American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-01-21

The second week of the present
legislature was characterized by
the accomplishment of a great deal
of preliminary work but very little
legislation. Numerous resolutions
and bills were introduced and COM
mittees gave close consideration to
matters of Importance, but in the
way of repeating or amending de-
fective laws of enacting new ones,
very little was done in the open leg
islature 'i t+
The week began with both houses
adopting rules and confirming the
appointments of the standing
mittees. Representative David Bur-
rell is member of five committees,
| namely appropriations, county lines
and boundries, public health, schools
and public lands, and Oh airman of
the educational institutions COM
mittee. ~ All of Governor Hawley's
! appOintmentees were con firmed - by
the senate except Isaac c. Hats
baugh, for insurance commissioner.
The appointment of Sam D. Rich.l as
immigration commissioner, was held
up for some time and was confirmed
only after a bitter partisan debate
brought; before the present legisla-
ture was introduced by Senator Mac
beth, of Custer. and follows the
lines of the drastic Kansas orStubbs
antitrust act In the senate. was
| also introduced a measure to head
| off the Potlatch Lumber company
from their purchase OF public lands.
The. bill apropriating $4,000 for
the Mackey dam spillway was passed
by the upper house. OF the bills in
troduced in the lower house three
are receiving especial attention, a
measure to increase the number of
supreme court judges from three to
| five, a measure to increase the num-
Der of senators to- thirty-six and
the number of representatives to
ninety, and bill appropriating ST.
100000 for the completion of the
state capitol building. 1t is expect
ed to complete at least the middle
and the right wing, and it is hoped
that the left wing can also be fin
ished. Hf
Another measure introduced in
the house was one defining the class
of ministers that may or may not
perform marriage rites. In both
houses were introduced measures
for initiative, referendum and re-
call. - Senator Freebooter. of Wash
fngton, introduced a joint resolu
ton recommending to congress the
passage of the constitutional amend
ment eproviding for the election of
United States senators by popular
vote. Another joint resolution was
introduced by Senator Poole, of Ere
mont, placing the present legisla-
tuf4 -ons record as favofine the5pas-
sage by congress sof the income tax
amendment, of which Senator Borah
is the champion! B. Senator Horni-
brook, OF Twin Falls, introduced a
joint resolution to amend the con-
stitution to permit the voters of
the state or any electoral district,
to recall any public officer, except
judicial officer in the state or such
I.electoral district. 1t would require
a petition signed by twenty-five per
cent of the electors who had voted
for secretary of state at the pre-
ceeding election, asking for the re-
call of any official to secure a
special election to either vindicate
the official or elect another in his
or her place. This measure. is
said to be favored by many mem
bers of both parties, as tending to
encourage among office holders a
faithful performance of duty. and
it is thought to be part of the
l Direct Legislation leagues general
plan to establish in Idaho the initi-
ative referendum and recall
| A great deal of time was taken III
in the senate during the second
week in heated debates colored with
charges and counter charges. as a
result of the appointment of commit
tees. appointments among republi-
cans and democrats. Although con-
trary to costom the minority faction
is given chairmanships of three com
mittees. the agriculture, mines and
mining, and roads, bridges and fer
ries, and a majority membership on
the first two of these. The source
of the trouble was that on both the
!. finance and state affairs committees
there was only one democrat. Sena-
tors Macbeth, Kerns, Fisher, Poo e
and Hornibrook attacked such a
committee apportionment. charging
the president Of the senate and the
republican members with steam
roller methods. AS the state affairs
committee is to conduct the investi-
cation of the state land board, the
democrats demanded a larger repre-
sentation on that committee. Sen
ators Gooding, Shawham and Pc
defended the committee apportion-
ment and refuted the claims of the
minority leaders
i An issue of great importance that
came up in committee is the future
policy of the state in regard to the
state institutions. In the com
mittee and lobbies there is strC
sentiment in favor of a general over
hauling of the educational system
and radical change in the course
of study of some of the institutions