The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-01-29
DIRECT PRIMARY
LAW UNDER FIRE
BILL IN SENATE WHICH SEEKS TO
ELIMINATE WHAT IS CLAIMED
AS OBJECTIONABLE FEATURE.
Idaho Commissions are Apparently
Doomed, Members Of Both Branches
Of Legislature Being Antagon-
istic to Them.

The direct primary law came under
fire In the senate at its morning ses-
sion on January 20 through introduce
ton of a bill, the author Of which is
Senator A. p. Hutton OF Shoshone
county, which seeks to eliminate what
Is claimed to be an Objectionable fea-
ture OF the present act in requiring
voters to declare their party utilization
before receiving a ballot and forcing
them to vote only party ballot in
stead of leaving 1t optional with them
which ballot or which set of candidates
they care to cast their vote for.
The introduction of three other acts,
one by Senator Fitz, making 1t manda-
tory for the governor to appoint as
members of the state board of medi-
cal examiners only those physicians or
surgeons from list submitted by the
Idaho State Medical association, and
two by Senator Whitcomb, by request,
allowing district court judge to with
hold judgment in certain criminal
cases and relating to maximum SEN
fences in other cases, together with
the passage of the Whitcomb physi-
clan witness bill, and deferred action
on the Jay A. Czizek appointment, fea-
lureu the session.
An antagonistic attitude on the
part of members of both branches Of
the legislature developed within the
past week against existing commits
sions, commissioners at heads of de-
partments and boards, and there is
reason to believe now that every effort
will be put forth by them to strike
from the statute books the acts placed
there by previous legislature which
created either the commissions or
boards
The public utilities commission has
apparently been marked for repeal
pending in both houses measures to
repeal the chapter that gives it exist
ence, and separate bill is pending
to take from it the power to regulate
competition.
The demand for the repeal of the tax
commission is not so surprising, for,
with the existance of the state board
OF equalization, the tax body is shorn
of its power.
The anti-alien law, which gives
promise OF stirring up a serious if not
complicated situation, is now before
the senate, having passed the house,
but 1t is very questionable If it will
survive the upper house. The state
wide primary amendment, which would
substitute state convention to nomi-
nate federal and state candidates in
place of primary election; the pro
posal to place the affairs of the fish
and game department in the hands of
commission, thereby reorganizing
this department from top to bottom.
are two big issues the legislature has
not started to thresh out as vet.
Benewah county, created out of fer
ritory forming the southern portion |
Of Kootenai county, was signed nv
Governor Alexander on January %
and to northern Idaho goes the dis. |
tinction of securing the first new coun. |
" created by the thirteenth legisla- |
lure. The birth of the county is stimuli |
Laneous with the attachment thereto
81 the signature of the governor to
Inc act. The new officers for the
county must be appointed ten days
following signing.
The Idaho legislature, through it's
special investigation committee. on
January 81 turned the calcium on the
carey act trust fund, at one time as
arge as half-million dollars now
With balance of $4,23O. The com.
nittee will endeavor to ascertain
where the money went and if it was
egitimately expended.
The pledge of all three political
parties of this state was kept on Jan
larry Fl with passage by the house 81
ne Hart senate resolution submitting
o the electors of Idaho for their ap.
'roval or rejection the question of
vhether the constitution of Idaho
hall be so amended as to add to il
section forever prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating
liquors., Not a dissenting vote was
egistered against the resolution. and
turing its passage through both
louses only one vote is on record
gainst it,
The state highway commission was
ttacked on January 10 in the leg.
stature, and bill introduced to ahol.
sh the commission entirely was The
eature event of the legislative pro-
It was introduced by Sena
or Hutton. Democrat, of Shoshone
nd Senator Grant, Republican, of
clearwater. BY abolishing the commits.
ion they seek to place disbursement
motor-license funds in the hands of
ounty commissioners,
The house was in session two hours
again passed the Teton county hin
hitch had been amended in the sen,
te; passed an act permitting estrav
nimals on the range without brands
D be taken possession of, and also
assed an act depriving justices of the
eace of authority to take acknowl.
dgments. A bin was introduced nv
lark of Custer to abolish the office
water commissioner.
Amid more enthusiasm than has AZ.
ended the consideration of anv meas
re that has yet come before II tba
ouse passed the concurrent resol,,
on introduced by McGawon Of altar
ounty. proposing commission to IN
estigate the feasibility of a north
I'd south railroad.