The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-01-14
THE LEGISLATURE

terday. 1t met, organized, notified the Governor
that 1t was ready for business and adjourned The
Republican members met in caucus Saturday even.
ing and decided upon the official personnel of both
branches, and soon after the calling to order the
states were put through. The counties that were
not represented by Republicans got nothing as us.
ual and in fact the minority had nothing to do ex.
cept to frame up slate to compliment certain in.
dividuals, and thus load them down with empty
honors. The Governors message is next in order
after which the rush Of bills and usual legislative
grind will hold the boards.
Judging from the hurrah that has been made
for some time some sensational legislation is look.
ed for. at least attempts at sensational stunts
but judging from the past history Of Republican
legislatures at least, it will be something out of
the ordinary II anything very radical is passed
In the first place there is the great cry for rail.
road legislation and the usual bill for a railroad
commission will no doubt be introduced. or course
1t is possible to adopt some middle ground where
by the railroads will feel that they are not being
imposed upon by the creation Of a board to main.
tain censorship over them, but up to the present
time the solons have maintained that it would be
better to get more railroads before expensive
board is created to take care of what we have at
the present time. commission of this kind OF
course would be nice thing for the pie hunters,
and would place at the disposition of the Governor
a number of nice appointments, but the great aues-
ton is whether or not 1t will bring value received
10 the people, and promote the development of the
state. If so the state should have it. The people
will watch developments with interest
Then there is the initiative, the referendum
the recall the direct primary law al of which the
Democratic members are committed to through ma.
tona state, and county platforms We also under.
stand that the Democratic minority are going to
get together and frame bills along these lines for
introduction, and for which they will stand as a
unit throughout the session This of course will be
attractive to the public eye and will be the cause
of more less comment and stir throughout the
state Just what figure the Cache county delega-
ton will cut is something that can only be presum.
ed, far We concerned 1t is presumed
however. that they will lead out in the lines in
which they are the most qualified and the people
of the county will no doubt hear from them from
time to time.
Senator Funk just starting his second SEES.
sion, will no doubt begin where he left off at the
close of the last session; and attempt early in the
session to revive his bills that sent to
ly grave during the last session. Among these are
the Initiative and the Referendum, and it will be
remembered that the Senator achieved more or
less notoriety on these bills at the time of their
introduction. The Logan Journal in its issue of
February %, 1911 halftone of Senator Funk
who is bringing Democratic principles to the
front" 1t then mentioned three bills which the
Senator had introduced, all advocated by the Dem
ocratic party one providing for Primary elections
for all elective public officers, including u. S Sen
ators, another on campaign contributions associated
with corporations and another providing for the
Initiative and Referendum. On the last The Jour
nal said
The initiative and referendum measure pro.
yides for the means of carrying out the provl.
sion of the constitution amended in 1900 pro
vidng for the initiative and referendum. Al
though the initiative and referendum amendment
adopted by the people the legislature has
never furnished the machinery, provided the
for making the constitutional amendment
effective. All three of the measures proposed by
Senator Funk were measures proposed by the
Democratic state platform"
II is presumed then that Cache countys Sen
ator will be the leader this time as he was last
in bringing Democratic principles to the front.
Representative Carbon is real estate man and
has had great deal do with land during the past
few years. The Democratic platform was full OF in.
vectve towards the state land board, and It may
reasonably be expected that Mr.. Carbon will be
found or the public lands committee, and that he
will be instrumental in doing many things that his
party said ought to be done. that Is II there is any
occasion for the doing OF such things.
Representative Oldham is one OF the "old
guard" in educational lines, and reasonably be
expected to be found working on the committee on
education, where he will no doubt be OF service 10
his constituents.
Representative Benson, OF the most pros
porous farmers OF the county will no doubt receive
appointments on committees where his services
will be felt for good among the farmers, and judg