The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-01-20
HART RESOLUTION THRESHED OUT IN COM
MITTEE OF WHOLE
DAY URGES STIFFER LAW
Bootleggers Taken Care Of-House Considers Anti
Alien BiII-EIection of Road Overseers
Recommended
By D. w. GREENBURG
(Staff Writer for The Star-MirrOr)

! BOISE, Jan. 20-The situation il
the capital city is tense and despite
the fact that the lawmakers here are
working out their plans for construc-
tive legislation, a grist of measures
having made their appearance in both
houses, no one is prepared to venture an
ing the legislative session are the de-
IliberatiOns of the grand jury which
seems to be faithfully working out a
problem of elimination. The indict-
ment of such well-known Idaho fig
ures as Attorney General Joseph H.
Peterson, State Auditor Fred l.. Hus-
ton, former Pure Food Commissioner
James H. Wallis, O. V. Allen, Fred
| Coleman, and lesser celebrities, has
had a salutary effect on the minds
of the public and since the word has
gone forth that the grand jury may
remain in session for the next six
months, there is a constant air of eX-
pectancy. On every side can be
heard expressions of faith in the ac
cused with belief that they will be
able to clear themselves of criminal
intent Those indicted have been re-
ticent but have given out the word
that they will be able to cast aside the
charges THAT have been preferred
against them.
[. That others may be caught in the
dragnet of the grand jury is an Opin-
ion freely expressed, yet no one has
had the temerity to suggest just
where its investigations will carry
them in so far as other state offic-
ials are concerned.
The recent report of Special Ex-
aminer W. H. Gleason covering the
capitol building and endowment funds,
while not particularly startling, in
dicates that no department of state
government will be neglected in the
probe and since he mentioned that 157
other funds and departments are un-
der Investigation, the former en-
ployees drawing state pay are wonder
ing now what is coming next.
In the meantime the legislature is
the scene of daily activity and already
a grist of measures have found their
way into the hopper and while the only
bills of note that have run the gaunt-
let are the several county division
bills, the members are scrambling to
get their measures started in an effort |
to get them out of the way early in |
the session.
The liquor question promises to be
one of the most keenly contested of i
any that is to arise during the ses-
sion, not because there is question |
over putting some kind of a bill
through, but because of the uncer-
tainty over just the kind of bill that
will be most acceptable. The house is
dry" so far as has
been disclosed at this time, but the !
senate is regarded as doubtful. The
question of party program also en-
ters the arena in this fight, but both
he majority and minority have re-
trained from attempting to bind their
members to a fixed policy.
1t is conceded that constitutional
amendment is sure of sailing through.
it will be the Hart bill in
reduced in the senate providing for
is operation in May, 1917, or the An
lerson bill (democratic) in the house
providing for it's operation according
O the constitutional provision
led by vote of the people, which means
that the Fourteenth session must
provide. the proper legislation putting
he measure in force promptly, is still
n the air L
IS more drastic in it's terms than the
Iart measure The former prohibits, D
n addition to its sale, manufacture.
nd transportation, that it shall not be
landed as a gift, while the Hart bill
it's sale only.
The state affairs committee of the {
enate has introduced measure
trengthening the local option law