Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1913-03-21

over hauled, altnOugn dOuDl very
much that they were greatly i'm
proved. The insurance laws were
also completely changed and codi-
fed. A matter of legislation in
which our own county was greatly
interested was the proposed new
fish and game law, creating a game
commission to have charge of this
department. This bill was knocked
out on the last day of the session.
So far as Bonner county is con-
cerned ] may say we received a
bout as much as any other north
ern county, which is not saying
very much. Personally, every
bill to which my name was attached
reached the governor, except the
county division bill, and this was
defeated in the senate by only two
votes. On this matter / may have
more to say in the future, but our
people should be proud of the gal
liant fight made to create Boundary
county. The passage of the bridge
bills for Newport and Clarksfork
was hal dly to be expected, in view
of the attitude of the governor to-
ward all legislation of this sort,
but the legislature is to be compli
mented because they forced these
bills up to his office. Some day
there will be a better chance for
getting them enacted into law.
OF course, the bills which were
of the most vital importance to the
northern part of this county were
the ones enacting a new drainage
code, and this was the principal
measure for which l sought election
to the legislature, and matter to
which l gave my chief attention.
The matter was carefully gone
over in Boise by the attorneys from
every part of the state interested in
legislation of this character, and
after satisfying all of these, the
bill was introduced, and we were
fortunate in having it pass both
house and senate by unanimous
vote, and as soon as it was signed
by the governor we Immediately
instituted test case in the supreme
court, and were very fortunate in
getting a decision upholding the
new law in all particulars. Had
the decision been adverse we
would have undoubtedly corrected
the law by amendments passed
during the closing hours of the
session under suspension rules.
AS it is, the drainage law is firmly
established, and l hope will be
found to enable not only the Koot-
enai valley, but sections of the
state similarly located to reclaim
their overlooked and submerged
lands.
The failure of the county divi
sion bill is a matter of regret to al
of us, but we have gained grea
amount of advertising, and are
now in a position to secure division
at the very next opportunity. II
this connection want to thanh
our people for the very earnes
support which they gave in supper
of this bill. Two better men thar
Mr.. Kent and Mr.. Mahoney could
not have been sent down, and they
worked tirelessly and persistently
during the weeks they were il
Boise. That this bill should hav,
passed was conceded by practically
. every member of the Legislature
1t was not defeated because i
lacked merit, but simply becaus
of the combination formed by TIL
lieutenant governor against it
: passage. The people who wanted
Boundary county created shoult
= not forget to whom they owe thei
, defeat. In fact should never for
2 get it. We put up the best fgh
a possible, and in this connection
, must give to ex-state auditor S. D
Taylor, who is still one of our ow,
towesmen, the fullest credit TO
q his services in working for the bill
: Without Mr.. Taylor we woul
have been utterly unable to pu
: many of the influences togethe
= that we were able to secure. Nc
a must we forget the remarkabl
support given to us by Senate
4 Defenbach. Our gratitude to hii
. is so far reaching that l want late
Il to speak of this service and MAX
"a plain to the readers of the Heral
,s the exact situation in which |
J. played such a prominent part.
II / am glad that the people
=, Bonner county gave me the oppo
v tunity to represent them this whit
2 at Boise, and | am especially gls
S of the kind expressions which
a have received both by letter al
TO otherwise since coming HON
as These kind expressions have II
re been limited to the northern pa