Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-01-19
IDAHO LEGISLATURE CONVENES
Governor Hawiey Reads Message 70
the Assembled Statesmen, Explain
Ing Purpose of Special Session.

Boise, Idaho.-The first special ses-
sion OF the legislature ever held In
this state convened on Monday.
There have a number of occasions in
the past when governors have threat
ened to call the legislature into spe-
cial session, but heretofore the diff
culties confronting the sailing of the
ship Of state have been surmounted
without calling for aid on the legisla-
tive branch of the government.
The opening session was marked by
the reading of the message of the gov
ernor and the fight that broke out in
the senate regarding the contesting of
the seat of Minority Leader Ravenai
Macbeth, who is charged with holding
two offices. those of water commits
sioner and state senator. An investi-
cation was ordered.
The message of Governor Hawley
was read to both houses in joint SEES
sion by the chief executive himself.
the first time in the history of the
state that a governor has performed
such an act.
The message dealt with the taxa
ton situation in this state, reviewing
in detail the situation that confropts
the people with respect to the high
taxes, advocating the Endorsement of
the full cash value plan and the rec
concentration that legislation should
be passed 10 entirely revise the reve.
nue. laws. Governor Hawley declares
In his message he is not to blame for
the condition that exists in this state
with relation to taxation.
"The whole amount of taxes raised
in 1911 for state and county purposes
Is $4,557,795 as against $685.
57s.7S," declared the governor in his
message. IAN increase of course,
was to be expected. The blame cannot
be legitimately placed upon the shout
ders Of myself. or any other state of
ficer. but must rest where it belongs
on the county and city authorities.'
The message also hurls the lie al
those who have accused the governor
Of hurdening the people with unjust
taxation and whom he classes as
"small-fry politicians who resort tc
deceptive utterances, and biased par
tisans."
The request for the investigation
covering the right of members of the
senate to hold seats was made by
Senator Cheney st. GUAR of Bonnie
Vile county, who created a sensa
ton when he made the motion. Sena
tor Harms. Democrat, of Wallace. at
tempted to have passed a substitute
that all members of the senate bt
confirmed, but vote along party
lines lost the substitute, the Demo
cras standing by and the Republicans
voting against it. The seat of Senator
Shawhan of Canyon county is also in
volved, for he is now in the employ
Of the state as Carey act commits
sioner
The revenue bill providing for thu
appointment of a state tax commits
sion was introduced In the house.
/ Governor Hawley has been insist
emit in his claim that the special SEES
sion of the legislature would be non
| expensive, and has claimed that thu
total expense should not exceed $40,
900.
| The lower house of the Idaho legis
| lature at the last session had fifty
nine members, while there wer'
twenty-three members of the senate
| L. H. Sweetser will be president o
the senate during the special session
and Charles d. Storey speaker of thu
/ house.