The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-03-14
THE OBSERVATORY

l looked in on the legislature last
week and was curious observer.
AS the session was drawing to a close
4 heard more than one declaration
that this had been one of the most
turbulent sessions of Idaho leois-
lature; the time-limit of 60 days NAV
be good provision to prevent long
draw-out sessions, as one of the east
ern states last year lasted from Ian
uary to August; but the time limit
causes congestion toward the close,
when many worthy bills get lost and
some, it not many, poor and vicious
ones get enactment; in the senate,
when the body was overrunning its
time limit two days already, several
important revenue bills were called
up, sent into COMMITTEES of the
Whole. and received scant attention:
1t simply could not be given; the sub.
committee to whom it had been given
Ito review the bills acknowledged that
they had been able to give. only a
cursoEy inspection;. that they were
sure there were unsatisfactory feat
nres, but there was not time to make
thorough study, and recommended
rnat rather than let the bills fail or
take time at this late hour, the bills
De sent through; and so they recon-
mended some ten or more bills. which
when reported to the senate. were
passed in lump in about s minutes
under suspension of all rules. There
may not be any "jokers" in those biils
out II IS more probable that there are
some; but let US hope they are OF
MINOR Importance. One Of the ablest
senator's remarked to me: "This is no
way to do legislative business; it's
unDusinesslike and its dangerous; but
WHAT'S one to do? One must watch
an ne can, be out-spoken in regarding
tnat which he disapproves, and make
me pest OF it." But that is a bad
situation, and may yet breed serious
trouble. What they called the "sift-
ing-committee" this year. did its worL
as well as possible, and am incline
10 think, honestly, if there was anv
iavoritism It was not conspicuous: 4
was The best possible resort in the
circumstances. " '"s
i wonder if the diseraceful riot IN
the house would have occurred X
enere had been no time-limit? Two
years ago there was a clash between
the brilliant Morgan of Moscow I'M
the speaker and clerk of the house
put after q moment, a calm exoIna'
ton being made, each .apoioeized
and the incident was closed" RI,
this year the height of disgrace wa,
reached when one senator addressed
another with profane language in the
open senate. Let us hope the cause
was because of tired, over-worked
members, worn to the "ragged-edgs"
1t was the "ragged-edge" surelyl
Ihere IS not room enough in the
present chambers. and what will re-,
suit when several more are added n
the membership? A bigger crowd
ion. ~ .o"ius-
Two bills that effect Caldwell and
canyon county were enacted at the
'ast moment; one was to simplify re.
gistration in irrigation districts. also
reducing the expense to almost noth.
ing' serious matter to the Black
canyon, and acceptable to all irriga.
ton districts. The other bill was TIA,
allowing graduates of the College OF
Idaho, and all similar institutions
having taken the prescribed studies
and successfully passing them, to be
allowed to teach in the schools OF the
state: ! was glad to learn that Miss
shepherd favored that action, but Il
twas what ] should expect from her