, 1915-02-04
18th General
Assembly
CBy John c. Thompson, Jr.)

nnfnlIE VI NeS
session of the Thirteenth legisla-
ture finds interest crystalized in
regard to what will be considered
the chief business of the forty-day
session. The public utilities COM
mission law bills, the statewide
nrohibltion constitutional amend
meut bill, the workmen's compen-
sstion bill, the farm loans bill, the
initiative and referendum constitu-
tional amendment bill, the bounty
bill, the immigration commission
bill and the game and fish bills
are the big measures to which the
legislators and the local public are
directing discussion.
There are of course a great many
other bills in which much interest
is manifested, including some hard
ly worthy of the amount of atten-
ton they are receiving, but chief
interest centers in those related
and the public's estimate of the
Importance of the sessions accom-
plishments will be guided chiefly
by the disposition of these meas
4 ures.
The outlook for the public utili-
ties commission is brighter than it
was a little while ago. There was
a period when it appeared that
there was little, if any, hopes for
the enactment of a law for the
regulation of public utilities, but
this outlook has changed during
the past few days and it now is
general opinion that a public utili-
ties commission law-some sort of
a public utilities commission law
will be enacted.
The game and fish bill has been
ceait'ing the committee of the
house to which it was referred
some hard work. There is an end
less diversity of opinion regarding
'What'W wyoming most needs in the
way OF kunting and fishing regula-
tlon and the committees job of
Drafting g bill acceptable to the
majority hes been a difficult task.
On n pniut, everybody appears
to be agreed-that aliens should
be forbidden to be in possession
OF a gun at any time.
The Mercer bill for the taxation
of mortgages was killed by the
house after a long debate revolving
upon whether the proposed tax
fall upon mortagors or mortgages.
Another bill which caused much
debate and which was killed by the
house provided for physical in
spection of school children. Pine
dale, Evanston and jackson fish
hatcheries bills were slaughtered
oy the house with but brief con-
siderstiou- Every so-called "med-
zeal bllI' which has come up for
C '~nsideration has been killed with
bu I one exception, and that as al
goo, 1 rs dead.
An Tong bills passed by one house
or the other are measures provid-
lug hi her compensation for sher-
IFS for The board of prisoners, pro-
Wdlng / nat prosecuting attorneys
shall be members of the bar, for
bidding tn e presence of minors in
orothels, pr 'Onibiting common tow
els and co u,Hul on drinking cups,
authorizing the issuance of mu-
nlclpal bontls for fire houses, pro-
NlulhS a chaplain for the Soldiers
Home, providing for the plugging
OF oil snd gas welAs and providing
itor acceptance of the SmitnlLever
act
Pensions for mothers of depend
ent children when such mothers
are without means of support is
ohe OF the novel ideas embodied
oy bills introduced during the past
Week. Protection for bears is
another.
Workmen's compensation legis-
lhtlon now is before the house, and
Is one of the hin ioha of which