Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-13
Only Brief Session Held Be
cause of Preparation of
Administration Measures
to Be Introduced Next
Week.
IMPORTANT BILLS
BEING GONE OVER
Program of Legislation Out
lined by Majority Mem
bers of Both Houses
Caucus Also Held by Re-
publicans in Legislature.

The house of representatives met
this morning only to adjourn. In do
ing so it carried out the caucus agree
ment reached last night to take the
time that today's session would oc-
cupy to prepare and perfect adminis-
tration legislation. Many of the bills
expressing the requirements of the adj
ministration, following to II great ex-
tent the wishes of the governor as out
lined in his message, will be launched
by the chairmen of committees Mon
day. The senate was not in session.
having adjourned Friday to Monday
morning.
Aside from the converting of the
lower house this morning, the prayer
and preliminaries attending the open
ing, no action was taken. Majority
Leader Moody moved the adjournment
1t was promptly seconded and the mo-
ton carried. Members of committees
thereafter We're busily engaged with
legislation before them.
PLAN COUNTY ENABLING ACT.
While not strictly administration
measures n number OF important bills
are now nearing completion by DEM
ocratic party members and will reach
the floor of the house Monday or the
early part of the week.
One Of the most important ones Is
an enabling act doing away with
county division issues coming before
the legislature, The bill will take the
form of n statutory act. 1t Will be in
troduced by Representative Peckham
of Canyon county. The present leg
islature is face to face with num-
Der of embarrassing county division
bills and others of the same character
will follow. In this it Is in no differ
ent position than many other former
legislatures. No class of legislation
has caused more log rolling within
legislative channels than county diyis-
ion. The purpose of the Peckham
measure is to prevent this and to al
low the settlement of comfy division
issues to be placed with the county
or counties where the division Is to
take place. The exact terms of settle
mcnt have not as yet been definitely
decided upon, II has not been determ-
ined whether only the territory to be
included within "A proposed new county
shall vote on the issue or the entire
county, and IL only tta territory to be
included votes what percentage of the
voting strength shall determine the
matter. 1t has been suggested that 4
two thirds vote In favor OF the issue
be required in the proposed new
county. and that one-third vote in
favor OF the issue be required in The
old county.
second important measure is q
constitutional amendment calling for
the adjustment of the office of stat,
superintendent Of public instruction
This amendment has been Endorsed by
the outgoing and the incoming state
superintendent and 1t is said will carry
CREATE ADJUDICATION BOARD
Water code measures will be Il class
of legislation of Importance. \ bill
will be introduced seeking to create ,
board OF adjudication which will b,
given jurisdiction over all water CUES
tions in the state, similar to the hoart
created In the states of Wyoming an,
Oregon. This board may be empow
cred with jurisdiction over Carey act
as we'll Under the present laws Their,
are two ways of acquiring water rights
In this state, one by permit from tn,
state engineer and the other by use
Another measure to be introduced Will
call for but one way, and that b.
permit from the state engineer. Their
will be an amendment TO the consti
tuition also to do away with the man
ner therein provided of water appro
priation.
MINORITY CAUCUS.
There was u minority caucus las
night II was IL joint caucus of tn,
house and senate and was preside,
over by Senator Lowe of Cassia.
number of party matters We're dis
cussed. There were also matters per
tanning to the federal suffrage amend
ment, the amendment "roviding for
direct election of president, etc, takei
up for consideration.
Several members OF the minorit,
talked with regarding the caucus sal
that no definite action was taken ex
eept with regard to the suffrage
amendment which the minority wi
solidly support.
The population of Swiss villag
was called on to express a preference
for arc or incandescent lamps, and tn
decision was in favor OF the mean
descent.
Raymond Dellsle, age IA. of Mort
Adams, Mass. a few days ago caugh
a butterfly which lit on n snow bank
The butterfly was very lively in spit
of the cold.
The repeal of the exclusion orde
against the entry into British Colum
hia of artisans and laborers. skille
and unskiiied." is being demanded.