Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-03-15

present controversy. The friends
OF the Railroad Commission bin
summoned me to Boise during the
last legislature to assist in pre-
4 senting the merits Of that measure.
The people were demanding re-
lief from excessive freight rates.
The representatives and senator
j from this county were doing all
that they could, and were the lead
ers in the fight. But ! learned that
tcertain members with county di-
vision programs on their hands
were being intimidated They did
not dare to call their souls their
own. They did not dare stand for
anything 1t was easy to see the
hand Of the Oregon Short Line
manipulating them like pawns in
game of chess. The governor was
unfriendly 10 Railroad C1mmis-
sion and could easily veto any
county division DILL. II was the
old story of log rolling which Is
ever in the interest Of bad legis-
Iation.
/ came home and drafted resO-
luton for a constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the creation of
counties by special acts, but per-
hitting it only at local elections to
be held under general laws passed
by the legislature The title of the
resolution was:
~ resolution to amend Article
IS OF the Constitution by adding
thereto Section II prohibiting the
creation of new counties by local
or special laws, and directing the
Legislature to authorize the crea-
fion of new counties by local cleo
tioGs under general laws perscrib-
ing the terms and conditions there
of"
DR.. Smith introduced it at my
request in the House of Represent
atives. The merits of the measure
instantly recognized. Every MEM
Der realized the demoralizing influ-
ences of county division fights not
only at home but in the legislative
assembly. They saw the opportun-
tiles it afforded to every enemy of
good legislation.
So great was the enthusiasm
that the rules were suspended and,
without changing a syllable. the
resolution was passed on the same
day without a dissenting vote
Unfortunately it was in the clos
ing days of the session and the |
measure died in the senate. If 1t I
could have received consideration,
there is no doubt as to the result.
ony regret that the idea did mol |
occur to me, or to someone else,
earlier in the session.
Lincoln county will be divided. /
Let it be divided by the people Of
Lincoln county and not by log
rolled legislature. Give every
taxpayer a chance to vote directly
on county lines and county seats
Require every candidate for the
legislature to pledge his support to
a general law permitting the divi-
sion of counties by vote of the
county at a special election held 4
for that purpose. Such bill
would command almost unanimous
approval. It would be far more Ger
Tain of passage than special act
The ultimate result would probably
be the same but it would be ae-
without injury to pub
lie interests. Then. when ii Is
over, it will represent the will of
he taxpayers. and the question
would be set at est. Let us dis
pose of this issue fairly and
along these lines, and then
enter into the campaign to do our
part in solving the public questions
which are of such tremendous i'm
,ortance to our state and to our
selves.
In making this suggestion | speak
or myself alone. | do not claim
o speak for anyone else. nor for
shoshone as whole. | have not !
wen consulted my closest asso-
'iates. If the proposition is sound,
{ can stand upon its own merits.
( it is unsound, let it fall by the
iame token. I believe that it will
meet the approval of a great ma i
ority of the sober, thinking vot- ,
rs of Lincoln county. II
Very sincerely yours,
VICTOR o. JOHNSON. II
,t,fndjnu of Contestants in the 500. I