Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-03-04
IDAHO LEGISLATURE
PASSES MANY BILLS
PROHIBITION, EDUCATION AND
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
HAVE THEIR INNING.
Revenue Policy Agreed Upon Which
is Considered New Departure
House Passes Injunction and
Abatement Law.

ment OF the Idaho legislature during
The past week, considerable amount
of work was done along other lines.
Among other measures acted on is
the educational appropriation bill 1t
WAS passed by the senate. The finance
committee of the upper house slashed
the appropriations so as TO save more
than $4,000 under the appropriations
for similar purposes made two years
ago.
In the house a revenue policy was
agreed upon that is considered a new
departure. 1t is proposed to reduce
taxation by limiting the levying power
of county commissioners. The new
feature is sliding scale under which
the counties of small valuation may
make heavier levies than the more
wealthy ones. Elasticity is given by
permitting the counties to exceed the
maximum if their requests are ap,
proved by the state board of eQualiza-
ton.
Definite action was taken on a reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the
constitution under which the limit of
school lands that may be sold each
year is raised from 20 to 100 sections.
1t is now for the voters to decide on
the amendment. 1t is claimed that ii
it is passed it will materially increase
the states income and accelerate de-
velopment.
Legislation already passed by the
house for putting into effect the mi
tiative, referendum and recall was ap-
proved by the senate. The constitu-
ton of the state was amended in 1911
to provide for the direct legislation
but it had never been made operative
by the legislature.
Cuts in the salaries of the state land
commissioner, register of the state
land board and members of the pub
lie utilities commission were approved
by the house. A bill to reduce the
salaries of elective officials. however.
has been so amended in the senate
that it cuts the salary of only the
state treasurer
The house also passed the Iowa
injunction and abatement law" and
bills prohibiting the operation of slot
machines and regulating billiard, pool
and card rooms.
With only week of the session
left the general appropriation bill is
still to receive consideration. The ap-
preparations committee said it is
awaiting actions on proposed salary
reductions. and combinations of state
departments.
In his message the governor de-
manded wholesale reductions along
every line. The legislature has shown
that it is by no means in sympathy
with his ideas. The governor is ex-
pected to veto certain items. which
will be included in the bill and the
Plan OF the house is to hold It back
long enough so he will be prevented
from using the veto because the leg
islature proposes to adjourn - fore it
can act second time on such items
If they are disapproved
The deficiency bill had been intro
duced. but not acted on by the house
at the close of last week. A number
of additional claims are to be in
cluded in it when it is considered by
the house committee of the whole.
Some time this week will be con-
sidered the workmens compensation
act. Outside of the appropriation
bills it is now perhaps most impor-
tant piece of legislation awaiting ac-
ton.
u.
to push it through the house without
amendment.
But few days now remain and all
is set for the grand finale such as
has marked every previous session.
Since the house has kept its calendar
clean the rush probably will not be
accompanied by as much confusion as
usual. but many bills may be lost in
the last shuttle.
Laws now approved by the ligisla-
ture regulating the LIQUOR traffic are
three in number. The first one passed
provided for the submission to the
voters of a constitutional amendment
to the state constitution prohibiting
the sale or manufacture of liquor
within the state. The second was a
stringent local option measure, in
tended to make more rigid the laws
governing the sale of liquor under the
local option law The third law bro
hibits the manufacture of liquor in the
state as well as the sale or gift. 1t
goes into effect January /, 1916.
A message has been received by the
house from the governor, transmitting
a joint memorial wired to Idaho by
the Oregon legislature. Its purpose is
to influence legislation pending in
congress regulating the development
OF power sites. Idaho is asked to
pass a similar memorial
The house passed twenty-one meas
ures on February "a. and killed seven.
while the senate passed four bills and
killed three.
Representative Elrod exhibited a
phial of cocaine and an opium pipe
IN the house when he began argu-
ments in favor of the bill providing
stringent regulations to prohibit traf-
fic in narcotic drugs. The bill passed
unanimously. Perhaps the exhibit
had something to do with the voting.
Several attempts to amend the
house direct legislation bill, failed in
the senate and the measure was
passed by a vote of 10 to ~. Ever,
Democrat except Frazier of Kootenai
opposed it. The two Progressives