The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-12-07
Dispatch From Capital States
Next Law Makers Will Be
Strong for Roads.
ALTER ELECTION LAW
Enactment Favoring Short
Ballot-Workmen's Com
pensation Also.

Boise, Idaho, Dec. 3. - Appropria-
tions of $500,000 will be made by the
legislature elect when it gets through
with road legislation. Idaho, say men
of influence elected to both houses of
that body, is not going to be miserly
when it comes to setting aside funds
for the building of better highways.
The incentive is an honest desire to
improve the roads and get a liberal
share of the federal road appropria-
tion, available in 1917.
1t is conceded by members-elect that
new era of road construction is In
sight which viii ultimately near a
system of highways from trade CEN
ters TO mining districts, great national
forests and spots of scenic beauty.
North and South Line.
Congress appropriated $S5 5,0O0, 900 for
good roads. Idaho's 1917 apportion-
ment is $4,000 and each year there
after 10 per cent will be added for a
period of five years. To make avail
able that appropriation the state must
appropriate an equal amount. In ad-
dition there is forest service appro-
priatiOn which will also become avail
able to Idaho in 1917 A total Of $347,-
600 has been appropriated by the for
est service for the construction of a
highway from Hamilton, Mont, into
and across thes tate of Idaho, opening
the Selway national forest. Part of
this road construction is also in Mon
tana.
One of the first links of highway
the new legislature will provide for
Is the north and south road leading
from New Meadows to Grangeville,
| traversing the west central portion Of
fhn ctnf 70 VITO
on that section in the vicinity of
Whitebird and have been for some
months. 1t Is believed here that
highway should be constructed before
the proposed railroad north and south
is built. Those who have given this
link close study assert that great pos
sibilities are offered for automobile
truck transportation.
Compensation Law Probable.
A workmen's compensation act will
probably be enacted. While several
may be introduced the one to be cham
pioned by the lapor unions and organ
lied labor Will be pushed to the front
say labor leaders. This bill win be
similar to the law British Columbia
now has. 1t Is proposed to provide for
straight compensation distributed by
scale and compulsory.
commission to be composed of
three members. appointed by the gov
ernor and paid on a salary basis, will
be created. To this commission is as
signed the duty of administering the
compensation law, inspecting all man.
ufacturing plants and other institu-
tions employing labor and attending
to the many other multitudes of duties.
sufficient, 1t is claimed, to keep all
/ fbraa m icC Cinnnry
! job.
Legislature Meets Week Late.
The legislature-elect does not meet
on the same day that state officials
are sworn IN or on January l due to
the fact the first day in January, 1917,
happens to fall on Monday. 1t will be
the first time in the history Of the
! state officials to be sworn in at the
IN the past it has been customary for
state officials to be sworn in the
same time the legislature convenes
! The constitution provides the state Of
ticials-elect shall be sworn in on the
first Monday in January. 1t also pro-
vides that the legislature shall meet
the first Monday after the first day in
January. They will therefore be sworn
in separately, the legislature conven-
ing January 8, week after state Off
Fill Senatorial Vacancy
One of the first acts of the legisla-
ture will be to pass Il law giving the
governor power to fill any vacancy
that might exist in the office of United
States senator. When the law was
passed providing for the direct cleo
tiOn of United States senator's the
succeeding legislature failed to pro-
vide for the filling of vacancies so that
in the event there should be one now
a special election would have to be
called. The legislature viii avoid this
expense by passing a law authorizing
a recess appointment.
Might Get Short Ballot.
The day of the short ballot may be
at hand in Idaho. 1t appears to be rea-
sonably certain that the legislature
will revolutionize the election laws of
this state. One thing is quite certain
the party circle for straight ballot
voting will be removed from the top
of the general election ballot and the
Continued on mage 81