Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-01-21
FORM THE CAPITOL.
What the Legislature IL Doing and
other State Items.
special to the Times.

lature mas tnut DOuy well upon It's
biennial task OF revising the laws of
the state. All talk OF short session
has disappeared as has also the idea
that few unimportant and no uune-
cessary legislation would make It's
appearance this session. At this early
date 5S bills. resolutions. etc. have
been introduced In the house and y
In the senate.
The necessity OF constitutional
convention In this state is very ap-
parent TO everyone having to do with
the laws OF Idaho. The present con
sitution, which served the state
very we'll at its inception 20 years
ago. is wholly inadequate at this
time. twenty-five amendments have
already been made. number will be
added this year. and many more will
be necessary in the near future \
joint resolution has been introduced
In the senate calling Tor Il constitu-
tional convention to be held in Nov
ember. 1916. and submitting the
question TO vote OF the people at
the next general election
Five county division bills have al
ready been introduced in the house
and two or three more are being
framed The house on Friday passed
the measures creating Boundary
county from Bonner. Benewah. from
Kootenai. and Teton from the east
end OF Madison county with Drigg,
as the temporary county scat In the
senate on Saturday the Boundary and
Benewah bills were passed without
opposition and are now up TO the
governor. and the Teton county bill
was referred 10 the Counties and
County Boundaries Committee. which
II is understood will offer a minoi
amendment and recommend passag"
The governor attitude on county di-
vision has never been clear but he
will no doubt sign the bills which
pass without opposition
Special Examiner Gleason, the
grand jury and the special committee
from the house are all at work check
ing up and investigating the different
departments OF the state government
and there appears to be- no DOUBT
but that the true condition OF Affairs
will be ascertained and made public.
Irregularities appear to have been
found In number OF instances, but
indictments and reports are not con
victions and It would be well to hold
judgment until the accused have had
their day In court.
Up to this time there has been no
open hostilities between the govern
or and legislature. and there VIII not
be SO long as neither seriously ham
pers the plans of the other Tho
leaders In the legislature are anxious
to pass some needed legislation. and
likewise the governor desires several
measures put upon the statute books
1t is clear that neither could accom-
plish their end over the head of the
other However. II is evident that
the two powers will clash before the
session adjourns
A. l.. Freehafer. of Council. ha'
been appointed a member OF the
public utilities commission To sue
ceed J. 4. Blomquist. whose term eN
pired Monday. and l.. G. Jones. q
Gooding, as state game warden I
succeed +. c. Gowan. Both are col
sidered good men and well fitted f'
the places to which they were name
All agree that Freehafer is probab
the best man the governor had
hand for that place and will assun
a prominent place on the commissl'
as soon as he acquaints himself wi
the work.
There is but little question that
number of commissions and pub
positions will be abolished during [
session. Several measures with III
end I'm view have been introduc
or are unueT cOHSiu'i H'i'"'
the most radical to date would an
ish the Office of state superintehd'
OF public instruction. The work
that Office would then be handled
the head of the educational instl
tions commission.
The old capitol building Is Prov
more inadequate for the requirem'
OF the legislature each session.
house hall was enlarged two ye
ago and the senate chamber TOR
SESSION and both are filled to the
It at present. Committee rooms
desk space for attaches Is
premium and causes more or less
lay and confusion. Present ihu
tions are that there Will be no
propriations for completing the
capitol building for two or four "
and that will necessitate holding
or three more legislative session.
the old building. With the iher