Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-03-15
LAWMAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED WORK
FOURTEENTH SESSION OF THE
IDAHO LEGISLATURE COMES
TO END ON MARCH 10.
Labor Secures Victory in Passage Of
Workmen's Compensation BILL
State Will Not Be Divided
Anti-Alien Bills Killed.

Boise. Idaho.-The fourteenth ses-
sion of the Idaho legislature has come
to close and the members have
gone back to their homes. Adjourn
ment came at 10 o'clock Saturday
night, March 10.
With its passing went the dreams
of those who expected to see a new
state carved out of the ten northern
counties, the ambitions of those who
desired Idaho TO have a workmen's
compensation commission realized.
and the defeat OF two measures that
threatened international controver-
sies, if not complete breach-the
anti-Asiatic marriage bill and the
anti-alien land ownership measure,
both conceded 10 be aimed at the
time Of their introduction at the Jap
aneee.
The closing hours OF tho legislature
witnessed a compromise being reach
ed over the workmens compensation
bill, which caused one Of the most
bitter fights an Idaho legislature has
ever Witnessed Without a dissenting
vote both branches passed com
promise bill throwing the cloak OF
I protection over the laboring people of
the state.
The final days session saw the pas
sage CT appropriation bills carrying a
grand total of almost . million and a
half dollars The sta4-- educational.
penal and charitable institutions We're
cared for by them. state departments
were given their biennial maintenance
money and numerous relief bills were
disposed Of One institution suffered
as the result of the final pruning
process. and only one. The Univer-
sity of Idaho had $4,000 stricken from
its maintenance for the payment OF
expenses OF lectures of the extension
department and $4,000 for the summer
school. Otherwise the state educa-
tional institutions are given the
amounts apportioned TO them by the
rouse. The school for the deaf and
the blind gained $4,000 for a new
building and $4,000 for a central
heating plant.
BY a vote Of thirty-two to ten the
house joint resolution authorizing the
converting OF a state convention at
Moscow to draft a constitution for
the proposed new state to be created
out OF the ten northern counties was
laid on the table and in that manner
its defeat was accomplished. 1t re-
ceived the support of but the ten
senator's from the north. This reso-
luton had passed the house, a ma
] iD4 8 h.. ,1a- Oh,
Is joint authors.
The anti-Asiatic marriage and the
anti-ailen land ownership bills were
defeated by being smothered in COM
mittees. A majority OF the senators
were opposed to the passage Of either
at a time when the nation faces an
international crisis.
Among other measures that failed
to pass was the $3.50 GOO bond issue
for completion of wings on the new
state capitol. 1t was smothered on
the calendar
Labor secured its greatest victory
of any session of an Idaho legislature
when il succeeded in having passed
by a unanimous vote wOrkmen's
compensation bill providing for cleo
tive compensation. Regardless of the
fact that many days were spent by
both houses in threshing out the COM
pensation issue and for weeks a bitter
fight was waged for and against the
three bills-Rockwell Bates and An
ierson-and deadlock threatened to
prevent an adjournment for days. the
legislature unanimously agreed finally
TO a compromise measure that was
introduced on the morning of the last
days session and passed before the
lay was over without a dissenting
vote cast against it in either house.
A commission of three members
and a state insurance manger and
department are created by this bill:
a schedule of compensation for in
jured workmen or for the heirs of
those killed at labor ranging from As
per cent of the total weekly wages
for a period of 400 weeks is provided
in the measure Casualty insurance
companies are barred from participate
ing and an employer may elect TO
come under state compensation or
give bond to provide compensation
for his injured employees. as he de
sires. The measure is conceded to
meet the differences of those factions
interested.
BY a decision of the attorney gen
eral the Portneuf county division bill.
which passed the senate and house,
hut was held by the president TO have
failed to pass on account of the fact
that when the senate voted upon it
the measure was in the possession Of
the house. was held valid. and If
signed by the governor will become
a law. 1t creates a new county out of
Bannock county.