions were appointed
this week. One senator and two
representatives to visit the Uni
versity at Moscow, the State
at Lewiston and the in
sane asylum at Orofino, and an
other committee to visit the State
Normal at Albion, the Academy
at Pocatello and the insane asy- !
a.m at Blackfoot.