The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1915-02-25
IDAHO ON WAGON IN 1916:
BILL IS FAVORED BY ALL
Especial to The Argus.)

bolSe,-Au dOuDt tnat lQanO would
be dry was removed when the house
Of representatives passed the senate
local option bill known as No. go
which automatically puts every brew.
cry in dry county in the state out OF
business and makes II impossible to
obtain intoxicating liquors in prohibi.
ton districts.
The climax Of the dry program will
come when the senate passes the state
wide prohibition bill sent over by the
house and now with the committee on
privileges and elections. The first
step in this program was the passage
of a constitutional prohibition amend.
ment against which but one vote was
cast. The statutory bill followed and
the senate bill was passed by the
house with every vote in that assem-
bly, registered for It.
Fight on Utilities Commission.
Interest in legislative matters has
shifted to the fight being made on the
public utilities commission. Two bills
have been introduced relative to the
commission, one providing for the re.
peal of the commission law in its en-.
tirety and another amending II so as
to take away much of it's power.
The greatest opposition to the law
is because of its provision requiring
all corporations seeking to do bust.
ness in any section OF the state to
secure from the public utilities com.
mission a certificate Of public conven.
ience and necessity. The effect OF
this feature OF the law is corporation
control in It's most advanced meaning.
In the past two years the commission
has not only regulated prices of pub.
lie utilities, but II has regulated com.
petition.
Big Fight to Come.
Slow progress is being made In the
workmen's compensation and employ.
ers' liaihty law. The bill drawn by
the commission appointed for the pur.
pose two years ago still rests In the
hands OF the house committee. Al
storm awaits rs report to the house.
for organized labor is up In arms
against certain provisions OF the meas.
ure. They charge that II was drawn
In the interests OF the employers, that
II Is unfair TO the workmen. In whose
interests II was supposed to be drafted
and that recommendation made by
labor organizations at the public hear.
ings held by the commission. were nj. |
most wholly ignored.
This is another measure that Gov.
ernor Alexander is believed 10 be op. |
posed to. but whether his disapproval
would extend as far as a veto. is a
question that friends OF the measure
are asking themselves.
County Division Again.
One more county division bill has
appeared in the legislature. Emmett
aspires TO be the county seat OF Gem
county. which II is proposed TO create
out OF Canyon and Boise counties. II
he theory advocated when the Butte
county bill was pending Is carried out.
he fate OF Gem county Is already seal.
ID. After one county had been ere.
ited In the southeast, and two in north
daho the southeastern members came
onward with the Butte county project.
In the fight made for the creation
II Butte county the southeastern mem.
RS made II clear that they proposed
o maintain the status quo, 30 far as
representation In the state legislature
3 concerned. For that reason they
that for every county Gre
ted in the north there should be a
lew county in the southeast. AS there
re no more county division plan
rewing for that territory. IL is said
hat members from the southeastern ,
ounties will not give their consent TO {
he Butte county proposal.
Relatives Lose Their Jobs.
The Rockwell nepotism bill, which
ad passed the senate. met with prac.
cally no opposition in the house. and
'as passed, but four votes being reg,
stored against II. Governor Alexan,
er asked for such a measure In his
lessage. The bill was so amended as
} apply to present state. county, city,
)wn, village and township officers,
nd prohibits the appointment either
y them or voting for relatives OF any
Their officer for office. There will be
n exodus OF relatives from offices all
YER the state as a result OF the pass.
ge OF the measure.
The house passed the Elrod bill call
Ig on the governor to appoint an ad-
tional Judge for the fifth judicial y
strict. composed OF Bannock. Frank y
4, Bear Lake. Oneida. Bingham and q
over counties.
The senate Joint memorial by Sen.
or Zuck of Twin Falls calling on II
,ngress for federal aid in the reclaim
ion nf arid and awamn Ianda was y